ALABAMA – An amendment requiring public schools to play the national anthem is going through the Alabama legislature right now.
Currently the “Star Spangled Banner” is not required to be played at public schools in Alabama. State Sen. Gerald Allen said he wanted to make the change when he noticed the anthem was not played at his granddaughter’s volleyball game.
Allen is the author of an amendment to the state constitution that will be considered by the Senate Education Committee soon. If passed, it would allow Alabamians to vote on requiring the national anthem be played before all public-school sporting events.
“So students can be reminded that men and women in uniform for generations gave their lives to make this country great as we know it today,” Allen said.
The bill also requires the anthem be played during school hours once a week.
“There are some students who don’t have the privilege to attend an event like that,” Allen said. “And they never get to hear the national anthem.”
The amendment has to go through both the Senate and the House of Representatives before making its way to the governor. If passed it will be placed on the ballot to be voted on in November 2022.
Allen said this would bring continuity on the matter between all school systems in the state, but it will be up to the local school boards to decide how, when, and where the national anthem will be played. The senator thinks this would not just be beneficial for students, but everyone.
“We can encourage students, young adults, everyone, to be reminded how important the national anthem is,” Allen said.
