Port Augusta mum's anger as she pulls her kids out of Seaview Christian College after they were made to stand for the Australian national anthem

An Aboriginal mother has pulled her children out of a school after her daughter was told to stand for the national anthem and allegedly threatened with punishment if she refused.

The unnamed mother told the ABC her 11-year-old daughter was asked to stand for Advance Australia Fair during a music class in February at Seaview Christian College, a private school located in the South Australian coastal city of Port Augusta. 

She accused the school of forcing 'assimilation' by making children stand for the anthem while Seaview Christian College said the demand was made 'to respect the formality of the event'.

'You either assimilate or you get out of their school,' the furious mother said.

'There's no room for discussion, there's no room for negotiation, you either do that or you just get out.'

She said the anthem was written in a time when Indigenous people 'had no rights'. 

The ABC viewed a letter the two girls wrote, but did not send to the school, about the incident. 

'Aboriginal people find the 'National Anthem' offensive. As it does not represent us in any way or form,' the girls wrote.

'And when we are made to sing or stand, you are taking away our rights as Aboriginal people in our land.'

Seaview Christian College told the ABC it respected 'individual views of all students and families in regard to the anthem'.

However, it said parents had to 'uphold the principles and values of our school and abide by behavioural standards … for the collective benefit of all students'. 

Seaview Christian College requires parents to sign an enrolment contract before admitting children where families commit to fully supporting the college and to respectfully honour the college leadership and their decisions. 

The school also said a 'written offer to meet and discuss the issues further was rejected by the family' although other emails suggested that meeting would only take place when the mother 'understood the position of the college'. 

It's alleged the 11-year-old girl's name, along with the name of another 12-year-old Aboriginal student who also refused to stand, was written on the board and both were given a lunchtime detention to serve the following day. 

The mother kept her daughter home from school the next day but the ABC said the other girl is understood to have served detention.

Seaview Christian College denied to the ABC that any disciplinary action was taken. 

The mother said the children's grandmother was a member of the Stolen Generations and was beaten for not participating in the anthem while being schooled.

In her case when the national anthem is played the mother said she was 'not disrespectful' but sits quietly and lets the song pass, which is the same attitude she has taught her children with more than one attending Seaview Christian College.

She told the school that being made to stand for the anthem amounted to singing it.  

Although is it official Commonwealth protocol for people to stand when the national anthem is played, there is no formal policy regarding this in South Australian schools.

SA's Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People April Lawrie said the situation as described was 'definitely not cultural safety'.

'I think the response from the school doesn't seem to fit the issue, it's not proportional,' Commissioner Lawrie said.

She said Aboriginal people should not be belittled or made to feel ashamed of standing up for their 'cultural identity'.

The mother has lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission, the Independent Schools Association and the Education Standards Board in South Australia.

Seaview Christian College has been contacted for comment.