By ninemsn staff
A NSW school has banned teaching students a song which promotes saying sorry to Aborigines after a father complained his son was being used as a "political stunt".
The "Sorry Song" is part of a song book published by Scholastic which has been distributed to several NSW primary schools, and features the words: "If we can say sorry to the people from this land, sing, sing loud, break through the silence, sing sorry across this land."
The father of an eight-year-old boy who was taught the song for Naidoc Week at Kiama Public School complained to the school about the song's inclusion.
"(My son) arrived home from school and asked 'How come I have to say sorry for stealing the Aborigines' children?'," Hamish East told the Daily Telegraph.
"I have raised each of my children to apologise for their actions ... central to this is an understanding of the nexus between poor behaviour and an apology."
School principal Jenny Maude reportedly told East they had banned the song following his complaint, adding they didn't think children actually listened to the words.
East, who is a Kiama councillor, said he was not against reconciliation, but "these are all emotive, controversial political issues and matters in which personal views should not be forced down the throats of our children".
The "Sorry Song" was written in 1998 by female West Australian composer Kerry Fletcher, who is not Aboriginal, and has since found its way into recent editions of the widely distributed ABC Song Book.
Teachers Federation deputy president Angelo Gavrielatos defended the song, saying the exploitation of Aborigines and the Stolen Generation must be acknowledged by students.
"We have to take some responsibility for our past," he said.
But Opposition education spokesman Andrew Stoner said the school should keep its distance from controversial topics.
"Any discussion of Australia's history must include the indigenous perspective but controversial political issues should be left to parents."
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