National Anthem Omitted From San Ramon High School Rally

SAN RAMON, CA — Student leaders at California High School in San Ramon decided not to include the national anthem during a pep rally in January, according to school district officials. San Ramon Valley Unified School District officials said the controversial decision was made after the student leaders learned that some in the community consider the third, rarely sung verse offensive to some groups.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

The "Star-Spangled Banner" is usually played at the beginning of each rally but was omitted during the Jan. 19 event. The decision has sparked debate in the community and the incident has garnered national attention. Community members have posted disapproving comments on both the school’s Facebook page and on the alumnus Facebook page.

Officials said the ASB, which is committed to creating a school culture that is welcoming to all students, will have further dialogue about future rallies following the objections to their decision for the final rally of the year. The ASB is in charge of four rallies a year. The next rally is in May. District officials said the national anthem will still be heard at other school events and sporting activities.

"One of our District priorities is to 'deliberately prioritize and provide a world-class education where our focus on inclusion, cultural responsiveness and response to Intervention ensures that each student, employee and family feels safe and respected'," a district official spokesperson said.

The decision to skip the national anthem during the rally comes less than two years after race-related graffiti was discovered in the school’s bathrooms on four occasions, which raised tensions among some students and parents. The rash of incidents in 2016 prompted school officials to temporarily close the bathrooms and provide adult escorts for students to and from the restrooms.

See Also:

• Racist Graffiti Found at San Ramon High School Leads to Temporary Closure of Bathrooms, Parent Meeting

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