Right: Harper Nielsen's actions outraged many, including politicians, at least one of whom recommended physically assaulting the nine-year-old.
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Arguments against allowing Australian schoolchildren to sit through the national anthem
1. Many Australians believe that schools should promote Australian values and national identity
The Australian national curriculum sees values education as important. It outlines nine values that it considers important for young people to develop as Australian citizens. These are: Care and Compassion; Integrity; Doing Your Best; Respect; Fair Go; Responsibility; Freedom; Understanding, Tolerance and Inclusion; and Honesty and Trustworthiness.
Love of country or patriotism is not promoted as a value; however, there is an expectation in a significant part of the broader Australian community that schools will foster a positive sense of national identity and an attachment to Australia and its national symbols. Kenmore State High School, the senior school in the town where Harper Nielsen's primary school is located, was criticised by parents in December, 2017, for setting a Year 8 English assignment in which students were asked to design a new Australian flag.
The importance of national identity is stressed by the Australian Sports Commission's participation plan which places a strong focus on schools. The plan states, 'Australians love sport. It is a defining characteristic of our national culture - one that is recognised across the world. In sport, Australia's diverse population discovers a shared identity. We come together to play sport at local ovals, fields, courts, parks and beaches. We flock to great stadiums around the country to watch the contest. We celebrate and exude national pride when our athletes represent us on the world stage.'
Civics and Citizenship studies, as outlined in the national curriculum, also includes consideration of Australian identity and encourages students to identify factors they believe typify Australians, including 'language, accent, looks, national colours, symbols, songs.'
Given the recognition that there is no single accent or appearance that typifies someone as an Australian, national markers such as national colours, symbols and songs are an accessible means of helping Australian citizens, especially those new to the country, assume an Australian identity. The Australian Government's Department of Trade and Foreign Affairs lists Australia's national symbols as the Australian flag, national colours of green and gold, its coat of arms, its national anthem and its national day.
These symbols are expected knowledge for the Australian citizenship test administered to immigrants to Australia wishing to become Australian citizens.2. Maintaining order in schools requires students to follow teacher directions
It has been argued that in order to function effectively schools need to be able to enforce certain standards of behaviour among their students. Central to this is that students follow teacher directions.
Responding to the controversy that has surrounded the actions of Harper Nielsen, a spokesperson for the Queensland Department of Education has stated, 'State schools set out clear standards of behaviour that they expect from their students in their Responsible Behaviour Plan for Students.'
The Department's Code of School Behaviour expects that 'Each school will detail particular strategies to promote appropriate behaviour as well as consequences for unacceptable behaviour within its Responsible Behaviour Plan for Students'. The same Code of School Behaviour notes that one of the key expectations of students is that they 'cooperate with staff and others in authority'.
It is clear that student obedience when given a teacher direction is a key element of school student management plans. Though suspension from school is regarded as a strategy of 'last resort' the first ground stated for suspension within the Queensland Education Act 2006 is 'disobedience or misbehaviour'.
A number of those who have supported the actions of Kenmore South Primary School have stressed the importance of students following teacher directions in the overall management of a school.
In a comment published in The Courier Mail on September 12, 2018, Jane Fynes-Clinton argued, 'Conviction about a particular issue is one thing, but overt disobedience when given an inoffensive, inside-the-rules alternative course of action is another.
Harper's refusal to obey a teacher's direction leaves the school with no choice but to mete out a punishment, lest the other students interpret it as a sign that all teacher's directions are loaded with optional responses.'
Fynes-Clinton argued that Harper Nielsen's conduct seemed particularly inappropriate when she had been given the alternative of leaving the assembly while the anthem was being played. Fynes-Clinton wrote, 'Little Harper should leave the assembly hall when the anthem plays. It still registers her particular objection to the national song. It still makes her point. And it would not spit in the eye of the teachers' requests and would obey the school's rules.'
In an opinion piece published in Quadrant on September 16, 2018, John Dawson similarly noted, 'The school had to expend time and teaching capital to maintain discipline amongst pupils who can't be blamed for wondering which rules they might flout, just as Harper did when she disrupted the weekly assembly.'
A similar point was made by Channel 9's 'Today' co-host Karl Stefanovic, who stated, 'The schools have rules...If you don't like that as a parent, if you don't like that your child will have to stand for the anthem then go somewhere else. Schools have rules and they have to be abided by.'
3. Students who do not wish to stand can be offered alternatives as part of the Queensland Education Department's inclusiveness policy
Defenders of the actions of Kenmore South Primary School note that the school offered Harper Nielsen an alternative to standing for the national anthem. The Queensland state education department has indicated that the school's principal had met with Harper and her parents to discuss alternatives to her protest.
A spokesperson for the Department has noted within a formal statement, 'The school has been respectful of the student's wishes and has provided other alternatives including remaining outside the hall or not singing during the national anthem.'
The primary school has further stated, 'Kenmore South State School is an inclusive and tolerant school which supports the diverse points of view of all students and families.'
The Department's statement also indicated that 'at no time' did the school suggest the student would be suspended or excluded for refusing to take part in the national anthem.
The Department acknowledges, 'Students enrolled in Queensland state schools come from diverse social, cultural, geographic and family backgrounds, are of many identities, and of all abilities.'
The Department consequentially states, 'The Department of Education's Inclusive Education Policy document supports our shared vision that all students in Queensland state schools receive the support they need to belong to the school community, engage purposefully in learning and experience academic success.' achieve academically and socially with reasonable adjustments and supports tailored to meet their learning needs.'
The Department further states, 'The department commits to continuing our journey towards a more inclusive education system at all levels and as part of our everyday practice in schools, educational settings and classrooms.
Our commitment means that children and young people across Queensland, from all social, cultural, community and family backgrounds, and of all identities and all abilities are able to:
attend their local state school or education centre and be welcomed;
access and participate in a high-quality education and fully engage in the curriculum along-side their similar-aged peers;
learn in a safe and supportive environment, free from bullying, discrimination or harassment;
achieve academically and socially with reasonable adjustments and supports tailored to meet their learning needs.'
4. A school assembly is an inappropriate protest venue and there are better ways of promoting debate
Critics of Harper Nielsen's actions have suggested that a school assembly is neither an appropriate venue in which to make a protest nor the best manner in which to promote debate.
Readers commenting to The Courier Mail noted that a school assembly was not a suitable place to raise the issue of Australia's national anthem. One noted, ' It is not appropriate that a school assembly is used to demonstrate [Harper Nielsen] and/or her parents' refusal to acknowledge our national anthem in the traditional way.
A primary school assembly is the opportunity to showcase the school's and students' successes.'
Former Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, also commented on the inappropriateness of Harper Nielsen's actions, stating, ' It's just a sign of good manners and courtesy to stand for the national anthem.'
Responding to a news report on Harper Nielsen's protest on the website startsat60, one reader similarly stressed the importance of appropriateness and good manners, stating, 'It isn't just about refusing to stand - it's way deeper than that. It's also about being disrespectful of something that's important to others. If we go to a neighbour's for dinner, it would be tasteless to object to the way they serve their meal or organise the table settings.'
Critics of Harper Nielsen's refusal to stand for the national anthem have further argued that there are other and better ways of making her point and of attempting to raise awareness than continuing to refuse to stand for the anthem.
Nielsen notes that she was advised by her teachers 'that if [she] felt so strongly [she] should try other ways of explaining [her] reasons, such as writing to people who were higher up than they were.'
The same point was made by Dr Jane Fynes-Clinton, a journalist and University of the Sunshine Coast journalism lecturer, who has stated, 'If a change of our nation's song to something more suitable, inclusive and stirring is a burning desire... there are better, more respectful ways to stand up and bring about change.'
Another reader from the startsat60 website has similarly noted, 'A group of both adults and children should sit down with [Harper Nielsen] and have an in-depth discussion on both our national anthem and when it is appropriate to stand up for your rights and how and when it should be done. I wonder if this girl would be prepared to take further action such as showing her concern for aborigines by becoming involved in aid programs, writing to politicians, newspapers, trying to get on current affairs radio and TV programs etc. Just not standing for the national anthem is not really much of a demonstration of standing up for your rights.'
5. Australia's anthem is a positive symbol of national cohesion
Critics of Harper Nielsen's refusal to stand for the national anthem claim that 'Advance Australia Fair' has become a significant marker of Australia's national identity which promotes social cohesion. Social cohesion is the sense that a group of people have shared values and belong together.
As well as taking the pledge of commitment to Australia, people formalizing their Australian Citizenship also sing 'Advance Australia Fair'. The anthem's supporters claim that since 1984 the song has become an important national symbol and a public expression of pride in being Australian.
The Australian Government's Adult Migrant English Program says of Advance Australia Fair': '[It] is used at important public ceremonies, sporting and community events. All Australians are encouraged to sing Australia's national anthem. As an important national symbol, it should be treated with respect and dignity.'
Supporters of the anthem point to the positive nature of its lyrics and compare it favourably to anthems from some other countries. Writing in The Big Smoke on September 17, 2018, Loretta Barnard noted, 'Consider the French national anthem, the Marseillaise, with its lyrics of bloodshed and cutthroats, of fighting against oppression and injustice; and America's Star-Spangled Banner with its celebration of a military victory against the British. Ours is in marked contrast to such sentiments: it revels in our rich agricultural land, the natural beauty of the country. It praises our hard work beneath the Southern Cross.'
Barnard further notes, ' Advance Australia Fair is...intended to be a joyful anthem - it's an upbeat melody and we're told to rejoice because we're young, free and prosperous. It exhorts us to sing "in joyful strains". '
Ben Pobjie, in an opinion piece published by the ABC, on May 27, 2017, similarly championed 'Advance Australia Fair' in comparison to other anthems. He wrote, 'A common example cited is France's La Marseillaise, which is a nice tune, but descends into a nightmare as soon as you translate the lyrics.
The French anthem's first verse warns of tyrannical soldiers approaching "to cut the throats of your sons, your women". The chorus calls upon the people to "let an impure blood soak our fields". It proceeds along similar lines, the entire thing an exhortation to bloody slaughter...
The Americans...national anthem was written by a man who watched a fort getting bombed, and went home and wrote a song about a fort getting bombed (and added in a little bit about how great it was to kill slaves in the third verse)... And the Spanish national anthem doesn't even have words!'
Referring to the frequent criticism that 'girt' is an antiquated word, Pobjie notes, 'The anthem derives from its language a timeless quality, the impression that these lines will stand solid and unyielding against the buffeting of history's winds.'