by Mark Silva
President Barack Obama, whose two young daughters return to school next week, has some back-to-school plans of his own: An unprecedented presidential address to public schoolchildren at noon EDT on Tuesday.
Arne Duncan, the president's secretary of education, has one way of explaining it: "The president will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning.''
Jim Greer, the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, has another explanation for it: "As the father of four children, I am absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama's socialist ideology.''
"The Democrats have clearly lost the battle to maintain control of the message this summer,'' the state GOP chairman maintains, "so now that school is back in session, President Obama has turned to American's children to spread his liberal lies, indoctrinating American's youngest children before they have a chance to decide for themselves."
Obama will deliver a national address directly to students on "the importance of taking responsibility for their success in school,'' the White House said just now in formally announcing an address that the DOE had telegraphed late last month. The president will deliver his talk from Wakefield High School in Arlington, Va. It will be broadcast on C-SPAN.
The Florida Republican complains that schoolchildren will be "forced'' to watch an address by the president of the United States. The DOE has distributed lesson plans to help teachers make an educational experience of the presidential address.
Obama will "call for a shared responsibility and commitment on the part of students, parents and educators to ensure that every child in every school receives the best education possible so they can compete in the global economy for good jobs and live rewarding and productive lives as American citizens,'' says Duncan, former superintendent of the public schools in Chicago.
Duncan plans his own appearance on CBS News' Face the Nation on Sunday. And he is embarking on a speaking tour with an unlikely duo: Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and the Rev. Al Sharpton, touring cities with an inspirational message about education.
"This is the first time an American president has spoken directly to the nation's school children about persisting and succeeding in school,'' Duncan says, calling on school principals to "help your students get focused and begin the school year strong.''
The address also will be Webcast live on the White House Web-site.
For his part, Greer has dismissed the event as a presidential "use of taxpayer dollars to indoctrinate America's children to his socialist agenda.''
""As the father of four children, I am absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama's socialist ideology,'' he said in a statement issued by the state party this week.
"The idea that school children across our nation will be forced to watch the President justify his plans for government-run health care, banks, and automobile companies, increasing taxes on those who create jobs, and racking up more debt than any other President, is not only infuriating, but goes against beliefs of the majority of Americans, while bypassing American parents through an invasive abuse of power.
"While I support educating our children to respect both the office of the American President and the value of community service, I do not support using our children as tools to spread liberal propaganda. 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.
"Public schools can't teach children to speak out in support of the sanctity of human life or traditional marriage. President Obama and the Democrats wouldn't dream of allowing prayer in school. Christmas Parties are now Holiday Parties. But, the Democrats have no problem going against the majority of American people and usurping the rights of parents by sending Pied Piper Obama into the American classroom.
"
The Democrats have clearly lost the battle to maintain control of the message this summer, so now that school is back in session, President Obama has turned to American's children to spread his liberal lies, indoctrinating American's youngest children before they have a chance to decide for themselves."
Here's a look at a DOE-recommended lesson plan:
PreK-6 Menu of Classroom Activities: President Obama's Address to Students Across America Produced by Teaching Ambassador Fellows, U.S. Department of Education
September 8, 2009
Before the Speech:
• Teachers can build background knowledge about the President of the United States and his speech by reading books about presidents and Barack Obama and motivate students by asking the following questions:
Who is the President of the United States?
What do you think it takes to be President?
To whom do you think the President is going to be speaking?
Why do you think he wants to speak to you?
What do you think he will say to you?
• Teachers can ask students to imagine being the President delivering a speech to all of the students in the United States. What would you tell students? What can students do to help in our schools? Teachers can chart ideas about what they would say.
• Why is it important that we listen to the President and other elected officials, like the mayor, senators, members of congress, or the governor? Why is what they say important?
During the Speech:
• As the President speaks, teachers can ask students to write down key ideas or phrases that are important or personally meaningful. Students could use a note-taking graphic organizer such as a Cluster Web, or students could record their thoughts on sticky notes. Younger children can draw pictures and write as appropriate. As students listen to the speech, they could think about the following:
What is the President trying to tell me?
What is the President asking me to do?
What new ideas and actions is the President challenging me to think about?
• Students can record important parts of the speech where the President is asking them to do something. Students might think about: What specific job is he asking me to do? Is he asking anything of anyone else? Teachers? Principals? Parents? The American people?
• Students can record any questions they have while he is speaking and then discuss them after the speech. Younger children may need to dictate their questions.
After the Speech:
• Teachers could ask students to share the ideas they recorded, exchange sticky notes or stick notes on a butcher paper poster in the classroom to discuss main ideas from the speech, i.e. citizenship, personal responsibility, civic duty.
• Students could discuss their responses to the following questions:
What do you think the President wants us to do?
Does the speech make you want to do anything?
Are we able to do what President Obama is asking of us?
What would you like to tell the President?
• Teachers could encourage students to participate in the Department of Education's "I Am What I Learn" video contest. On September 8th the Department will invite K-12 students to submit a video no longer than 2 min, explaining why education is important and how their education will help them achieve their dreams. Teachers are welcome to incorporate the same or a similar video project into an assignment. More details will be released via www.ed.gov.
Extension of the Speech: Teachers can extend learning by having students
• Create posters of their goals. Posters could be formatted in quadrants or puzzle pieces or trails marked with the labels: personal, academic, community, country. Each area could be labeled with three steps for achieving goals in those areas. It might make sense to focus on personal and academic so community and country goals come more readily.
• Write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president. These would be collected and redistributed at an appropriate later date by the teacher to make students accountable to their goals.
• Write goals on colored index cards or precut designs to post around the classroom.
• Interview and share about their goals with one another to create a supportive community.
• Participate in School wide incentive programs or contests for students who achieve their goals.
• Write about their goals in a variety of genres, i.e. poems, songs, personal essays.
• Create artistic projects based on the themes of their goals.
• Graph student progress toward goals.
Comments
How many moonbats are still out there?
Posted by: bill r. | September 2, 2009 1:06 PM
The definition of "unprecedented" seems to be incorrect here. the first President bush addressed all the nation's classrooms on how to avoid drugs. Lesson plans were distributed for use with President Reagan's speech about the Challenger. So, since other presidents have already addressed the nation's schoolchildren, The TRIB might want to change to a different descriptor in the lead paragraph.
Personally, I like the idea of the President urging kids to stay in school.
Posted by: desert jim | September 2, 2009 1:15 PM
Don't you just love it, when the Republican/Libertarians lie and distort. They look so bewildered, like they just got caught is someone's headlights !! They are the ones that should be going to kindergarten. They need to learn the difference between lying and telling the truth !! Shame on those Republicans/Libertarians, they should go and stand in the corner, for the next 20 years !! America is so proud of their behavior !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | September 2, 2009 1:24 PM
Um, desert jim, did you read the questions in the lesson plan? I don't have the text of the lesson plans that were made available for Reagan's challenger speech, but I guarantee that they were about the Challenger accident, astronauts, our great country, and loss. These questions are focused completely on the One. "What new ideas and actions is the President challenging me to think about?" Seriously this doesn't bother you?
If this isn't outright propaganda, then why isn't the lesson focused on the country rather than Obama?
Posted by: Elaine | September 2, 2009 1:40 PM
There is nothing wrong with asking parents and students to take responsibility for their education, but it does not end there. The propaganda begins when the teachers are asked to tell the children to write letters "to help Obama" with his plan" the way I heard it described on the news this morning. Lets be honest and tell the whole story here.
When Presidents cross that line it's purely partisian propaganda.
Posted by: Cheryl | September 2, 2009 2:06 PM
I can just imagine how Obama will ask the children to help him. "If you hear your parents say anything bad about ObamaCare, be sure to let your teacher know."
Posted by: Guy Williams | September 2, 2009 2:20 PM
Since when is the government involved in education? Isn't that part of a socialist agenda?!
Commie pinkos....
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | September 2, 2009 2:33 PM
Um, Elaine -- It's not about "the one." That's a direct question to help the children discuss the President's address. And the use of the phrase "the President" -- yeah, because he's the President. I can almost guarantee that the other lesson plans mentioned from other President's used that exact phrase. It's proper sentence structure. Seriously, some people are just grasping at straws, exactly like Jim Greer, blowing everything out of proportion and overreacting. Wow -- a President talking to children and challenging them to take responsibility and do well. Shameful, indeed. (that's deep, deep sarcasm in case some of you don't get it)
Posted by: Milw-Town | September 2, 2009 2:37 PM
Elaine, the question, "What new ideas and actions is the President challenging me to think about?" is not about the President. It is about the students' thoughts and what actions the students may decide to take.
You might want to look a little harder to see if there is some actual evidence of propaganda in the lesson plans.
Posted by: desert jim | September 2, 2009 2:37 PM
A genuine journalist would denouce this Obama attempt to Indoctrinate our kids.
A Swamp "journalist", no.
Posted by: Peter Zenger | September 2, 2009 2:42 PM
It's not surprising that the Republican party would be afraid of a President (Obama) who actually cares about education for everyone. The GOP want's to keep the toothless rubes who make up their base stone cold dumb, otherwise they might figure out that giving tax cuts to the richest 1% and warmongering really isn't in their best interest.
Posted by: former Republican | September 2, 2009 2:53 PM
I mean really??? This man needs to get over himself! he is and will be the worst thing that has EVER happened to this country! so many kids will be out of school that day and thank god mine is in private school and wont have to listen to his bullshit! He wont be brain washing my child or any1 else if they have a say in it!!!! ONLY 1236 more shitty days till this man is out of the office!!!! WAHOOOOO
Posted by: B | September 2, 2009 3:04 PM
Presidents have made national addresses to students in classrooms and schools to discuss policy before.
http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1986/51386d.htm
"As you know, my remarks are being broadcast live over radio and television to high school students throughout the country." - President Ronald Reagan, May 13, 1986
http://www.nytimes.com/1989/09/13/us/bush-urges-youngsters-to-help-friends-on-drugs.html... Read More
"At least 15,000 superintendents and 55,000 principals were notified by the Education Department of the speech today, and many schools held assemblies or brought television sets into classrooms so students could watch Mr. Bush."
Do you want any more examples of this being done before?
Posted by: G Gillette | September 2, 2009 3:12 PM
For too long now, fire depts across the US have been SOCIALIST organizations, resulting in TAXES on the American people.
Fact: Most Americans never use teh socialized services of the fire dept. The Obama Admin has been very clear about keeping the status quo when it comes to taxpayer-funded fire depts.
It is time to open the fire dept up to private industry. We have the best fire depts in the world in the US, but that doesn't mean anyone (even ILLEGAL ALIENS) should be able to dial up and have fires put out, etc. There are private companies (Halliburton, etc.) who could step in tomorrow and take over every fire dept in America and charge the consumer directly.
This is America. NO FREE FIRE SAFETY.
This is a new political movement in America. The Birther movement and the Teabagger movement have FAILED. We are the Flamer movement and we are succeeding at tearing down Socialism-starting with our Fire Depts.
Posted by: Flamers Unite | September 2, 2009 3:14 PM
B,
Please explain to the Swampsters how your standard of living has decreased since Obama took the Oath on January 20th.
Posted by: This outta be good | September 2, 2009 3:34 PM
B -- Yeah, I mean really, who DOES he think he is? He should get over himself. I mean, honestly, all he is is someone who has pulled himself basically out of poverty; worked hard to be accepted into an Ivy League school; graduated magna cum laude from Harvard; could have gone to a high-paying law firm but chose to fight for those who needed help the most; and ultimately achieved the highest office in the land. And HE seriously thinks he has the right to address the children of the nation and encourage them to work hard, get good grades and make something of themselves? Sheesh! The nerve of some people!
Posted by: Milw-Town | September 2, 2009 4:02 PM
Dear Leader,
Please excuse my child from having to listen to and participate in this rubbish.
Very truly yours,
A concerned parent
Posted by: Chris | September 2, 2009 4:17 PM
@Flamers Unite: LOL.
----------
It's too bad the knuckledraggers cited in the article didn't spend enough time in school to learn what socialism is. That Obama fella ain't no socialist. And I should know.
Posted by: Karl Marx | September 2, 2009 4:27 PM
He wont be brain washing my child or any1 else if they have a say in it!!!!
Posted by: B | September 2, 2009 3:04 PM
That's the great thing about being a parent....you can brainwash then with your own BS.
Posted by: bill r. | September 2, 2009 4:29 PM
The ruler of Oceania wants to address his Junior Spies. Orwell would be proud.
Posted by: Dissent is Patriotic | September 2, 2009 4:32 PM
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | September 2, 2009 1:24 PM
Don - Why hasn't the President withdrawn from Afghanistan? In fact, he's increased troop levels there. Do you even get that you've been had?
Posted by: Barry J | September 2, 2009 5:21 PM
I wonder if the White House isn't doing this just the make the Right look stupid. Because that's certainly working.
Posted by: Cheryl | September 2, 2009 5:22 PM
Tuesday is the first day for Chicago public schools. If the school administration is going to waste time with Obama's thinly-veiled indoctrination of young children, my kids will be absent. I refuse to allow the schools to make them a tool of this socialist administration. It may have worked in Cuba, it will not here.
Posted by: Ramirez | September 2, 2009 5:45 PM
SUPPORT STUPID POSTS, POST THEM DAILY, IDIOTIC AND REPETITIVE. NOW.
Posted by: Office of Redundancy Redundancy | September 2, 2009 6:09 PM
More right wing crap from the wingnut conservative fringe! It's the conservative fundamentalist Christian community that just doesn't want their kids to interact with children of other faiths, cultures, ethnicities, or socio-economic circumstances.
It's part of the brainwashing to keep their children ignorant of our rich culture of diversity.
Many are home schoolers or support vouchers for private schools. They believe that schools should include Bible readings, prayer, and post the 10 commandments. This is the bunch that criticizes textbooks for using politically terms and represents social diversity. Fact-checking and truth be damned, they insist that textbooks contain the Christian revisionist version of history, and they refuse to accept scientific facts like evolution. It's the same crowd that hands out coloring books with Adam and Eve riding on dinosaurs to young children and believes that the equality of the sexes diminishes the masculinity of boys. These people live in their own small, narrow, reactionary world. As they seem to enjoy comparing Obama to Hitler and the fascists, in fact, it is they who raise children like Hilter's youth corps- blond, blue-eyed Arian children only.
As a career public school teacher, I praise the President's setting an example by valuing intelligence, education, and achievement. After 8 years of embarrassing and stupid, a President who encourages children to hard work and take personal responsibility to do well in school is a refreshing change.
Posted by: Carol All | September 2, 2009 6:35 PM
Of course it's "unprecedented," because it's Obama. Everything he does is just wonderful. He holds a Ramadan dinner. Oops! been done since 2002! Streams the Easter egg hunt! Oops! Was under Bush, too.
This is idiotic. I read some of the teacher questions -- this is completely nothing but pap. How much of Obama's time was wasted on this? Maybe he could reform health care instead, or something.
Posted by: Beth | September 2, 2009 7:21 PM
The funniest thing about this is, you didn't hear a peep from these Right Wing nutjobs when President HW Bush delivered a 15 minute speech to the nation's classrooms on the importance of avoiding drugs. You didn't see any of them blowing a gasket when teachers were supplied with guides to help student's interpret President Reagan's Challenger Speech. And you certainly didn't see Democrats pulling their kids out of school over either of those events.
Unless these Right Wing gooper cretins don't want their kids to be encouraged to study hard, there's only one reason for them to have their children play hooky: an irrational fear of learning.
Their fake outrage over this speech is being fueled by lunatics like Drudge and Malkin and even the Republican Party itself, each of whom represent the Right Wing playbook of crazy behind the absolutely crazies in their party. They've completely lost their minds. Insane to the core.
Maybe if they spent more time in school instead of skipping it, they'd learn how to spell words like: "oligarChy."
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_lgTIZ22jE
.
Posted by: Repugs are idiots | September 2, 2009 7:23 PM
all of you that are running your mouth about what i said grow up, we all have a right to say whats on our mind right??? And things not only have changed for me but my family that has worked there ass off there whole life to save for the day they wont have to work anymore and its gone along with not knowing if they will be taken care of the day they cant take care of thereself anymore, all of you might have money and be happy where you are but there is people out there that cant make it paycheck to paycheck, and i dont need a man that thinks he knows all because he the 1st black pres. give me a damn brake, and bill r you must be as low life and brain washed as obama to run your trap about brain washing my child!!!!!! :o) just give it a couple months your life will be turned upside down from this "person" we call the leader of our country hahahaha if he last that long!!!!!
Posted by: B | September 2, 2009 8:08 PM
all of you that are running your mouth about what i said grow up, we all have a right to say whats on our mind right??? And things not only have changed for me but my family that has worked there ass off there whole life to save for the day they wont have to work anymore and its gone along with not knowing if they will be taken care of the day they cant take care of thereself anymore, all of you might have money and be happy where you are but there is people out there that cant make it paycheck to paycheck, and i dont need a man that thinks he knows all because he the 1st black pres. give me a damn brake, and bill r you must be as low life and brain washed as obama to run your trap about brain washing my child!!!!!! :o) just give it a couple months your life will be turned upside down from this "person" we call the leader of our country hahahaha if he last that long!!!!!
Posted by: B | September 2, 2009 8:12 PM
BJ,
Eric Blair was a socialist.
Posted by: TheLeninSisters | September 2, 2009 8:57 PM
If brainy Bush would have done his job in Afghanistan, as Commander-in-Chief, instead of Ronnie Rayguning it, we wouldn't have need of sending over more of our brave women and men in uniform. " Mission Accomplished" , my " weapon-of-mass- destruction" !! Now, on to an even more destructive agenda, by the Bush&Cheney fringe, leaving our healthcare in the cold, dead hands of the Healing Healthcare Corps. The Healthcare Corps thank God for the Republican/Libertarian fringe, whom they can count on to bury the healthcare issue, unfortunately that also includes thousands of our citizens, who don't have healthcare, or are underinsured !! What a great bunch of Americans, those Republicans/Libertarians are, their greed is their creed !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | September 2, 2009 9:33 PM
Please just give Chancellor Obama a chance!
Posted by: Minister Goebbels | September 2, 2009 10:36 PM
I think he should introduce "An Inconvenient Truth" right before they show it in public school again. Both my kids were forced to watch it and report on it. In fact, it was shown school-wide.
But as over time, rational scientists continue to debunk the Global Warmi- oops, Global Climate Change myth, here's something the media and public schools will never report:
"There are ominous signs that the Earth's weather patterns have begun to change dramatically and that these changes may portend a drastic decline in food production - with serious political implications for just about every nation on Earth." - Newsweek
Or how about this one:
"As they review the bizarre and unpredictable weather pattern of the past several years, a growing number of scientists are beginning to suspect that many seemingly contradictory meteorological fluctuations are actually part of a global climate upheaval." - Time
Sounds pretty scary, doesn't it? Especially to naive, brain-baked middle and high school students. The only problem is that these were quotes from 1974 (Time) and 1975 (Newsweek), which were warning of the coming ICE AGE.
Liberals are freaks. Stop relying on the government to provide your every need. You will always be disappointed.
Posted by: ObamabotsACTIVATE | September 2, 2009 11:08 PM
just give it a couple months your life will be turned upside down from this "person" we call the leader of our country hahahaha if he last that long!!!!!
Posted by: B | September 2, 2009 8:08 PM
***********************************************
.
That "person" is my President, you right wing lunatic fringe whackjob.
And where were you the last eight years of BushCo? I'm guessing you were clapping like a trained seal while they trashed our economy, committed war crimes and torture in our name and started a war (Iraq) base on lies.
2009 GOP motto: "Is our childrens learning?"
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGRYPYuFZLk
Posted by: K | September 3, 2009 12:09 AM
Liberals are freaks. Stop relying on the government to provide your every need. You will always be disappointed.
Posted by: ObamabotsACTIVATE | September 2, 2009 11:08 PM
***********************************************
.
Teresa,
Did they shut off the oxygen at your house or something?
Actually it's you who is the freak. Only a moron would support a party (Republican) that does nothing but warmonger and give tax cuts to the richest 1%, big oil and big corporations. That's why your Repug team can't win elections anymore.
Here's an idea - go pound sand you loser.
Posted by: Kathy | September 3, 2009 12:27 AM
****************************************
I think he should introduce "An Inconvenient Truth" right before they show it in public school again. Both my kids were forced to watch it and report on it. In fact, it was shown school-wide. But as over time, rational scientists continue to debunk the Global Warmi- oops
Posted by: ObamabotsACTIVATE | September 2, 2009 11:08 PM
******************************************
.
Yeah Teresa,
Go ahead and keep your kiddies at home, no one is stoping you except for the voices in your head.
You can teach them about how the Earth is flat and how Jesus rode a dinosaur etc, so they can grow up to be a stone cold stupid Repugnut just like you are.
Who knows, maybe they can help you come up with some new post names for yourself too.
.
http://www.lies.com/wp/images/2008/10/dinosaur-palin.jpg
.
Posted by: K | September 3, 2009 1:24 AM
and bill r you must be as low life and brain washed as obama to run your trap about brain washing my child!!!!!! :o)
Posted by: B | September 2, 2009 8:12 PM
Funny.......I could have sworn you brought that up first.
Posted by: bill r. | September 3, 2009 7:40 AM
And what was George W Bush doing ion the morning of Septemnber 11, 2001? Indoctrinating a class of school children with his radical right wing fascist ideology!
Posted by: Texas | September 3, 2009 9:11 AM
" Texas ": Having lived in Texas, I know most have a brain. You seem to be the exception. Here is a mental exercise that is probably beyond you: Find the differences between reading a book to one class of kids and having a nationally televised speech to a captive audience in classrooms, with a government supplied lesson plan that included the idea of writing a letter on how the kid can help the President.
This is as creepy as 1984. This administration is tone deaf and incompetent beyond belief. Their incompetence extends from to foreign policy to flying an airplane over New York causing great fear, to not having any idea what is in the health care plan but taking questions on it and giving out wrong information.
It all goes to show that competence campaigning is not the same as competence in governing. Obama's standard solution to any problem is "give a speech".
Rick
Posted by: Rick Caird | September 3, 2009 11:54 AM
If you want to hear a story about real classroom intrusion, let me take you back to yesteryear where I was forced to listen to Bush's supported ideologically driven abstinence only lectures (which lead to more STD's and pregnancies in sexually active teens).
Also, I didn't like Bush but he was the president and therefore, I gritted my teeth and dealt with him popping up on TV and in the High School classroom rattling off his incoherency. Had I been asked to outline ways to help the Bush administration I would have come up with ideas that were opposite of their policies but still would have participated in the activity and neither my parents or I would have been offended. He was still the president as Obama (like it or not) is yours.
Please, inform yourself. Ignorants is bad for America's health.
Posted by: J | September 3, 2009 12:26 PM
Goverment & education should be separate.
Our children should be taught
how to run a goverment not the goverment telling our children how to be ran.
the constitution was written for
independent thought and freedom. thats what makes america great. not the goverment. goverment is a tool to be used by the people.
freedom is a Right, written in our constitution.
Posted by: Douglas kelderhouse american | September 3, 2009 12:36 PM
I think it is wonderful for our President to take the time and effort to speak to our children..All he is attempting to do is give our children incentive to strengthen their grades and to understand the importance later in life for a good education..I see absolutely nothing socialistic or wrong..
Posted by: kaye c. | September 3, 2009 2:42 PM
J:
Bush's speeches led to "more STD's and pregnancies..." Wow. When we were in school we tended to credit Marvin Gaye or Barry White far more than Bush. But if you're going to blame Bush for all of society's ills, I guess we'll have to take your word for it.
Certainly it couldn't be society's mockery of anything resembling a moral compass. Remember the media and liberals destroying Dan Quayle for having the audacity to suggest that celebrating raising a child without a father was detrimental?
Liberals also cheered taxpayer funded (to the tune of $15,000) 'Piss Christ' in 1989, the crucifix submerged in "artist" Andres Serrano's urine.
Does handing out condoms in school and teaching teens to install them on a banana reduce teen pregnancies?
How about rampant sex on TV and explicit music lyrics? Surely our descent down the slippery slope must have some influence, perhaps not as much as GB, but the media is complicit nonetheless.
Finally, I think you meant to say "ignorance," not ignorants. Using "ignorants" just makes you sound ignorant.
Posted by: ThepartyofOWE | September 3, 2009 3:21 PM
This is classic misdirection! There is something else that is happening on September 8, 2009.
Something of Interest, posted elsewhere on the Net:
“Discovery hearing re. Obama’s Kenyan BC, request for depositions of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates scheduled for September 8th, 8am.
08/21/2009 44 MINUTES OF IN CHAMBERS ORDER by Judge David O. Carter: ORDER SETTING SEPTEMBER 8, 2009 HEARING ONMOTIONS: (See document for
details.) In summary, the Court sets for hearing at 8:00 a.m. on September 8, 2009, (1) the Discovery Motion, (2) the Service Notice, and (3) the Ex Parte Application. All parties are ordered to be present. The Clerk shall serve this minute order on all parties to the action. (rla) (Entered: 08/21/2009)
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA CM/ECF Filer or PACER Login
Notice:
This is a Restricted Web Site for Official Court Business only. Unauthorized entry is prohibited and subject to prosecution under Title 18 of the U.S. Code. All activities and access attempts are logged
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Posted by: Sunnstarr | September 3, 2009 4:14 PM
B, and other right wing nuts, if you're going to spew forth pretty moronic ideas, at least try and appear intelligent by using spell and grammar check.
Unfortunately, it appears that our public schools have failed miserably in teaching critical thinking skills, or someone was kept home when it was taught. Additionally, racism is alive and well in America.
Finally, for all of our paranoid folks who cling to their irrational ideas, remember, just because you think they're out to get you, doesn't mean they're not.
Posted by: Ric S | September 3, 2009 4:40 PM
Regan's address to school children included his views on tax cuts and how important tax cuts were. He revisited the subject when a student asked a question. He was pushing his agenda while using the children as a backdrop.Trouble is, he raised taxes and trickle down economics has been exposed as a sham.
Obama's address is optional and I am getting sick and tired of the lunatic fringe in this country going nuts every time the President of the United States open his mouth. The president has the right and I think an obligation to be a good role modle for students. If the lunatic fringe in this country dosen't pick it's battles more carefully, they will soon be considered the laughing stock and #1 embarrassment to this country. It would be funny if they weren't they all armd to the teeth.
Posted by: Matthew | September 3, 2009 6:38 PM
[quote]
Having lived in Texas, I know most have a brain.
[/quote]
Posted by: Rick Caird | September 3, 2009 11:54 AM
And since people like you voted for Bush and "Goodhair" Perry as you governor, that proves you wrong right there!
Posted by: BC | September 3, 2009 6:54 PM
I doubt any of you actually reviewed the content of the speech to be given, since it hasn't been given yet. It is OK to show concern that politics will be discussed, because to do so would be a huge abuse of the office. It would be, really, and you all know that. To pretend otherwise is just childish. I know it isn't all that big with the democrats, but it is time to be personally accountable for your actions already.
That is not to say that the republicans are much better. To attack Obama without seeing the actual content of the speech is irresponsible. Mostly because if he does screw up and discuss politics, you shot your wad on the pre-speech arguments and will come off as whiney when you continue to protest after the speech. I say give him enough rope and let him decide whether or not to tie the noose. If he does, feel free to hang him with it. If he doesn't, then deal with that too. Perhaps he isn't COMPLETELY evil. On the other hand, the questions posted in this article are horribly vague and could be abused by the actual teacher. Since teachers tend to lean on the liberal side of the fence, (and doesn't take a political scientist to know that,) it is possible that their bias could be an issue.
Now, the arguments that bring up Reagan and HW Bush are flawed. To compare Bush's "Don't get high and pregnant" speech to any speech that speaks about politics is desperate at best. I remember those speeches, and they were not political. To tell someone in high school to not get pregnant is not about politics, unless the democrats think it is a GOOD idea to get pregnant before graduation. To tell someone to not do illegal drugs is not about politics, unless the democrats think all students should toke up before class. Just the same as the comments about Reagan during the Challenger speech, you are confusing addresses to students with television addresses to the nation. It is easy to confuse them, since most did not have cable at the time and were forced to watch it anyway.
Obama is not going on TV to discuss a new technological advancement like Reagan did with the space shuttle. He isn't going on TV to discuss more responsible behavior in general as HW Bush did. He is specifically supposed to speak about the virtues of working hard and studying, which is not bad unless you don't value those things.
I have a great idea! Take off work on 9/8 and attend with your child. Hear the discussion, and personally make sure politics stay out of the school. If the school will not allow it, then get other parents with the same concern to stand with you when you ask again. If they still refuse, let them know you will not be letting your child attend that day without you. You see, the first day of school is crucial to a school's funding for the rest of the year. They basically take a census on that day, and the state determines funding based on class sizes on that day. This is why you will see mayors and school officials on TV begging kids to attend school on the first day every year (more in some areas than others, I suppose.) Funding always trumps politics in a school, so hit 'em where it hurts.
Posted by: The man with the plan | September 3, 2009 11:04 PM
Here's something the Right Wing lunatics planning to boycott President Obama's stay-in-school speech ought to have considered before getting all Wingnutty about it: on the eve of the 1992 presidential campaign -- October 1, 1991, to be exact -- President George H. W. Bush pitched his education plan in a speech broadcast live to school classrooms nationwide.
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http://www.dailykostv.com/w/002099/
As you can see, although Bush's speech did contain some inspirational rhetoric, significant portions of it were focused promoting his own education plan.
If they actually had a brain inside of their thick skulls, a Republican conspiracy theorist might even claim Bush’s goal was to influence parents in the upcoming election by "indoctrinating" their children.
Posted by: ThepartyofOWE = Teresa | September 3, 2009 11:43 PM
How did we end up here? How is it that a speech by the President of the United States to the children of America can create so much hate from the Republicans? What is the reasoning process that these people use to justify these responses. These are nothing short of simple minded childish antics. What really scares me is that there are people out there who espouse these views. And when these childish Republicans take control of Washington as in Reagan and Bush, you end up with laws that are childish and selfish. It's really scary! But I guess that's the motive; to make us scared into inaction. Well, I for one am doing something about it. I go into conservative web-sites often as I can and ridicule them for their childish behaviors. And the typical response? You guessed it. Childish threats and innuendo.
Posted by: David | September 5, 2009 12:34 PM
It's too bad Jim Greer didn't bother to look into the contents of the spech before going off the deep end about it.
Conservatives have every right to take issue with statements Pres. Obama makes, but it would be a little more respectful if they actually waited till he made them before passing judgement.
Posted by: ed | September 6, 2009 12:15 AM
You Repubs really are lunatics. You'll put that dirty word "socialism" into anything Obama does. He's telling the kids to stay in school and do better in life for crying out loud. Why does that irk you all so? The only chance for a future that this country has is if our children finish school and learn to ask questions. Unfortunately, there are a lot of sheep out there who were either poorly schooled or poorly raised, and can only follow the chatter from Rush, Beck, Hannity, faux news and other close-minded morons. You people make me ashamed to be an American. Like all you dips said if we complained duringthe last 8 years of chaos, if you don't like it here now, LEAVE !!!
Posted by: Lou Natick | September 8, 2009 10:07 AM
Im with you! for too long has the presidents creepy socialist agenda corrupted our young minds. I am a highschooler and ever since Barack Hussein Obama has entered office i ave seen socialist oppression break out everywhere ranging from my school to my home. His nationalistic dictatorship must be stopped at any cost and the only way out is to IMPEACH PRESIDENT OBAMA.
Posted by: a 15 year old Californian | March 20, 2010 12:59 AM