Port Augusta mum's anger as she pulls her kids out of Seaview Christian College ... trends now
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An Aboriginal mother has pulled her children out of a school after her daughter was told to stand for the national anthem and allegedly threatened with punishment if she refused.
The unnamed mother told the ABC her 11-year-old daughter was asked to stand for Advance Australia Fair during a music class in February at Seaview Christian College, a private school located in the South Australian coastal city of Port Augusta.
She accused the school of forcing 'assimilation' by making children stand for the anthem while Seaview Christian College said the demand was made 'to respect the formality of the event'.
An Aboriginal mother has pulled her children out of a school that has demanded children stand during the national anthem
'You either assimilate or you get out of their school,' the furious mother said.
'There's no room for discussion, there's no room for negotiation, you either do that or you just get out.'
She said the anthem was written in a time when Indigenous people 'had no rights'.
The ABC viewed a letter the two girls wrote, but did not send to the school, about the incident.
'Aboriginal people find the 'National Anthem' offensive. As it does not represent us in any way or form,' the girls wrote.
'And when we are made to sing or stand, you are taking away our rights as Aboriginal people in our land.'
Seaview Christian College told the ABC it respected 'individual views of all students and families in regard to the anthem'.
However, it said parents had to 'uphold the principles and values of our school and abide by behavioural standards … for the collective benefit of all students'.
Seaview Christian College requires parents to sign an enrolment contract before
