In Thailand, in state schools throughout the country, students line up in the morning to sing the national anthem, the royal anthem, and a Buddhist chant. Is there anywhere else in the world with a similar kind of practice?

Question

Vinay Kumar · Answer

India.

Kids generally sing songs / shlokas / nursery rhymes, etc in the morning - the whole school together before classes begin. It's called 'assembly', and gives the school day a nice beginning. Sometimes famous writings and thoughtful works such as poems from deep poets are read. Assembly happens in private as well as public schools.

Really miss it in the US where people just sort of walk into class, and each class then just recites the pledge of allegiance and class begins.

ChatGPT · Answer

Yes, several countries have similar practices in their schools where students participate in morning rituals that often include singing national anthems, pledging allegiance, or engaging in religious or cultural activities. Here are a few examples:
1. United States: Many schools have a daily ritual where students recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, often followed by singing the national anthem. This practice emphasizes patriotism and national identity.
2. Japan: In Japanese schools, students often sing the national anthem, "Kimigayo," during ceremonies and school events. There are also moments of silence and respect for the Emperor, reflecting the country's cultural traditions.
3. India: Schools in India typically start the day with the singing of the national anthem, "Jana Gana Mana." Some schools also include prayers or religious chants, reflecting the diverse cultural and religious backgrounds of the students.
4. China: Chinese schools often begin the day with the national anthem and may include other patriotic activities, reflecting the importance of national pride and unity.
5. Brazil: In Brazilian schools, it is common to sing the national anthem at the beginning of the school day, along with other activities that promote civic values.
These practices serve to instill a sense of national identity, cultural values, and community among students, similar to the morning rituals observed in Thailand.

Xi Chen · Answer

In China,senior high school students always get together to sing national anthem every Monday.And then,the outstanding student will give address to others to encourage them to study hard.But we don't have songs about religion.

Anonymous · Answer

In Australia most public schools have assembly once a week and sing the national anthem. They might have a school song to sing as well. But no religion.

In Catholic schools they sing the national anthem but they also have prayers at assemblies.

However, when I was in primary (elementary) school in the 80s they still made us say the Lords Prayer at assembly. In a state school! So it wasn't that long ago we were claiming to be a secular society but in our state funded schools we were promoting a recognisably Christian religious influence.

Mehmet Yuksel · Answer

in Turkey 
Until high school we did National Anthem every morning.However it was cancelled 2 years ago because of politic issues.(nationalism)

Anonymous · Answer

In the Netherland, there is never a flag in the classroom, I have never sung the Dutch national anthem in class. I sang the national anthem once in primary school music class.

In Dutch primary schools, pupils start Monday in circle discussions. Small talks, from how are you, what did you did this weekend, how is your family, pet, hobby, etc.

Discussions, collaboration, team building and ideas.

And no circle talk on Friday morning, but watch news of what happened last week. It has been broadcast by the school TV weekly news company since the 1980s. After the broadcast, there is a discussion about what has happened in the world. The pupils then receive a little general knowledge of the world.

And coming back to the national anthem. The national anthem is not even sung by all the players of the national football team. Either they don't want to, or they don't know the lyrics.

Scotty Wright · Answer

The Thai people, when I worked in Bangkok intermittently from 1999–2005, took every and any opportunity to honor the King. Life-sized portraits were all over the city - to say you’ll meet someone in front of the King’s picture, even on a specific street, guarantees you a loooong wait, as dozens of meeting spots are found to be not the one.

Every movie theater screens a video montage of the King, before every feature film, after the previews and advertisements are done. Everyone is expected to stand, and sing along (if you know the words). Some patrons are self-proclaimed Protocol Police, yelling at those who are sitting down, and sometimes dragging the rude moviegoers outside. Thai people are usually very courteous to tourists or foreigners, usually smiling and motioning for others to stand for the royal tribute - just don’t cop an attitude…

A commuter train system was being built in Bangkok, in 1999. Thai people have a somewhat casual outlook towards work, especially those in manual labor. When the project seemed to be dragging on too long, a royal advisor suggested that an appeal from the King might inspire the workers. In a televised statement, the King mentioned that it might be nice to open the train system on his birthday. The workers were galvanized, but so were the public. Any worker, that even looked like they might be slacking, was screamed at by random people on the street “The King wants his train finished - how dare you make him wait?!”

The BTS Skytrain opened on December 5, 1999 - the King’s birthday.

Think for a moment about the last time you were that passionate about pleasing a monarch, a leader, a politician - anybody, for that matter.

Another interesting example:

The King considered himself a jazz musician, playing several instruments and composing music as well. In certain countries in Asia, birthdays are grouped in cycles of 12 - we Westerners know this as the ‘animal zodiac’ (year of the Dog, the Horse, the Snake, etc.). The 72nd birthday, or the 6th-cycle birthday, is considered most auspicious. As a result, every month, from December 1999 to December 2000, there would be a jazz concert in Bangkok, presenting various artists from the USA and elsewhere. Each group was requested to perform at least one composition written by the King. Being a jazz musician myself, I was in hog heaven, hearing and visiting with the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra, featuring Renee Rosnes, Steve Turré, and Jon Faddis, and the Manhattan Jazz Quintet: David Matthews, Victor Lewis, Lew Soloff, Bill Evans (sax) and Charnett Moffett. One of my Thai vocal students was asked to sing a song by the King; I worked with her to prepare for the concert.

It was believed in Thailand that kings were akin to gods, and that that the people had no right to look at the royal family. King Bhumibol and Queen SiriKit implored, almost ordered the people to look them in their faces, to acknowledge and accept their humaness. A lover of photography and science, the King would travel on fact-finding missions, wearing a windbreaker and his ever-present camera, to see first-hand the conditions his advisors spoke of in palace meetings.

Riding in a taxi, the driver said to me softly, as we passed one of the many portraits in Bangkok, in 1999,

“Yes, my King is an old man now. But he is still my King.”

I reflected on that moment, when I heard news of the King’s passing, and I shed silent tears for a ruler who was so beloved. A special monarch in a special country.

Becca Anzalone · Answer

We sing the national anthem at school ceremonies to honor the people that died, so we could freely sing the national anthem and then sing songs anywhere we want in the United States of America. Dont forget those who died or who fought for you! Screw the political crap. Someone gave their life for you, so you could be you! Honor them !!! Whoever you are or what ever you want to be someone laid down their life for you! Do not turn your back! If they they had turned their back we wouldn’t be here Honor our veterans please

Anonymous · Answer

In Bhutan, there is meditation,  a Buddhist prayer and then the National anthem.

Anonymous · Answer

It not even normal in Japan. I've heard the national anthem sung in schools thousands of times. It is practiced and sung like many songs. It is one of the songs that people are supposed to know. It is a gloomy tune, I grant that.

When you go to a public event where the anthem is stood and sung, you can count the number of sitters on one hand and have fingers to spare. Back 30 or 40 years ago the teacher's unions would encourage their members not to sing, but those days are long gone.

I think your source for this is rather dated.

Joseph Byrd · Answer

Well, the singing of the National Anthem before sporting events is unique to our nation (except for international events, where the winning nation’s anthem gets played). Frankly, this is embarrassing, like every politician wears a flag pin on the lapel — it suggests a weird kind of insecurity…as though not wearing one might be a secret code that somehow means you are “unamerican.” Wherever that idea came from, it is disgusting, that an elected official needs to trumpet (pun intended) his allegiance to the nation. But once the Republicans did it, the Democrats hastily did the same. Don’t wanna be seen as “unpatriotic.”

Nations less secure about their emblems regard us with amusement. Yes, they have national anthems, many of them superior to our ancient one [ https://www.sfgate.com/opinion/article/Time-for-a-new-national-anthem-3182778.php ], which is about triumph (while the British swept through the War of 1812, and burned down the White House!).

So then, why do we do it?

If it’s to show honor to our country, why does every domestic event have to begin with it? Are we so bereft of patriotism in our politics that we need to prove it by pointless gestures?

Methinks we doth protest too much.

Does it really matter? My wife refused to even stand. The result: the Cleveland School Board refused to allow her to attend graduation, even though she was salutatorian. I choose to stand, simply because I don’t want to get into a public disagreement.

If freedom of opinion/speech means anything, it means you decide what to honor.

Mariana Ferreira Albuquerque · Answer

No (Portugal and Spain).

Spain’s national anthem does not have lyrics, to start with. Besides, this is a country with lots of inner tension- you may be called a fascist for putting up the national flag in your balcony (especially in regions like Catalunya). Nationality is a tricky issue in Spain, so, to avoid tension- no national anthems whatsoever.*

In Portugal the vast majority (if not all) people are proud and okay with being Portuguese, so there’s no regional tension the way there is in Spain. Still, the national anthem is not sung at school (it does have lyrics, by the way). It may be played in some graduation ceremony or something of the sort (I’ve heard of it), but other than that, no. My mom told me that she and her classmates did occasionally sing it at school, but that was back in the 70s-80s.

*In case anyone is wondering, I have never heard Els Segadors (Catalunya’s anthem) at school, either.

Brian LeButt · Answer

I lived in Thailand for several years (but never in Bangkok) and only recall the playing of the National Anthem while at or near a military facility in the morning and evening during the flag ceremony. Out of respect I (we, my golfing buddies) would stop, take off our hats and stand at attention during these occasions. Our caddies would do the same (except doffing their head-gear - they were female). Also I the Philippines, where I lived for 20 years, this same ceremony occurred and while attending certain ceremonies I would even sing their National Anthem (in Tagalog) along with the music and the other attendees. It’s just plain respectful, nothing more and nothing less.

Josh Lim · Answer

Every Monday (or some other day of the week, depending on where you go), schoolchildren in the Philippines always have a flag ceremony to start the week off.

The flag ceremony is a time-honored tradition in Philippine schools, and this is normally is made up of three parts: a prayer (especially if you go to a Catholic school), singing the National Anthem and the school alma mater song, and the recitation of one or several pledges. In fact, the flag ceremony is mandatory (yes, the law says that schools must hold a flag ceremony), and it has been since 1955 [ http://www.chanrobles.com/republicacts/republicactno1265.html ].

When I was in school, we recited pledges not once, not twice, but three times! That’s because while two pledges are mandatory for all students in the Philippines, the third is specific to my school.

The first one of these is the Panatang Makabayan, also known as the Patriotic Oath [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriotic_Oath_(Philippines) ]. First instituted in the 1950s, the Panatang Makabayan encourages Filipino schoolchildren to be committed to the country, its ideals, and more especially to their families and, quite fitting for the course, their school. While the Panata today is recited in Filipino, it was originally written in English.

This is then followed by the Panunumpa ng Katapatan sa Watawat ng Pilipinas, or the Pledge of Allegiance [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pledge_of_Allegiance_to_the_Philippine_Flag ]. This was first instituted in 1998 with the passage of a new national symbols law. Notably, the last four lines of the Panunumpa ng Katapatan sa Watawat, “Maka-Diyos, Maka-Tao, Makakalikasan at Makabansa [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maka-Diyos,_Maka-Tao,_Makakalikasan_at_Makabansa ]”, constitute the national motto of the Philippines.

Finally, my school had its own pledge, the Oath of Saint Augustine.

I have yet to see any other place do as many pledges as a Philippine private school. It would be interesting to see though if others top it. :P

Hara Shidho · Answer

At 8:00 a.m. (and 6:00 p.m.), Thai public institutions play the national anthem. Many of you know this because this is done on TV.

And while this national anthem is heard, Thai citizens who are not undergoing medical treatment or driving are required to assume an upright and immobile posture.

The playing of the national anthem at 8:00 a.m. is also performed in most Thai schools.

Many schools require students to assemble on the school grounds at this time, and some of them even require the singing of the national anthem.

In addition, several of these schools check the volume of the national anthem. One of those schools was strongly criticized and quit imposing severe penalties when the volume of the audio was low, after it was shown on video.

However, several Thais commented that many teachers are concerned about the volume of the national anthem.

Jon Wan · Answer

It is played twice a day. 8am and 6pm. It lasts only briefly. Those times coincide with the raising of the flag in the morning and lowering of the same in the evenings.

I find the tone in the question a little condescending. Observing and respecting the Thai national anthem for a mere minute won’t really affect our lives as foreigners. i am sure you’d expect the same in your home country if there were such practices.

Anonymous · Answer

When we were at school, in every morning or day in the assembly before the start of classes we had to pledge this:

“আমি শপথ করিতেছি যে, মানুষের সেবায় সর্বদা নিজেকে নিয়োজিত রাখিব। দেশের প্রতি অনুগত থাকিব। দেশের একতা ও সংহতি বজায় রাখিবার জন্য সচেষ্ট থাকিব।

হে আল্লাহ, আমাকে শক্তি দিন। আমি যেন বাংলাদেশের সেবা করিতে পারি। এবং বাংলাদেশকে একটি শক্তিশালী ও আদর্শ রাষ্ট্র হিসেবে গড়িয়া তুলিতে পারি।

আমিন।”

“I pledge that I will always keep myself in the service of people. I will be loyal to the country. I will continue to maintain the unity and solidarity of the country.

O Allah, give me strength. May I serve Bangladesh. And can make Bangladesh as a strong and ideal state.

Amen.”

But it is not a mandatory practice. Many of the schools don’t have this rituals. It is not like the American Pledge of Allegiance. We don’t have this kind of ritual.

H.ShanDing · Answer

Every Monday only? Singapore schools does it every schooling morning.

I rmember sitting in the parade square in the wee hours of the morning waiting for the morning ritual to start (attendance taking and national anthem) then off to class we go.

Anton Van Niekerk · Answer

….I thought it was quite cute, so I joined in, ( not that I had much choice….) but slightly less cute was when we caught a taxi in the crazy traffic of Bangkok, and whenever the driver drove passed the palace, or a poster of His Majesty, they would take both hands off the wheel and perform a *Wai*……which was a bit reckless, given the oncoming traffic.

Elsa Giuseppe · Answer

Yes they do, twice a day when the flag is raised up in the mornings and goes down at sunset. Foreigners are also expected to stand up out of respect.