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Post by Noble Work on Sept 3, 2009 15:51:18 GMT -5
Obama goes back to school
On September 8, in what the Department of Education is touting as a "historic" speech, President Obama will be talking directly to students across the U.S., live on the White House website. But some parents and conservatives are blasting the president, calling the speech an excuse to brainwash American children.
Last month, in an interview with 11-year-old student reporter Damon Weaver, the president announced his big back-to-school plan:
"I'm going to be making a big speech to young people all across the country about the importance of education; about the importance of staying in school; how we want to improve our education system and why it’s so important for the country. So I hope everybody tunes in."
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan sent a letter to the nation's principals, inviting schools to watch the speech and included suggested classroom activities. But Jim Greer, the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, came out swinging against the planned speech. An excerpt from his statement:
"The address scheduled for September 8, 2009, does not allow for healthy debate on the President's agenda, but rather obligates the youngest children in our public school system to agree with our President's initiatives or be ostracized by their teachers and classmates."
NBC spoke with Katie Gordon, a spokeswoman for the Florida Republican Party, who said the party's "beef" is with the accompanying lesson plans. The guide for pre-K through grade 6 suggests questions students think about during the speech, such as "What is the President trying to tell me? What is the President asking me to do?"
The plan for grades 7-12 includes a "guided discussion," with suggested topics: "What resonated with you from President Obama's speech? What is President Obama inspiring you to do?"
The Cato Institute, a public-policy research foundation, issued a press release entitled "Hey Obama, Leave Those Kids Alone," criticizing the "troubling buzzwords" in the lesson plans:
"It's one thing for a president to encourage all kids to work hard and stay in school – that's a reasonable use of the bully pulpit. It's another thing entirely, however, to have the U.S. Department of Education send detailed instructions to public schools nationwide on how to glorify the president and the presidency, and push them to drive social change."
Across the blogosphere, comments covered the spectrum, from critical to supportive, and from one student, a little anger:
"I sent my children to school to be educated NOT indoctrinated." — justamom
"The fact that people want to keep their kids from hearing the President of the United States encourage them to do well in school shows a true level of ignorance." — Firefey
"As an [sic] 9th grade student, I'd like to say that 1. I'm not sure why everyone is so scared that we'll all be brainwashed by the President ... 2. My school is one that is not allowing us to watch the speech, and quite frankly, I'm pissed." — Willbw
Both Presidents George Bush and Ronald Reagan both gave speeches aimed specifically at students that were nationally televised. In 1989, Bush delivered a televised anti-drug speech, and Reagan's 1986 commencement speech and Q&A session was "beamed over public television into 171 school districts," according to the L.A. Times.
It's worth noting that schools are, encouraged, not required, to air the speech. The Houston Chronicle reports that one Dallas school district is leaving the decision to individual teachers. Susan Dacus, spokeswoman for the Wylie school district, says parents who don't want their children to see it can opt out.
In an ironic twist, one Missouri school won't be airing the speech because of a lack of funding. Michelle Baumstark, spokeswoman for Columbia public schools, told the Columbia Daily Tribune, "We don’t have the funding or the equipment to support that type of broadcasting.”
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Post by Noble Work on Sept 3, 2009 15:57:49 GMT -5
But yet when "W" got on the air and announced that we are going to War, blindly (many times killing the innocent) these same people were all for it. Yes it was all good then. But when somebody who doesn't look like MOST of them try to speak a good word to the youth, it's brainwashing.......Good call nut cracks!!!
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Post by Bunny Hop on Sept 3, 2009 16:27:15 GMT -5
Dayum that Obama for wanting to encourage kids to do better and to be better and to aspire for one the highest positions in the world! *shakes angry fist at Obama* |
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Post by Dasani on Sept 7, 2009 23:41:31 GMT -5
*walks up to the mike and clears throat*
This argument…*pauses* is just plan stupid.
*drops the mike and glares at the people against the President giving the speech, and walks away*
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Post by 123Diva on Sept 8, 2009 7:37:01 GMT -5
Hmmm....Laura Bush is backing President Obama and now so are many who previously were critics of the speech. They've seen it and don't see the harm. We all know there's NO reason for the uprising. Plain silly. He just wants the kids to stay in school.
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Post by Oldskool on Sept 8, 2009 8:59:44 GMT -5
*walks up to the mike and clears throat* This argument…*pauses* is just plan stupid. *drops the mike and glares at the people against the President giving the speech, and walks away* |
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Post by No Screen Name on Sept 8, 2009 10:02:07 GMT -5
Okay, one of my Republican FB friends says that the issue was that they didn't know what was in the speech ahead of time. She went on to say that he is a "polarizing" figure. I don't see how, when he has bent over BACKWARDS to reach out to these idiots. |
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Post by Noble Work on Sept 8, 2009 11:00:22 GMT -5
Polarizing? I guess she means Black is the opposite of White.
Did they ask to see the last THREE President's speech before they spoke on the same topic?
Even Former First Lady Laura Bush has Co-signed with President Obama. (what can the harm be in telling kids to stay in school and further there education through College?)
Did they ask for a synopsis on what "Dubya" was going to say before he sent their Children to War?
Did they question why Bush invited the "Conservative" talk show hosts to talk with them?
Hell their Children watched the OJ trial.
I bet they watched the Monica Lewinsky (sp?) escapades.
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Post by No Screen Name on Sept 8, 2009 11:16:59 GMT -5
A lot of Repugs are asserting now that this speech isn't the "original" speech he planned to give. |
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Post by Noble Work on Sept 8, 2009 12:37:35 GMT -5
A lot of Repugs are asserting now that this speech isn't the "original" speech he planned to give. WOW!!!! What next.....lol Well to me it didn't even sound like a speech. It seemed to me that he was speaking directly from his heart, his childhood and past experiences. The things he were talking about didn't seemed rehearsed or subjected to memory. Anybody or they themselves (wing nuts) could of talked to the children about the SAME thing. This hatred they have in themselves is incredible and will eat them alive from the inside out. |
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Post by Oldskool on Sept 8, 2009 15:14:31 GMT -5
A lot of Repugs are asserting now that this speech isn't the "original" speech he planned to give. WOW!!!! What next.....lol Well to me it didn't even sound like a speech. It seemed to me that he was speaking directly from his heart, his childhood and past experiences. The things he were talking about didn't seemed rehearsed or subjected to memory. Anybody or they themselves (wing nuts) could of talked to the children about the SAME thing. This hatred they have in themselves is incredible and will eat them alive from the inside out. AMEN! |
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Post by Julie Art on Sept 8, 2009 15:51:45 GMT -5
This is retarded to the fullest extent. When I heard on the radio this morning that some parents aren't allowing their kids to go to school because they don't want them to hear "our President of these United States encourage ALL kids to stay in school and strive to be the best they can be," I immediatley thought they are doing harm to their own kids, and not our dear President. He already has his, its their kids who need to strive to get theirs.
No wonder America falls behind countries like China when it comes to education. America has officially be "dumbed-down". If my 4 year old niece lived with me, I would have made sure she was somewhere watching it.
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Post by peppermint on Sept 8, 2009 15:57:18 GMT -5
A lot of Repugs are asserting now that this speech isn't the "original" speech he planned to give. My issue with this is... how do you really know what someone is getting ready to say? Even if he'd published the speech three months ago, that doesn't mean that's what would have come out of his mouth today. This is an example of people wanting to be upset about something. |
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Post by Noble Work on Sept 8, 2009 16:45:46 GMT -5
A lot of Repugs are asserting now that this speech isn't the "original" speech he planned to give. My issue with this is... how do you really know what someone is getting ready to say? Even if he'd published the speech three months ago, that doesn't mean that's what would have come out of his mouth today. This is an example of people wanting to be upset about something. AND Pep that something is he doesn't look like them point blank. |
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Post by T-Rex91 on Sept 8, 2009 18:41:01 GMT -5
They are scared because they don't want their children to think for themselves. In the same way that parents in the 60's were horrified by their children's rejection of their racist ways and embrace of black music and culture, these parents are scared of the unifying movement and adulation that Obama created during the campaign. My friend's daughter goes to a prominent private school here and she was telling me about the kids sneaking out to campaign for Obama because their parents wouldn't approve. If they are naive enough to think that they can shield their children in this age of information overload, they are fools.
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Post by Highly Favored on Sept 8, 2009 19:01:43 GMT -5
A lot of Repugs are asserting now that this speech isn't the "original" speech he planned to give. My issue with this is... how do you really know what someone is getting ready to say? Even if he'd published the speech three months ago, that doesn't mean that's what would have come out of his mouth today. This is an example of people wanting to be upset about something. I agree, especially with the part about people wanting to be upset about something. That is why I don't give them a forum with me. My 6-year old saw it and he told me "President Obama said for us to be on our best behavior". I'm really upset that he heard that. (Being sarcastic) My 16-year old was upset that many of his classmates saw the President, but he did not. He was in a college course during that block of school and missed it. I'm going to see if I can find it for him so that he can see it. |
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Post by nsync on Sept 9, 2009 8:46:51 GMT -5
Sigh... you know these folks who are afraid that we are moving towards socialism...they don't even understand the concept. Our country is built on sensationalism. This is no different. As someone said the other day: Good let those kids stay home (not watch). They probably don't need the inspiration anyhow.  |
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Post by DamieQue™ on Sept 9, 2009 11:49:09 GMT -5
Sometimes I feel like saying, "would you all just go ahead and admit that no matter what he does - you will be outraged?"
Why pretend like you have philosophical or ideological grievances with him? You don't. And we can tell you don't...
...you know how we can tell? Cause NONE of the $h!t you are saying makes ANY sense.
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Post by Oldskool on Sept 9, 2009 17:55:54 GMT -5
Did you guys hear about Arlington School District(Texas) not allowing the speech to be televised in the schols? Parents who wanted their kids to hear it had to "permission slip" them out of school and take them to a nearby location. Well this same district is busing about 200-500 students to the new Arlington stadium to hear a speech by the former President, George Bush. That is just blatant disrespect.
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Post by nsync on Sept 9, 2009 20:20:32 GMT -5
^^^^ that is a bunch of bull. Ridiculous. He is not the only President to speak to the students. Why all the outrage?
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Post by Julie Art on Sept 9, 2009 22:56:45 GMT -5
Cause he looks more like us then like them Outtie. Racism and prejudice still co-exist in 2009 and if anyone says otherwise they are misinformed.
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Post by denounced on Sept 10, 2009 0:26:31 GMT -5
So are black people... Just as prejudice as ever...
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Post by Noble Work on Sept 10, 2009 9:41:54 GMT -5
So are black people... Just as prejudice as ever... Yea but THEY started it first......lololol |
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Post by Chal™ on Sept 10, 2009 11:34:26 GMT -5
lol
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Post by Robelite on Sept 10, 2009 12:00:17 GMT -5
So are black people... Just as prejudice as ever...  I didn't realize your self-loathing was as serious as this. Do you, Ward Connerly, Larry Elder and the coon on the Supreme Court gather for coffee monthly? Y'all must have a "C" street house or something!  I still haven't forgotten that you proclaimed racist extraordinaire Jesse Helms as a "great American." |
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Post by Robelite on Sept 10, 2009 12:03:49 GMT -5
That is just blatant disrespect. That's not what it was, Oksana! It went well beyond disrespect...and it was so obvious!! |
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Post by Oldskool on Sept 10, 2009 12:31:16 GMT -5
That is just blatant disrespect. That's not what it was, Oksana! It went well beyond disrespect...and it was so obvious!! solidarity" last night, it's safe to call an ace an ace and a spade a spade......RACIST PIGS....oops, didn't mean to say it so loud. |
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Post by Julie Art on Sept 10, 2009 13:14:25 GMT -5
So are black people... Just as prejudice as ever... And we all know you are speaking from your own experience, you exude prejudice toward damn near everything when you post. |
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Post by Noble Work on Sept 10, 2009 13:43:26 GMT -5
Its sounds like he is one of the people who has never been around or seen racism. Has never seen any racist acts and never seen or heard of the people who do them.
The things we had to over come while getting bit by dogs and water hoses cutting our flesh was ALL made up, huh. We just imagined the whole thing.
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