America the Beautiful
From Sea to Shining Sea: Fulfilling the Promise for All Students
This week my daughter graduated from Newton North High School in Newton, MA. We were lucky, it was a clear 83 degree day, and by the time in the ceremony where the 550 names were being called in the ceremony the sun was setting, and it was a lovely evening where families cheered, shot of the perfunctory air horn and lost control of mylar balloons as they floated over the athletic field.
While awaiting the start of the ceremony, I read the program. After the graduates processed into the field, we would be welcomed by the school principal and then as a first musical interlude, the choir would perform “America the Beautiful”, before a soloist was to sing the national anthem. Very Americana. But when the ceremony started, the principal, included this piece of information in his remarks, that “America the Beautiful” was written by Katharine Lee Bates, a 1876 graduate of Newton High School. The murmur of the attendees acknowledging this interesting piece of trivia was notable.
Founded in 1859 as Newton High School the school was the central location for High School Students in the mid-sized city until 1960 when a second High School (Newton South) was opened. When Bates attended, she had recently graduated from High School in nearby Wellesley, MA and sought additional education at Newton High School prior to her enrollment at Wellesley College. An interesting factoid for sure.
The choir, made up of graduating students and underclassmen found their way to the risers where they were led by a beloved performing arts teacher who was retiring this academic year. It was a lovely rendition. Nothing worthy of a viral clip from “America’s Got Talent”, but it was clearly well rehearsed and something the school and families could be proud of.
When the chorus got to the end of the first verse, “And crown thy good with brotherhood. From sea to shining sea!” The flood gates of tears opened up.
The audio of “America the Beautiful” as performed at the Newton North High School Graduation, June 2025
Admittedly, this is an emotional moment for any parent. But in this political climate, I would be lying if I told you that I was feeling less than hopeful about the prospects of all of us in attendance. During a time where the world of possibility is ahead of each and every one of these graduating seniors, I feel like we’ve failed them. “And crown thy good with brotherhood,” feels like a concept centuries away from reality.
The chorus sang through several verses. When I went to the internet to find the lyrics of “America the Beautiful”, I came to discover that there were many versions. After initially publishing the poem on July 4, 1895, Bates herself wrote updated versions two more times (1904 and 1913). Bates’s 1904 lyrics reflect a more introspective and forward thinking tone, with lines like “God mend thine every flaw, confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law,” suggesting a call for national self-improvement and even moral responsibility. 1913 was a year marked by various social movements, including the Women’s Suffrage Movement, which clearly informed a revision for this strong woman.
Bates was a woman who had made her education a priority. She had family members to lean on and a tradition of education in it (Her mother graduated from Mount Holyoke and her grandfather had been president of Middlebury College), but ultimately the drive and success that came from her education was seemingly propelled by an internal engine of feminist ideals. She was also a societal “outsider” of sorts. It is documented that she and fellow Wellesley College professor, Katharine Coman met in 1887, and lived together as what was then termed as a “Boston marriage” for over 25 years.
Perhaps now is a time to take “America the Beautiful” into a song for 2025. Having become more aware of the ongoing evolution of the song and the life of Bates herself, I got to thinking that “America the Beautiful” isn’t about a time long ago. Rather, it’s about the future. It’s about the future that the graduates will make, despite what we’ve given them to work with. It’s about aspiration motivated by what could be, not what is.
As higher education professionals, particularly those in student affairs, we are entrusted with the responsibility to nurture and advance the aspirational promise embedded in “America the Beautiful.” Our work calls us to create environments where every student, regardless of background, is seen and can see themselves. Dignity, opportunity, and belonging are not simply ideals, they are modalities for our work. In honoring the evolving spirit of Katharine Lee Bates’s vision, we must ensure that our campuses are an environment where “crown thy good with brotherhood” is actively pursued. The true beauty of American higher education lies in our collective commitment to help our students realize their fullest potential, from sea to shining sea.
Beautiful and poignant…thank you!