Recently, an Aboriginal mother pulled her child from Seaview Christian College in Porter Augusta, South Australia, after her daughter faced punishment for refusing to stand and sing the national anthem.
According to British media on April 6, the incident occurred during a music class in February, where the 11-year-old girl was asked to stand up and sing the national anthem "Australian March". According to her mother, the school's insistence on this act was forced assimilation, a view that was very offensive to the Indigenous community. The mother expressed her concerns, emphasizing the historical context of the national anthem, which she felt ignores the rights of Indigenous peoples.
"You either blend in to their school or you leave theirs," the angry mother said.
"There's no room for discussion, there's no room for negotiation, you either do it or you get out. ”
From this, the family decided to withdraw the child from school. The mother's decision stemmed from her belief that the school's policy left no room for different views or positions.
In response, ABC looked at a letter written by the two girls about the incident, but it was not sent to the school.
"Aboriginal people consider the 'national anthem' to be offensive. Because it doesn't represent us in any way or form," the girls wrote.
"When we are forced to sing or stand, you deprive us of our rights as indigenous people in our land. ”
West Seaview Christian College defended its position, saying standing and singing the national anthem was a sign of respect for the solemnity of the event. However, the school emphasises the importance of parents having to adhere to the values and principles set out in the enrollment contract.
Despite the school's claim to respect individual views, the situation escalated dramatically when an 11-year-old girl and another 12-year-old Aboriginal student faced alleged disciplinary action for refusing to stand up. The mother claimed that both students were given lunchtime detention, which the school denied.
The mother's stance on the national anthem policy stemmed from personal and family experience, and her own mother, a member of the trafficked generation, had been punished for similar acts of defiance. She insisted that she had the right not to participate in the singing of the national anthem quietly, and this attitude was also conveyed to her children.
The controversy has raised broader questions about cultural sensitivity and respect for Indigenous identity. South Australia's Aboriginal and Youth Commissioner, April Lawrie, criticised the school's response, saying it failed to uphold cultural safety. She stressed that claims for Indigenous identity should not be derogatory or stigmatized.
The mother escalated the incident further by filing complaints with various agencies, including the Human Rights Commission, the Independent Schools Association and the South Australian Education Standards Commission. These actions reflect her determination to challenge what she believes are discriminatory practices in the education system.