God Save the King plan will go forward at Dauphin-area school division

A western Manitoba school division's plan to reintroduce the playing of God Save the King during morning announcements is back on despite controversy.

At a school board meeting on Monday evening, Mountain View School Division chair Jason Gryba said the plan will go ahead while the division consults with lawyers on the legal repercussions.

Manitoba legislation includes a regulation that says the first verse of God Save the King should be sung by students at the end of the school day or the end of opening exercises in all public schools.

However, the tradition has not been enforced for many years, with many school divisions abandoning it altogether.

Some trustees expressed concern that bringing the royal anthem back could negativelly affect Indigenous staff and students.

The province has previously said it is conducting a broader regulatory review of education, including procedures for morning announcements.

Up To Speed5:31Mountain View School Division bringing "God Save the King" back into classrooms

Nathan Martindale, president of the Manitoba Teachers' Society, speaks with Faith Fundal about why he thinks bringing back "God Save the King" anthem back into classrooms will not forward reconciliation efforts made by the division.