Audrey Jolley

The Iowa legislature’s bill to have all students in public school sing the national anthem each day is to be proposed later today.

“O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light.” These lyrics of the national anthem echo through classrooms all across Iowa.

The Iowa legislature is proposing a bill that would require each classroom in public schools to sing at least one verse of the national anthem a day and all four verses on patriotic holidays.

According to the Iowa Public Radio, the bill would also require students to learn about patriotism.

Iowa Public Radio Reporter Grant Gerlock said, “Understanding the words and the history of the anthem is spelled out by the proposal as a requirement for social studies curriculum.”

Sophomore Lexi Bunting does not think singing the national anthem each day would be necessary. 

“We already say the pledge every day,” Bunting said. “Some people may not be good at singing and wouldn’t want to make a fool of themselves.”

Even though all students have a different take on this topic, it isn’t something many want to endure.

“I don’t believe that a lot of students would do it,” freshman Lucas Jolley said. “This would create a bigger struggle for the teachers than I think they realize.”

A concern that junior Avery Rausch faces includes the effect it would have on her learning.

“I don’t think that we should sing the national anthem every day,” Rausch said. “It could consume a lot of our class time.”

Teacher Cole Duncalf believes this bill would violate one’s First Amendment rights. Duncalf’s knowledge regarding this bill stems from the 1943 court case, West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, where it was decided that students do not have to say the national anthem or pledge of allegiance if they do not want to.

“The government cannot make you say anything you do not want to say,” Duncalf said. 

By requiring students and teachers to sing the national anthem each day, Duncalf believes it would overstep their freedom of speech.

“If you don’t want to say the national anthem, you don’t. If you were to be kicked out of school, sent to prison, or fined for that, it would be a violation of your civil rights.”