# My son has never heard "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 10, 2018, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181 "2018-04-10T19:38:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shinna_Minna_Ma)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181/61 "2018-04-11T19:09:58Z")
We had a sixth grade teacher, way back in the 73/74 school year, who was a bit of a patriot. We had to memorize the following: [ul] [li]the first two verses of the Star Spangled Banner (how many people know there are four verses?)[/li][li]the preamble to the Constitution[/li][li][the American’s Creed](http://www.ushistory.org/documents/creed.htm)[/li][li]The Battle Hymn of the Republic[/li][li]My Country Tis of Thee[/li][li]America (O Beautiful for Spacious Skys)[/li][/ul] Each morning, one student was assigned to lead the class in the Pledge of Alliegence, the preamble to the Constitution, the American’s creed, and one of the songs. The student also had to read a poem that s/he selected. I remember that for one of my turns, I read “The New Colossus,” found on the Statue of Liberty. I even looked up all the words I didn’t know, in case the teacher asked me what they meant. Miss Mott. Her name was Miss Mott. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181/62 "2018-04-11T20:48:59Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > In chatting with my son son today about history and the Civil War I asked if he had ever heard that song. He said he hadnt and in fact, they never learned to sing any patriotic songs. > > Back when I was in school we learned [Battle Hymn.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFtNVEbasOo) > > He also never learned [My Country Tis of Thee.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKj7FLg3WVA) > > Do you think our youth should learn patriotic songs? Yes. How else will children learn that they are free if the State doesn’t make them sing patriotic songs and swear oaths of fealty? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181/63 "2018-04-11T22:08:17Z")
My favorite Civil War song is[_Battle Cry of Freedom_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tz7otJVElcM) > [@](#): > > We will welcome to our numbers the loyal, true and brave,
 > Shouting the battle cry of freedom!
 > And although he may be poor, no man shall be a slave,
 > Shouting the battle cry of freedom! ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181/64 "2018-04-11T22:10:27Z")
Organized display of patriotic orthodoxy, especially if administered by a state agency, is anti-democratic. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181/65 "2018-04-12T09:36:19Z")
Patr_i_otic songs? Hell no. I want my kids to sing _the Internationale_ and _The Red Flag_ in school, just like I did. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181/66 "2018-04-12T12:23:51Z")
I think there’s value in teaching those songs because singing in general is good for people, because the songs are part of the culture and because the children can learn the history behind those songs. I don’t think teaching them those songs does a damn thing to make them more patriotic (nor, for that matter, does forcing them to recite the Pledge). And I concur about “As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free.” That’s a helluva line even if one isn’t American and/or Christian. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-has-never-heard-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/812181.md?page=3)