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Episode 4 of season one, ‘Stand Up’ has proven that you should always fight for the rights that you most believe in, even if people are going to oppose your belief.
A sixteen-year-old teenager named Joel Shields was given an opportunity to study at Clifton Grammar College with a scholarship. At his school, the national anthem is sung daily. In this scene, Joel only knew half the lyrics to the national anthem. The principal (Gillian Jones) notices that Joel wasn’t singing, so she instructed one of the teachers to talk to him after the assembly. After the talk, Joel was told to research Australia and to learn the lyrics. Joel found the big banana and a meat pie representing Australia, odd.
Joel’s dad said, “I have never stood up for that song”. This gives Joel (Aaron McGrath) a hint of what to do. So in the assembly, Joel made his choice to sit down and not sing the national anthem. In the scene you can slowly tell and see how Joel has no impression on acknowledging the national anthem.
Ever since Joel’s dad said not to stand up for the song, Joel has constantly been abiding against
the rules and has been kept after the assembly. The principal is very against Joel sitting down during the national anthem. This shows that an Indigenous person isn’t given rights. An Indigenous teacher, Mr. Moore (Bjorn Stewart), also told him, “I’ve never sung a word”. A close-up of Joel looking relieved after hearing what what Mr. Moore has told him.
When Joel and his parents had a consultation about the actions Joel was taking, Joel’s mum (Ursula Yovich), argued, “Our son will stand and sing the national anthem”. This goes to show that not every person will stand up for the beliefs you believe in.
Although Joel was expelled, he still shows pride by coming to school. Joel kept coming until a security guard shows up in front of his class to escort him out of the school. Joel is very disappointed by this action but his parents were glad because a photographer was waiting to capture the moment. A newspaper article with the headline, “Aboriginal Youth Expelled Over National Anthem” was released to publicly shame the school and say that kicking out an Indigenous student for not singing in the national anthem is an abuse of power.
Joel got expelled from the school because he decided not to sing the national anthem and accepted what his heart wanted for him. After Joel left school, some of the students fought for him. They felt they hadn’t been given rights to do what they want and ignored the schools beliefs, so they didn’t sing the national anthem and didn’t stand up for the nationals anthem. Also, they asked the principal to bring Joel back and they believed if anything happens to them, their parents will be there for them.
