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What school events built pride in Australia's contribution to the war?
What school events built pride in Australia's contribution to the war?
Learning intention – We are learning about significance, symbols and emblems..
Success criteria – We can provide examples of symbols and emblems used in the past to develop empathy and patriotism.
Assemblies and patriotic songs
Assemblies and patriotic songs
Schools held morning or weekly assemblies intended to build pride in Australia’s contribution to the war and encourage patriotism to Great Britain and the British Empire.
Assemblies followed a similar format from school to school and included prayers, hymns, patriotic songs, the national anthem, a pledge and salute to the flag: the Union Jack and the Australian flag.
Assemblies were solemn and respectful and intended to be inspirational and reverent.
Morning assembly, Hamilton Infants SchoolThe Education Gazette, 1 Dec 1918, p.299
Assembly, Waverley Infants SchoolThe Education Gazette, 1 April 1918, p.76
Hymn for our soldiers
Hymn for our soldiers
Guards our troops in foreign lands
Help their courage long to stand
Strengthen every British hand
While we kneel and pray.
Transcript from blackboard, Waverley Infants SchoolThe Education Gazette, 1 April 1918, p.76
Assembly, Waverley Infants School, saluting the flagThe Education Gazette, 1 April 1918, p.76
Pledge to the flag
Pledge to the flag
The work of our hands,
The thought of our heads,
The love of our hearts,
We pledge to the Flag.
Prayer for peace
Prayer for peace
O God of Love, O King of Peace,
May war throughout the world to cease,
The wrath of sinful man restrain:
Give peace, O God, give peace again.
The National Anthem
The National Anthem
The National Anthem sung during the war years was God Save Our King with the added verse God Bless Our Men.
The hymn O God Our Help in Ages Past was often included In assemblies in primary departments.
Eternal Father Strong to Save was also sung, especially in support of Australian men at war in submarines.
God Save our King
God Save our King
God save our gracious King,
Long live our noble King,
God save our King;
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious!
Long to reign over us,
God save the King.
God Bless Our Men
God Bless Our Men
God save our splendid men,
Send them safe home again,
God save our men.
Keep them victorious
Patient and chivalrous
They are so dear to us;
God save our men.
O God, Our Help in Ages Past
O God, Our Help in Ages Past
O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
Under the shadow of Thy throne
Still may we dwell secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defence is sure.
Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.
O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou my guard while life shall last,
And our eternal home.
Give Peace, O God - hymn. The School Magazine, Part 3, 1 Nov 1918, p.144
The School Magazine
The School Magazine
The School Magazine published patriotic songs such as:
The Sea is England’s Glory by JW Lake (Part 2, 1 Feb 1917)
Advance Australia Fair by PD McCormick (Part 2, 2 July 1917)
The Battle Hymn of the Republic, words by Julia Ward Howe, music by W Steffe. (Part 3, 1 Feb 1918)
Over There by Ethel Boyce (1 April 1918)
Give Peace, O God! (Part 3, 1 Nov 1918)
Questions and activities
Questions and activities
View the photographs of Waverley Infants School and the timetable for the morning schedule at Hamilton Infants School in December 1918.
What are the Waverley infants children doing in each photograph ?
Examine the Morning Assembly schedule. In what two parts of the schedule are the children in the photographs participating?
Read two or more of the hymns, pledges or songs. What are the common themes?
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