I too sang this song in grade school, and I also watched "Birth of a Nation" in high school (1972 or 73). It was a valuable lesson on how Hollywood can make evil appear good. We didn't believe the teacher when he told us that by the end of the movie we'd be cheering for the KKK - until the end of the movie. I don't suppose that kids today would be allowed to learn that lesson due to Polical Correctness.