by Mark Silva
So much for the "socialist agenda.''
President Barack Obama, planning to deliver a live noontime speech to American schoolchildren on Tuesday, will cite the modern-day successes of Google and Twitter.
He will talk about his only life's success, raised without the benefit of his father at home, and of the benefits of hard work and personal responsibility.
:"My father left my family when I was two years old, and I was raised by a single mother who struggled at times to pay the bills and wasn't always able to give us things the other kids had,'' the president plans to say.
"I wasn't always as focused as I should have been. I did some things I'm not proud of, and got in more trouble than I should have. And my life could have easily taken a turn for the worse. But I was fortunate. I got a lot of second chances and had the opportunity to go to college, and law school, and follow my dreams....
"But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life - what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you've got going on at home - that's no excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude. That's no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. That's no excuse for not trying.''
For all the furor that critics have raised over the planned address, which will be broadcast on C-SPAN and on the White House's Website as well as circulated by satellite, it sounds like a fairly routine pep talk from a president rallying the kids to do well.
It was Florida's Jim Greer, the state Republican chairman, who complained about Obama "forcing'' schoolkids to hear his "socialist agenda.'' We'll leave it to you to decide what sort of agenda is afoot here.
See it here, in an advance text from the White House:
This is the text of the president's prepared remarks:
Hello everyone - how's everybody doing today? I'm here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. And we've got students tuning in from all across America, kindergarten through twelfth grade. I'm glad you all could join us today.
I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school. And for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, it's your first day in a new school, so it's understandable if you're a little nervous. I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now, with just one more year to go. And no matter what grade you're in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer, and you could've stayed in bed just a little longer this morning.
I know that feeling. When I was young, my family lived in Indonesia for a few years, and my mother didn't have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school. So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday - at 4:30 in the morning.
Now I wasn't too happy about getting up that early. A lot of times, I'd fall asleep right there at the kitchen table. But whenever I'd complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and say, "This is no picnic for me either, buster."
So I know some of you are still adjusting to being back at school. But I'm here today because I have something important to discuss with you. I'm here because I want to talk with you about your education and what's expected of all of you in this new school year.
Now I've given a lot of speeches about education. And I've talked a lot about responsibility.
I've talked about your teachers' responsibility for inspiring you, and pushing you to learn.
I've talked about your parents' responsibility for making sure you stay on track, and get your homework done, and don't spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with that Xbox.
I've talked a lot about your government's responsibility for setting high standards, supporting teachers and principals, and turning around schools that aren't working where students aren't getting the opportunities they deserve.
But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, and the best schools in the world - and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities. Unless you show up to those schools; pay attention to those teachers; listen to your parents, grandparents and other adults; and put in the hard work it takes to succeed.
And that's what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education. I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself.
Every single one of you has something you're good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That's the opportunity an education can provide.
Maybe you could be a good writer - maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper - but you might not know it until you write a paper for your English class. Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor - maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or a new medicine or vaccine - but you might not know it until you do a project for your science class. Maybe you could be a mayor or a Senator or a Supreme Court Justice, but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team.
And no matter what you want to do with your life - I guarantee that you'll need an education to do it. You want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer? You want to be a nurse or an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You're going to need a good education for every single one of those careers. You can't drop out of school and just drop into a good job. You've got to work for it and train for it and learn for it.
And this isn't just important for your own life and your own future. What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country. What you're learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future.
You'll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment. You'll need the insights and critical thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free. You'll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy.
We need every single one of you to develop your talents, skills and intellect so you can help solve our most difficult problems. If you don't do that - if you quit on school - you're not just quitting on yourself, you're quitting on your country.
Now I know it's not always easy to do well in school. I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork.
I get it. I know what that's like. My father left my family when I was two years old, and I was raised by a single mother who struggled at times to pay the bills and wasn't always able to give us things the other kids had. There were times when I missed having a father in my life. There were times when I was lonely and felt like I didn't fit in.
So I wasn't always as focused as I should have been. I did some things I'm not proud of, and got in more trouble than I should have. And my life could have easily taken a turn for the worse.
But I was fortunate. I got a lot of second chances and had the opportunity to go to college, and law school, and follow my dreams. My wife, our First Lady Michelle Obama, has a similar story. Neither of her parents had gone to college, and they didn't have much. But they worked hard, and she worked hard, so that she could go to the best schools in this country.
Some of you might not have those advantages. Maybe you don't have adults in your life who give you the support that you need. Maybe someone in your family has lost their job, and there's not enough money to go around. Maybe you live in a neighborhood where you don't feel safe, or have friends who are pressuring you to do things you know aren't right.
But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life - what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you've got going on at home - that's no excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude. That's no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. That's no excuse for not trying.
Where you are right now doesn't have to determine where you'll end up. No one's written your destiny for you. Here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future.
That's what young people like you are doing every day, all across America.
Young people like Jazmin Perez, from Roma, Texas. Jazmin didn't speak English when she first started school. Hardly anyone in her hometown went to college, and neither of her parents had gone either. But she worked hard, earned good grades, got a scholarship to Brown University, and is now in graduate school, studying public health, on her way to being Dr. Jazmin Perez.
I'm thinking about Andoni Schultz, from Los Altos, California, who's fought brain cancer since he was three. He's endured all sorts of treatments and surgeries, one of which affected his memory, so it took him much longer - hundreds of extra hours - to do his schoolwork. But he never fell behind, and he's headed to college this fall.
And then there's Shantell Steve, from my hometown of Chicago, Illinois. Even when bouncing from foster home to foster home in the toughest neighborhoods, she managed to get a job at a local health center; start a program to keep young people out of gangs; and she's on track to graduate high school with honors and go on to college.
Jazmin, Andoni and Shantell aren't any different from any of you. They faced challenges in their lives just like you do. But they refused to give up. They chose to take responsibility for their education and set goals for themselves. And I expect all of you to do the same.
That's why today, I'm calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education - and to do everything you can to meet them. Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending time each day reading a book. Maybe you'll decide to get involved in an extracurricular activity, or volunteer in your community. Maybe you'll decide to stand up for kids who are being teased or bullied because of who they are or how they look, because you believe, like I do, that all kids deserve a safe environment to study and learn. Maybe you'll decide to take better care of yourself so you can be more ready to learn. And along those lines, I hope you'll all wash your hands a lot, and stay home from school when you don't feel well, so we can keep people from getting the flu this fall and winter.
Whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it. I want you to really work at it.
I know that sometimes, you get the sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work -- that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star, when chances are, you're not going to be any of those things.
But the truth is, being successful is hard. You won't love every subject you study. You won't click with every teacher. Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right this minute. And you won't necessarily succeed at everything the first time you try.
That's OK. Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who've had the most failures. JK Rowling's first Harry Potter book was rejected twelve times before it was finally published. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team, and he lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career. But he once said, "I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."
These people succeeded because they understand that you can't let your failures define you - you have to let them teach you. You have to let them show you what to do differently next time. If you get in trouble, that doesn't mean you're a troublemaker, it means you need to try harder to behave. If you get a bad grade, that doesn't mean you're stupid, it just means you need to spend more time studying.
No one's born being good at things, you become good at things through hard work. You're not a varsity athlete the first time you play a new sport. You don't hit every note the first time you sing a song. You've got to practice. It's the same with your schoolwork. You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right, or read something a few times before you understand it, or do a few drafts of a paper before it's good enough to hand in.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don't know something, and to learn something new. So find an adult you trust - a parent, grandparent or teacher; a coach or counselor - and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.
And even when you're struggling, even when you're discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you - don't ever give up on yourself. Because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.
The story of America isn't about people who quit when things got tough. It's about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best.
It's the story of students who sat where you sit 250 years ago, and went on to wage a revolution and found this nation. Students who sat where you sit 75 years ago who overcame a Depression and won a world war; who fought for civil rights and put a man on the moon. Students who sat where you sit 20 years ago who founded Google, Twitter and Facebook and changed the way we communicate with each other.
So today, I want to ask you, what's your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve? What discoveries will you make? What will a president who comes here in twenty or fifty or one hundred years say about what all of you did for this country?
Your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions. I'm working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books, equipment and computers you need to learn. But you've got to do your part too. So I expect you to get serious this year. I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect great things from each of you. So don't let us down - don't let your family or your country or yourself down. Make us all proud. I know you can do it.
Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.
Comments
The right wing whack-a-doos must be on pins and needles right now. So much Obama common sense so little tin foil.
Posted by: Doug Zook | September 7, 2009 2:04 PM
But we republicans know the real truth. This black, Communist, Nazi will send voodoo vibes out and brainwash our kids. We must teach our children how to hate the American president. It is our way of saving America. Remember, Glenn Beck has told us he is a racist and has his "secret negro army" waiting to take over. It all makes sense when you learn to hate so much. Hate is our future and our only idea.
Posted by: bill r. | September 7, 2009 2:09 PM
As a Floridian, I expect our state's Republican leader to now restate his initial statement that there's no room for the messages in Obama's speech for our children.
I mean read that thing. Urging our kids to work hard and be productive? It's despicable.
Posted by: Joe | September 7, 2009 2:27 PM
Here's what someone else said:
[[Update: Commenter Faraway counts up references to Obama and to country, and finds 55 self-references and four to the nation.
Update II: I’ve run the speech through a word frequency counter and found the following results:
56 iterations of “I”
19 iterations of “school”
10 iterations of “education”
8 iterations of “responsibility”
7 iterations of “country”
5 iterations each of “parents”, “teachers”
3 iterations of “nation”
In other words, Barack Obama referenced himself more than school, education, responsibility, country/nation, parents, and teachers combined. And to think that people accused Obama of self-promotion!]]
That's Obama. It's all about him.
Posted by: beth | September 7, 2009 2:36 PM
So what is there to object to in this speech? Nothing. I hope all of our children get a chance to hear it.
Posted by: Gus | September 7, 2009 2:36 PM
Mark, the concern was more to do with the lesson plan that had questions like, "How can I help the president?" If his speech to the kids is apolitical, then fine, let Obimbo speak. But they've changed some of those questions now, haven't they?
But knowing how political this White House is, I do doubt the intention is all sugar and spice.
Posted by: John D | September 7, 2009 3:23 PM
AAAHHHHH I'm so tainted with Obama's socialist agenda! AAAHHHH!!! Get it off me! Get it of me!
Seriously...it's about back to school and how great an education is. People who are against this are subjecting their own views on their children. Such hypocrites. Oh and to they word frequency counter, how many times does Obama say "you"? All about Obama? Give me a break.
Posted by: TK | September 7, 2009 3:30 PM
Sure Silva. I'm sure that this is the original speach that soros & axelrod had planned before the people once again caught on to mr. alinsky wanna be. It was (not so cleverly) redrafted to make it seem innocent. Kind of like Wednesday's health scare speach will be. We are getting a lot wiser. Hey Silva, nice job on the Van Jones case. The cover up, that is.
Posted by: AAC999 | September 7, 2009 3:30 PM
And for those of you who want an unbiased word frequency counter, here's the official stats from a site I used:
119 you
98 to
86 and
62 a
53 the
53 of
48 your
41 i
40 in
32 or
28 for
22 that
22 it
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18 on
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Posted by: TK | September 7, 2009 3:33 PM
As usual, " Beth ", your list is incomplete. We also wanted to know how many breaths he will take, as well. If your going to give us a story, don't be like the rest of the Republican/Libertarians, give us the complete story !! You bean counters are all like !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | September 7, 2009 3:47 PM
That's Obama. It's all about him.
Posted by: beth | September 7, 2009 2:36 PM
Oh puhleez, are you mad because it isn't all about YOU? You don't think his own life story wouldn't be relevant? Honestly, he could stand there and sing the praises of Ronald Reagan and you guys would still criticize him.
Posted by: DD | September 7, 2009 4:16 PM
This is an email sent to all of the teachers in our h.s. district. They (we the people of fox vally) some how got a hold of our mass email. When I responded asking them to take me off their list (and with some choice words regarding false propaganda) they posted my response on their website. Afterwards, I was contacted by some other Christian conservatives where they told me that I was godless and should be fired! Enjoy the read.
Original email sent:
The September 8th surprise is more then We The People would like. We will be keeping our children home to boycott the 8th if the school district has this program by Mr. Obama. It's not only that he's speaking to the kids, without our knowing ahead of time what he is going to say. It's about the Dept. of Education's recommendations for classroom activities. Read them for yourself, and then decide. The kids are suppose to ask, "What is the President asking me to do?" etc. Hmmm...I wonder how the liberal teachers are going to guide the discussion AND projects.
Why were the parents, of our communities and school boards by-passed and not told ahead of time? Copies of Presidential speeches are always released ahead of time. Wouldn't’t it be more appropriate for the President to inform the Nation on his intent, allowing them to view his 20 minute talk ahead of time? Why corral up the kids without the parents? Maybe it will be just fine this time, but what about the next time? Will it be the "pledge" to serve Obama? We feel that this is just another back door policy that this administration is trying to indoctrinate our children. Hitler did the same thing once he got into office.
he September 8th surprise is more then We The People would like. We will be keeping our children home to boycott the 8th if the school district has this program by Mr. Obama. It's not only that he's speaking to the kids, without our knowing ahead of time what he is going to say. It's about the Dept. of Education's recommendations for classroom activities. Read them for yourself, and then decide. The kids are suppose to ask, "What is the President asking me to do?" etc. Hmmm...I wonder how the liberal teachers are going to guide the discussion AND projects.
Why were the parents, of our communities and school boards by-passed and not told ahead of time? Copies of Presidential speeches are always released ahead of time. Wouldn't’t it be more appropriate for the President to inform the Nation on his intent, allowing them to view his 20 minute talk ahead of time? Why corral up the kids without the parents? Maybe it will be just fine this time, but what about the next time? Will it be the "pledge" to serve Obama? We feel that this is just another back door policy that this administration is trying to indoctrinate our children. Hitler did the same thing once he got into office.
Posted by: Rob P. | September 7, 2009 4:18 PM
I just hope his teleprompter doesnt go out or there wont be a speech.Barry is lost without that gizmo.
Posted by: Downstate Cub Fan | September 7, 2009 4:25 PM
Now it's time to sit back and wait for the wingnuts to tell us all about the speech that Obama really meant to give, but that he changed at the last minute because of all the attention. Sigh , , , , ,
Posted by: Not a right wing nut | September 7, 2009 4:29 PM
Laura Bush has even come out in favor of Obama on this. I feel sorry for some of the children of the parents I have heard on talk radio this past week regarding this subject. Nothing like installing a bit of fear into your children.
Posted by: Michael Anthony | September 7, 2009 4:32 PM
Maybe BO should do this as a refresher:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ
Who can disagree with this?
Posted by: Terry | September 7, 2009 4:33 PM
It is not just about what he is going to say, it is about undermining the parents. The parents who do not believe in his policies and what he is doing. Then he tries to go "talk to the kids" and is, in essence, trying to make himself look good.
Hitler also influenced the kids with his smooth speeches and his calls to be loyal to him and the country, and if their parents said something against either they could be turned in. Sound familiar? Kind of like e-mail the white house with people who are "misinforming". WAKE UP PEOPLE!!
Posted by: Sarah | September 7, 2009 4:39 PM
Today he addressed the Labor Day picnic in Cincinnati.
Batteries recharged.
And then some.
Prez is Ready to Rumble.
Posted by: ornery | September 7, 2009 4:42 PM
Of course there's nothing wrong with this speech. The initial criticism they drew was from the lesson plan. That was wrong on two counts: First, the fact that a lesson plan even existed was illegal. Federal law expressly forbids the Secretary of Education or any officer from exercising "any direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum, program of instruction, administration, or personnel of any educational institution, school, or school system," Not to mention a lesson plan so ridiculously biased as one that requires students letters to write letters to themselves asking how they can 'help the president'. It's not difficult to see how this, coming on the heels of Oprah and Demi Moore's 'I pledge allegiance to Obama' video, would make people a little cautious.
So, had he not included an illegal, self serving lesson plan from the beginning, people would be a whole lot more eager and accepting of what is after all a positive message.
Simply another example of Obama's arrogance trumping his intelligence. Just like when he talked for 55 minutes on health care, then used the last 5 minutes of his news conference calling the Cambridge Police Dept stupid and sabotaging his own message. Obama's arrogance gets in his way and stops him from getting his own message across.
Advice to conservatives? Charles Krauthammer says "The cardinal rule in Washington is if the other guy is committing suicide, get out of the way." Seems to apply.
Read the law at http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/20C48.txt
Posted by: Matt J | September 7, 2009 5:17 PM
Another tempest in a teapot manufactured by wingnuts, like birth certificates, Judge Sotomayor and death panels. A lot of huffing and puffing amounting to nothing.
Posted by: Quippy | September 7, 2009 5:25 PM
Quote: I just hope his teleprompter doesnt go out or there wont be a speech.Barry is lost without that gizmo.
Yes, Downstate Cub Fan, and with or without that "Gizmo," Bush couldn't deliver a single coherent sentence. Which do you prefer? I wonder.
Posted by: RickA | September 7, 2009 5:33 PM
Absolutely! Other school districts will not show an oil priestess this contingency. Some will give teapots to the orator to show the speech.
Posted by: Shimmy | September 7, 2009 5:55 PM
Smells like he is trying to create a Junior Acorn movement.
Posted by: Inky | September 7, 2009 5:58 PM
This speech is too long to hold the attention span of primary grades. Few of them ever heard of Indonesia or care that he lived there. They just want to get on with their lessons and don't want to sit for a speech that is really directed at the parents. YAWN. You won BO. Now leave our chidren alone.
Posted by: Sheila | September 7, 2009 6:00 PM
Not only did the complaints, get the "How can I help the President" curriculum withdrawn, it can be argued that the furor changed the composition of the speech. We will never know if that is true.
But, this whole furor could have been avoided if this administration were not so tone deaf. Release the speech first, provide no suggested curriculum, and the whole furor would have been avoided. It is a matter of trust and Obama is rapidly losing that trust.
Rick
Posted by: Rick Caird | September 7, 2009 6:00 PM
me,me, I,I, me, me, I, I This is one conceited man who never shuts up, only when the teleprompter goes down. I wonder who actually wrote this piece of propaganda?
Posted by: sheila | September 7, 2009 6:03 PM
Not to mention a lesson plan so ridiculously biased as one that requires students letters to write letters to themselves asking how they can 'help the president'
Posted by: Matt J | September 7, 2009 5:17 PM
I know Matt J. Can you imagine anything worse than kids wanting to help the president or the country? Wow. Takes my breath away just thinking of it as it obviously did you. Almost to the point of cutting oxygen off to your brain. That child might write that their belief would be not to change our healthcare in their opinion, but why should we have our children running around thinking for themselves. Plus we all know Obama has his zappo evil eye ability to turn those kids into zombies so why bother. You are what's wrong with this country sir...your small minded hate is cutting off your oxygen to the point of ridiculousness.
Posted by: bill r. | September 7, 2009 6:32 PM
This was intellectually dishonest, which is what liberals are good at. The main beef, by conservatives, was a single part of the associated materials. It was a question where the kids were asked to write how Obama inspired them. That's it! The part where kids are asked to write how they could help Obama was iffy, but wasn't the main problem. It wasn't the speech, it was that specific part of the associated material.
It's intellectually dishonest to say conservatives had a problem with the speech. It was the associated material where the problem was, and it was a small part of it.
Also, democrats had the same problem with Bush I was going to address schoolchildren in 1991.
So let's be honest about it.
Posted by: OSD | September 7, 2009 6:52 PM
Today he addressed the Labor Day picnic in Cincinnati.
Batteries recharged.
And then some.
Prez is Ready to Rumble.
Posted by: ornery | September 7, 2009 7:35 PM
Sarah, did you ever take a civics class? I mean ever?
The President is our "president". He was voted for by the majority of the citizens of the United States. Thats how it works. You may not like his policies. I didn't much like the policies of George W. Bush, bringing us into a war that was unnecessary, and then cutting taxes for the uber-rich so we couldn't pay for it. But he was still my President. I voted against him twice, but after the election I didn't form an alternative political universe for four/eight years.
I am not sure I understand why the Right believes that we no longer have to have respect for the office of the President, how dare you try to draw a comparison to someone so despicable.
Have you no shame at all?
Posted by: JustSteve | September 7, 2009 7:38 PM
Excellent speech. Obama's detractors should be so intelligent. I fear for our country because of the extreme religious right and ultra-conservatives who push their "my way or the highway" views. Common sense...that's what this speech is about.
Posted by: adchick | September 7, 2009 7:45 PM
Interesting "misstatement." Obama says in the speech that his mother could not afford to send him to American schools in Indonesia and taught him at home. In fact, according to his own biography, Obama attended local schools in Jakarta, including Besuki Public School and St. Francis of Assisi School, from ages 6-10. What, no coal shovel to write on ala Abraham Lincoln?
Posted by: Aaron | September 7, 2009 8:36 PM
Whenever did a president offer his speech to the public for perusal prior to making it?!!!! I would be honored to have my children listen to a speech from the President of the U.S. After reading the entire text, I find NOT ONE thing objectionable. Have our countrymen gone berserk?!!
Posted by: Sharon Ash | September 7, 2009 8:36 PM
Not an inspiring or memorable phrase in the entire mealy-mouthed mess of boilerplate platitudes and patronizing piffle.
If Obumbles simply came out and said:
Do your homework. Stay in school. Be nice to your teacher. Have a successful year"
-and then signed off- kids would have been completely surprised and maybe even cheered a politician who doesn’t belabor the frikkin’ obvious and force his own ego on them unrelentingly (and apparently unaware of the subtle browbeating involved in such a captive audience exercise).
Posted by: Chris | September 7, 2009 8:36 PM
I had hopes that the people of Illinois would have a more rational attitude toward the President's speech than many of these inane comments indicate. When Reagan came to Geneva back in the 80s, we took the entire student body of the middle school where I taught to the Catholic school for the event. There was no overt political effect on the students; no one was converted to Catholicism simply by being on church property; there was no speech -- just a few happy talk sentences; and the entire visit usurped three HOURS of instructional time that I doubt did any lifetime damage to any child. We simply went to look at the President and experience the commotion that his presence generated.
Posted by: Howard B | September 7, 2009 8:37 PM
As 90% of the nation expected, there is nothing in Obama's speech to which any America-first citizen could object. To the contrary, he is simply taking the time and initiative to address the young people of Ameica to motivate them to be more, to become better, to succeed. I would hope parents would build on this small step and that those children who must live without living or participating parents can begin building their own success by themselves.
Perhaps those who live with nothing but hate, bigotry, and Palin-esque one-liners will succeed in finding something to dislike about our elected President speaking to our youngest citizens. As for me, I welcome this one.
Posted by: Al Miller | September 7, 2009 8:58 PM
My Grandmother was a Holocaust survivor. How do you think Hitler gained the power and following he did to become the most heinous and dispicable thing that he was? The same way Obama is doing now and has been doing. Wake up America. Half of you have already been brainwashed and duped by this smooth talker. It happened slowly, subtly. Slowly taking away peoples rights. (Giving the government control over your health is taking away your rights, and freedom to control and have a say in your health care. There will be no choice to have private health care if the government is competing with them. Private health care will be put out of business and not an option again. You will be solely dependent on the government for your care. The more dependent you are on someone or something the less freedom and rights you will have. It's basic common sense.). Slowly brainwashing the kids into "doing things for their country." "DON'T LET US DOWN". Take a look at the last paragraph of his speech. It's so subtle. I'm sure Psychologists can spot it. It is MANIPULATIVE. I expect he will have more "pep talks" for the kids regurlarly. Each one will become another step in "brainwashing". WAKE UP, OPEN YOUR EYES, SPEAK UP!! GET THIS CLOWN OUT OF OFFICE BEFORE HE COMPLETELY DEMOLISHES THIS COUNTRY AND EVERYTHING WE STAND FOR. FREEDOM!! He is trying to take away our freedoms!
Posted by: Dr. Mrs. | September 7, 2009 9:11 PM
My kids will be staying home tomorrow, not because of a "Republican boycott" but because I want them to here it with me. Then we can have a discussion as to what their thoughts may be. Politics and religion should be introduced at home. Especially for young children who have no experience filtering out bull. I say again, my children will be staying home.
Posted by: Giggie | September 7, 2009 9:22 PM
Nice list, TK. However, I searched in vain for the words "Beth" and "scumbag." I guess Obama doesn't realize there are teeny-minded people out there who just can't live without dragging up some "issue" every day that they think is really important to the future of the country. But it does give an insight into the Limbaugh-Hannity-Beck-Beth mind, such as it is.
Posted by: Kenneth Janowski | September 7, 2009 9:31 PM
WAKE UP, OPEN YOUR EYES, SPEAK UP!! GET THIS CLOWN OUT OF OFFICE BEFORE HE COMPLETELY DEMOLISHES THIS COUNTRY AND EVERYTHING WE STAND FOR. FREEDOM!! He is trying to take away our freedoms!
Posted by: Dr. Mrs. | September 7, 2009 9:11 PM
Poster child for the right! Check that health coverage for "mental" to see if it applies.
Posted by: bill r. | September 7, 2009 9:31 PM
Aren't all the libs happy that the Trib turned liberal? Now they have another place to rant about 'wing nuts' and ignore what really goes on. It's okay, maybe he's changed the speech because of the questions about his intent. Maybe he didn't. Maybe he's the 'one.' Maybe, though, he isn't. Read what's going on. Bush is gone. Unemployment at 9.7% and never a mention about stimulating job creation. This guy is no leader, but all you libs can stick with him. It's what we expected.
Posted by: Terry | September 7, 2009 9:31 PM
My Grandmother was a Holocaust survivor. How do you think Hitler gained the power and following he did to become the most heinous and dispicable thing that he was? The same way Obama is doing now and has been doing. Wake up America. Half of you have already been brainwashed and duped by this smooth talker. It happened slowly, subtly. Slowly taking away peoples rights. (Giving the government control over your health is taking away your rights, and freedom to control and have a say in your health care. There will be no choice to have private health care if the government is competing with them. Private health care will be put out of business and not an option again. You will be solely dependent on the government for your care. The more dependent you are on someone or something the less freedom and rights you will have. It's basic common sense.). Slowly brainwashing the kids into "doing things for their country." "DON'T LET US DOWN". Take a look at the last paragraph of his speech. It's so subtle. I'm sure Psychologists can spot it. It is MANIPULATIVE. I expect he will have more "pep talks" for the kids regurlarly. Each one will become another step in "brainwashing". WAKE UP, OPEN YOUR EYES, SPEAK UP!! GET THIS CLOWN OUT OF OFFICE BEFORE HE COMPLETELY DEMOLISHES THIS COUNTRY AND EVERYTHING WE STAND FOR. FREEDOM!! He is trying to take away our freedoms!
Posted by: Dr. Mrs. | September 7, 2009 9:41 PM
Nice list, TK. However, I searched in vain for the words "Beth" and "scumbag." I guess Obama doesn't realize there are teeny-minded people out there who just can't live without dragging up some "issue" every day that they think is really important to the future of the country. But it does give an insight into the Limbaugh-Hannity-Beck-Beth mind, such as it is.
Posted by: Kenneth Janowski | September 7, 2009 9:42 PM
I'm glad the White House struck out some of the original questions in the study guide: "What can I do to serve my President?" Why not "what can I do to serve my country?". Or "What are my goals for myself?" or "What can I do to better my own education?"
This speech is a twofer: he gets to indulge his appetite for grandiose speeches in front of adoring fans while saying some things of value. But tell me, brother, what will the Dow be tomorrow? Will we have a couple more jobs next month, since we're at the highest unemployment rate in 26 years? And can you please speak with as much clarity and brevity on the five expensive proposals to drastically alter the delivery of healthcare in our nation wending their way through Congress? Help, TOTUS, where are you?
Posted by: Go TOTUS | September 7, 2009 9:57 PM
Republicans are poor losers.
you wingnuts are all out of your minds!
Posted by: Marlene Flanagan | September 7, 2009 10:10 PM
This was intellectually dishonest, which is what liberals are good at. The main beef, by conservatives, was a single part of the associated materials. It was a question where the kids were asked to write how Obama inspired them. That's it! The part where kids are asked to write how they could help Obama was iffy, but wasn't the main problem. It wasn't the speech, it was that specific part of the associated material.
It's intellectually dishonest to say conservatives had a problem with the speech. It was the associated material where the problem was, and it was a small part of it.
Also, democrats had the same problem with Bush I was going to address schoolchildren in 1991.
So let's be honest about it.
---
BACKPEDAL BACKPEDAL BACKPEDAL ... IDIOTAS!
Posted by: Killer Fail Righties | September 7, 2009 10:12 PM
Kenneth -- Well, what a fine indivudal you are. Guess what -- I have never, in my life, listened to Rush Limbaugh (I cannot STAND him). I don't know what channel(s) Hannity and Beck are broadcast on -- televison? radio? -- and have never tuned them in either. I am a a proud liberal. I am just not a slobbering Obama-bot. As a nation, we could have done so much better than him.
Posted by: beth | September 7, 2009 10:31 PM
Not only did the complaints, get the "How can I help the President" curriculum withdrawn, it can be argued that the furor changed the composition of the speech. We will never know if that is true.
But, this whole furor could have been avoided if this administration were not so tone deaf. Release the speech first, provide no suggested curriculum, and the whole furor would have been avoided. It is a matter of trust and Obama is rapidly losing that trust.
Rick
------
BACKPEDAL!
Epic Fail Righties!! Epic
Posted by: Your Kids A Commie | September 7, 2009 10:36 PM
Hey Bill R.,
You should check your health coverage for "mental" because you need "deprogramming" from the brainwashing you've fallen for. Oh, doubt Obama's plan will have that for you. Since he'll control the coverage doubt he'll have anything that goes against his agenda.
Posted by: Dr. Mrs. | September 7, 2009 10:40 PM
and force his own ego on them unrelentingly
Posted by: Chris | September 7, 2009 8:36 PM
Gosh don't get all mavericky on us.
Posted by: bill r. | September 7, 2009 10:42 PM
It's okay, maybe he's changed the speech because of the questions about his intent.
Posted by: Terry | September 7, 2009 9:31 PM
O f course he did Terry.....originally he was going to talk of the good done by Lenin in hopes no one would notice. But that doesn't matter now....except he is still going to wear his super duper hypnotic glasses to beam socialism to your kids. The evil hairy eyeball of Marx will look upon them till the hammer and sickle is all they will think about. Ewwwwww gives me the creeps just thinking how all those kids will be asking for a tractor this year for Christmas.
Posted by: bill r. | September 7, 2009 10:50 PM
Take a look at the last paragraph of his speech. It's so subtle. I'm sure Psychologists can spot it.
Posted by: Dr. Mrs. | September 7, 2009 9:41 PM
Last of the speech:Make us all proud. I know you can do it.
Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.
I know doctor Mrs or Mr doctor ....I got the same chill from those lines as you. What does your Psychologist say about this? Was it the proud part or the God bless....I can never get those right as to which offends me more. If you dig deeper, there is a hidden message in the letters. Glenn Beck will sort it all out for you. Take your ouija board and turn on Fox and together with Beck and your secret decoder ring you will save us from the "secret negro army" that is about to steal your freedom.
Posted by: bill r. | September 7, 2009 11:01 PM
the real people holding this country back are all of the close minded republicans who believe all the hate filled neo-nazi propaganda on fox. Get a life people. Are you honestly going to sit hear and criticize the president for telling the nations students they have to work to be successful.
Posted by: 007 | September 7, 2009 11:14 PM
it is about undermining the parents.
Posted by: Sarah | September 7, 2009 4:39 PM
and how long have you wanted your kids to be unsuccessful in school?
Posted by: bill r. | September 7, 2009 11:24 PM
LOUD NOISES!!!!! I don't know what we're talking about!!!
Posted by: Chris | September 7, 2009 11:37 PM
Also, democrats had the same problem with Bush I was going to address schoolchildren in 1991.
So let's be honest about it.
Posted by: OSD | September 7, 2009 6:52 PM
You want honesty OSD? Truthfully...I don't remember it. But you know what he said at the end of his speech? Honestly?
"Let me know how you're doing. Write me a letter -- and I'm serious about this one -- write me a letter about ways you can help us achieve our goals. I think you know the address."
Posted by: bill r. | September 7, 2009 11:37 PM
Not only did the complaints, get the "How can I help the President" curriculum withdrawn, it can be argued that the furor changed the composition of the speech.
Posted by: Rick Caird | September 7, 2009 6:00 PM
Did you object to Bush 1 and his ending statement to the school kids he addressed?
"Let me know how you're doing. Write me a letter -- and I'm serious about this one -- write me a letter about ways you can help us achieve our goals. I think you know the address."
or where you one of the young turned into zombies because of it?
Posted by: bill r. | September 7, 2009 11:48 PM
I luvz me some right wing hysterics who've broken out of the asylum and are running amok.
Here, above, they are in full cry.
There is no better way to make schoolchildren want to listen to the President's speech than to insinuate there's something harmful or dangerous in it.
So , right wingers, flame on!
Posted by: ornery | September 8, 2009 12:46 AM
I am so proud of this brilliant President. What a great blessing for our children to have such a beautiful and brave leader who inspires them to do good and great things in their lives and for the lives of others. Dear God please continue to protect our Beloved President and keep him safe from all of the rampant, vile and destructive negativity!!
Posted by: Alicia de Najera Sena | September 8, 2009 1:02 AM
No school for my kid either...a morning at the park and then off to KFC for a fried chicken lunch.
Mmmm,Mmmm good!
No socialist with a 41% approval rating will lecture my child on anything.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | September 8, 2009 1:45 AM
@Bill R
" Matt J. Can you imagine anything worse than kids wanting to help the president or the country?"
You lose right there. I never said anything about kids wanting to help the country. Just Obama. Either you've already drunk way too much Koolaid and can't see the difference, or you're attempting a strawman argument, and an exceedingly poor one at that. I won't go so far as to say that you're what's wrong with this country, but I believe that people who follow authority blindly, and pledge their allegiance to a man as opposed to an office or their country aren't exactly helping keep tyranny at bay. Oh, and you know who else thought the lesson plan was a bad idea? BARACK OBAMA, thats why they removed it! Thanks for playing.
Posted by: Matt J | September 8, 2009 6:52 AM
Unfortunately, the kids in Deerfield, IL will not be able to hear what Obama has to say because the school district caved to pressure from a few right-wing parents and decided not to show the speech live in school.
Posted by: Steven | September 8, 2009 7:40 AM
Matt J......Please tell me the difference between Obama's words and Bush 1's:
"Let me know how you're doing. Write me a letter -- and I'm serious about this one -- write me a letter about ways you can help us achieve our goals. I think you know the address."
Seems I don't remember women crying that their kids would have to listen to that. There is certainly a line between concern and hysteria, and the right has fallen over the edge. I believe it was removed because insanity has taken over many Americans.
Posted by: bill r. | September 8, 2009 7:54 AM
Beth,
You're kidding, right? Please tell us you are kidding.
Posted by: C.Morris✧ | September 8, 2009 8:38 AM
For the most part I think the speech in general, on the surface, is ok, but there is something about it that crosses the line. I'd like to see the original version and lesson plan prior to changes. That is what shows what Nobama's true original intention was. That is what the bigger problem is. His intention is not to just give kids a pep talk to better themselves. It is about trying to gain their trust to get them to DO FOR HIM that's a problem. It's the "Don't let us down" that struck a chord with me and the lesson plan that included the question "What can you do to help the President." That's different than what you can do to help your country. Something about that just doesn't seem right. Seems like an awful lot of pressure to put on a little kid. You want your 5 year old in kindergarten walking around feeling like they need to save this country (because our stupid president sure can't) or feel they should be obligated to help someone in authority accomplish and do whatever they say? You need to be very careful when people in authority situations with kids start to abuse their power and authority for their own good. It can easily become an "abusive" situation. Their power can be abused to use kids for their own needs and agenda. Just like a typical child abduction scenerio. Man walks up and tries to befriend your child, he shows them he can "relate" to them, gain their trust, next he's asking them if they can HELP HIM find his animal. Seems harmless...until he snatches them so they can help him accomplish his own sick needs. You want your kids to be helping Obama with whatever he wants their help with even if "you", the parent, doesn't agree with his agenda or plans. If you think what he is doing is wrong, or if what he wants them to do in the future may be harmful to them, do you want your kid to feel they should help him accomplish it? How did people like Hitler, or Jim Jones or even the latest kidnapper, Garrido, get people to do awful unthinkable things that no sane person would do?? Answer that question and you'll have answered why Obama's speech and lesson plan are a problem and could be only the beginning of something really bad to come from him. Those that are simple minded may not get it, but those with a little more foresight I'm sure can see it plain as day.
Posted by: Dr. Mrs. | September 8, 2009 8:44 AM
@bill r
Even though I've already proven you wrong (which is why you come back from a different angle) I'll answer your latest question. Bush's entire quote was
"Let me leave you with a simple message: Every time you walk through that classroom door, make it your mission to get a good education. Don't do it just because your parents, or even the President, tells you. Do it for yourselves. Do it for your future. And while you're at it, help a little brother or sister to learn, or maybe even Mom or Dad. Let me know how you're doing. Write me a letter -- and I'm serious about this one -- write me a letter about ways you can help us achieve our goals. I think you know the address"
Clearly, he is referring to the administrations goal of helping students achieve their goals. It came at the end of a speech at took approximately 5 seconds.
This one closing statement is completely different from an entire lesson play that asks students to write essays like "how can I help the president."
Even Obama can see the difference, that's why he withdrew it. I'm sorry that you can't.
Seriously, read my original post. The speech is great. Students should be inspired and motivated by the president. The lesson plan went too far, and everyone acknowledges it but you.
If you want to defend something, follow the link from my original post, read the law and attempt to justify how they can include a lesson plan at all, when the law clearly prevents them from dictating curriculum.
Posted by: Matt J | September 8, 2009 8:51 AM
To bill r.
It is drivng the right insane to watch the left become total idiots at the hand of nobama. If you were related to a couple of family members who became a follwer of Rev.Jim Jones, wouldn't you be going nuts trying to get them away from the evil nutcase before they drank the koolaid that killed them all. Come on folks, wake up. There are those of us that see things clearly and those of us too blinded to see.
Posted by: Dr. Mrs. | September 8, 2009 9:09 AM
Unfortunately, the kids in Deerfield, IL will not be able to hear what Obama has to say because the school district caved to pressure from a few right-wing parents and decided not to show the speech live in school.
Posted by: Steven | September 8, 2009 7:40 AM
The people in Deerfield are smart, they don't want their kids turned into "Little Obama Brown Shirts"
Posted by: Inky | September 8, 2009 9:25 AM
Dr Mrs. You are a complete and utter nut job. I have no worries about my mental health, but I can't say the same for you and the many other right wing posters on this sight; the ignorance you spew makes me ill. Paulo, you have children?!?. Based your post apparently you will raise them to be Idiots like yourself.
Posted by: Will | September 8, 2009 10:19 AM
I think every parent needw to work hard to ensure that thier impressionable precious children never have a chance to be influenced by the words of a President at any time. That truly is the way to Nazism. That's why I am going to my school board and demanding that they stop teaching history in our schools. They are going to hear about people like Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt, all with a socialist spin from the ultra-leftist teachers. Certainly I don't want any discussion of current events or issues in the presence of my precious impressionable children. Like Beth I cannot accept my children being expose to ANY ideas other than my own. I want mny children only to know what I tell them about the President, which is that he is a Kenyan born, muslim, racist, marxist, nazi dictator!!!!! We must beware of any attempt to undermine my authority to teavch my children that by exposing children to "facts" or direct experience!
Posted by: Radical righty | September 8, 2009 10:25 AM
I think the Presidents speech was incredible!! If only our "prior" presidents could have only spoke to our children before now like President Obama. Maybe my step-son would have NOT dropped out of school!!
There's not ONE thing wrong with this speech. NOT ONE!
Get with it America, turn your racism and prejudice around, then maybe this country will give it's children the strength that they need.
Posted by: Jamea B. | September 8, 2009 10:49 AM
"No school for my kid either...a morning at the park " (paulo)
Sounds like Paulo sends his kid to socialist public school and enjoys the socialist public park.
Posted by: Socialist Finger | September 8, 2009 11:05 AM
Paulo:
Are we to really believe that you have a kid???
And why aren't you at work today instead of being at home?? I thought only DEMOCRATS did that!!!
Posted by: BobinATL | September 8, 2009 11:12 AM
If parents don't want their kids indoctrinated, if parents and kids opt out, isn't that their "right to choose"? Isn't that "Freedom of Choice"?
Or is the teachable Lesson: Freedom of Choice for Me, but not for Thee.....
Posted by: I thought dissent was Patriotic! | September 8, 2009 11:14 AM
This morning, C-SPAN aired the speeches of Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush that were directed to all U. S. school children during their own administrations. Where were the right wing and fundy complaints back then? Poppy Bush did his in a DC classroom. Both of the republican speeches to the school children contained lines that sounded as if they could have been used in Pug campaign ads.
Those on the (wrong) right are far less respectful of the office of the President of the USA--now that Obama is in office--than were those on the left when Bush was in office. Yes, even after Bush lied in his SOTUA about the lies for war--and even after the Cheney/Bush administration manipulated info about environmental scientific findings and security threat levels the opposing parties continued to respect the OFFICE of the President of the USA. The (wrong) right wing is telling the majority of VOTERS who voted for Obama that WE WERE WRONG. Obama has some faults, however better Obama in office now than any Pug who never challanged Cheney/Bush on lies about war, lies about the economy and banking buddies, lies about the "need" for TARP, lies about trading personal rights for pumped-up security threats, lies about "emergency" war funding, and lies about the intent of certain nations. Republicans--yes--the party of lies, disrespect, and no oversight of their own.
Posted by: Vivian | September 8, 2009 12:14 PM
"I expect you to get serious this year. I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect great things from each of you. So don't let us down - don't let your family or your country or yourself down. Make us all proud. I know you can do it.
Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America."
Yeah, Beth, "I" can see how these sentences are soooooo self-promotional.
So, the next time a teacher tells his/her class "I expect you to behave", "I know you can do it", "I believe in you", the teacher should be fired, right? Can't be self-promoting infront of the kids.
Posted by: Davey S | September 8, 2009 12:15 PM
Posted by: AAC999 | September 7, 2009 3:30 PM
Maybe, maybe not. But we don't really know, do we? Maybe the republicans should have just let Obama make the speech first. Then, IF there was anything controversial or appeared to have an "agenda", then criticize. As for now, the Republicans just look foolish. But that's par for the course for them.
Posted by: syj | September 8, 2009 12:19 PM
Wow. Used to be the Republicans were a serious pro-business party who promised to improve our economy and steal less than the machine Democrats from Chicago. Now it looks like they're all vying for the same tinfoil hat franchise. Opposing the President's speech to children about the importance of working hard and staying in school? That's about the dumbest thing I ever heard.
Posted by: Tom O | September 8, 2009 2:09 PM
@bill r
Even though I've already proven you wrong (which is why you come back from a different angle)
Posted by: Matt J | September 8, 2009 8:51 AM
First...you have proven nothing. If for one minute you think "helping a president" is sinister, you are wrong. I don't know what country you grew up in, but I can tell you here in America where I grew up, helping a president wasn't a "bad" thing. That is pure partisan garbage and not what America is all about. I always had trouble with the whole "great American" shtick, especially since helping a president is wrong.
Second...There is absolutely nothing illegal with the department of Education encuraging educators to make full benifit of this speech. Lesson plans have always been available from the DOE.
Third...I had no problem with Bush 1s speech. I was 43 so I remember there was not much uproar from the public, maybe Washington, but little to none from the public. Certainly not women crying over it for Christs sake. Also.....please let me know how Jim Greer's uproar over this ridiculous issue had no problem visiting schools and discussing politics. That's right POLITICS. He made Hillary jokes, he made political jokes, yet you have no problem with that? Selective aren't we?
Posted by: bill r. | September 8, 2009 2:15 PM
You're beaten. That's why you keep inventing arguments and twisting my words. I never said helping a president was "sinister or a bad thing." Oh, and btw Federal law expressly forbids the Secretary of Education or any officer from exercising “any direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum, program of instruction, administration, or personnel of any educational institution, school, or school system.” 20 U.S.C. § 3403. http://www.lc.org/media/9980/attachments/20_usc_3403_090409.pdf read it!
You say you remember an uproar from DC when Bush 41 gave his talk to schools? You're right. Dems investigated and held hearings. http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/When-Bush-spoke-to-students-Democrats-investigated-held-hearings-57694347.html
Seriously, all that does is shoot down your own argument against conservatives who oppose the speech.
That's the problem with the left and people like you. You're incapable of articulating your own response and opinion in regards to an issue, you can only respond and attack other people's opinions.
Seriously...Go away, I'm tired of slapping you around. I'm done with this.
Posted by: Matt J | September 8, 2009 2:45 PM
@bill r
"please let me know how Jim Greer's uproar over this ridiculous issue had no problem visiting schools and discussing politics"
Jim Greer?!? how is he at all relevant in any of this? If it will make you and Silva happy we'll say it,,ok Jim Greer's a nut...happy now? Seriously, Jim Greer?? The guy doesn't eve have a Wikipedia entry. If the left and the msm want to ignore Van Jones, how the hell can they justify bringing Jim Greer into this? Jim Greer?!? Lol. Talk about desperate...ok NOW I'm done with you.
Posted by: Matt J | September 8, 2009 3:02 PM
You're beaten. That's why you keep inventing arguments and twisting my words. I never said helping a president was "sinister or a bad thing."
Posted by: Matt J | September 8, 2009 2:45 PM
Here are your words again:
Not to mention a lesson plan so ridiculously biased as one that requires students letters to write letters to themselves asking how they can 'help the president'
Now these are your words and it seems no doubt you have a problem with it. Twist it anyway you want but these are your words. At least have the guts to say yes I have a problem with it. Don't play some game. Secondly...I said I do not remember any public outcry from Bush 1. Politicians...yes but no women crying oh god Obama is going to talk to my son oh my! Craziness. Third......What we don't need is another armchair lawyer who knows nothing of law.
But ...hey...I'd be embarrassed too if I caused such a stupid stink over such a silly thing. I'd be backpeddling too!
Posted by: bill r. | September 8, 2009 3:35 PM
TO ALL:
I am not an Obama fan. I DO RESPECT THE MAN. HE IS A GOOD MAN. This a wonderful speech unfortunately a little too long for growing small brains. I AM GLAD AS A FATHER TO SEE The President of the United States repeating publicly
what I tell my son almost every day. The president is right. The president is trying to do good because nobody would disagree that our SCREEN-AGERS KIDS & I-this, I-that, I-Me, I-Goof, I-Fun, I-text messaging, I-individualism, I-selfish, I-egocentered, I-ignorant but pretentious and I-irrespectful, I-lazzy, I-easy talking back, I-defying, I-phun...phun...phun, I-POT, i i i i iiiiiiiii. All these kids need what the president's advices and recommendations politics put asside. It is not just about them, it is about the future of this great country. SO, GOOD JOB Mr PRESIDENT. The president is right: fear, ignorance and mediocrity some parents are proudly displaying here would never guide our kids towards success or bright futures. The president is showing the moon, most people claiming to be smart are focussing on what finger is showing the moon. How smart is that? The president is saying to our kids;"HEY! AIM AT THE MOON. EVEN IF YOU MISS IT, DO NOT WORRY, THERE ARE SO MANY STARS ALL AROUND, FOR SURE, YOU GONE HIT A STAR". SO, HEY PEOPLE! WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT? HEY PEOPLE! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?
maxim
Posted by: Maxim from chicago | September 8, 2009 4:17 PM
It is not just about what he is going to say, it is about undermining the parents. The parents who do not believe in his policies and what he is doing. Then he tries to go "talk to the kids" and is, in essence, trying to make himself look good.
Hitler also influenced the kids with his smooth speeches and his calls to be loyal to him and the country, and if their parents said something against either they could be turned in. Sound familiar? Kind of like e-mail the white house with people who are "misinforming". WAKE UP PEOPLE!!
----------------------------
How rich.
Talking to kids to make yourself look good = Hitler
Smooth speeches= Hitler
WAKE UP PEOPLE?
Posted by: Wayne | September 8, 2009 4:37 PM
@bill r
"please let me know how Jim Greer's uproar over this ridiculous issue had no problem visiting schools and discussing politics"
Jim Greer?!? how is he at all relevant in any of this?
Now it's ridiculous? Talk about relevant, you bring up Oprah, and Demmi Moore and you think Greer is not relevant? The man plastered on TV making this whole thing an issue? Wikipedia? You're kidding right? Is that where you learn the law? Armchair bubba! Armchair. You're done alright.........
Posted by: bill r. | September 8, 2009 4:52 PM
Wish I had heard this pep talk while I was a kid in school. This is exactly what we need to hear.
Posted by: Janet Carlson | September 8, 2009 8:46 PM
"Federal law expressly forbids the Secretary of Education or any officer from exercising “any direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum, program of instruction, administration, or personnel of any educational institution, school, or school system.”
Bush 43 tried to force school districts to teach the so-called "Creationist Theory" of the earth's origins. Never mind it would go completely against the "no establishment of religion" clause in the Constitution. But you had no problem with that, right?
Posted by: syj | September 9, 2009 8:21 AM
"Federal law expressly forbids the Secretary of Education or any officer from exercising “any direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum, program of instruction, administration, or personnel of any educational institution, school, or school system.”
Bush 43 tried to force school districts to teach the so-called "Creationist Theory" of the earth's origins. Never mind it would go completely against the "no establishment of religion" clause in the Constitution. But you had no problem with that, right?
Posted by: syj | September 9, 2009 8:21 AM
Bush never - and couldn't- "force" any such thing-he specifically deferred to local and state school boards to make the call. His view was that children should be exposed to both sides of the debate.
http://www.issues2000.org/George_W__Bush_Education.htm
Posted by: heartburn | September 9, 2009 10:35 AM
heartburn , so did Bush think that kids should be expposed to all side of the debate:? Should not only evolution and intelligent design be taught, or should the schools also teach the Judeao-Christion creation theory, the Hindu creation theory, the various Native American creation theories, the Norse creation theory, the Chariots of the Gods alien visitation theory all be taught as equally valid as well?
Posted by: We can't let facts into our classrooms! | September 9, 2009 1:42 PM
heartburn , so did Bush think that kids should be expposed to all side of the debate:? Should not only evolution and intelligent design be taught, or should the schools also teach the Judeao-Christion creation theory, the Hindu creation theory, the various Native American creation theories, the Norse creation theory, the Chariots of the Gods alien visitation theory all be taught as equally valid as well?
Posted by: We can't let facts into our classrooms! | September 9, 2009 1:42 PM
Not sure what your point is - my post was refuting the incorrect assumption that Bush was"forcing" creationist theories to be taught.
The debate is about creationism vs evolution generically---if I understand your point, and your reference to many different cultures versions of creationism, ...would you have kids be taught all of the different theories about how humanity evolved?
That is as equally impractical as trying to teach every variation of how humanity MAY have been created by intelligent design...
Posted by: heartburn | September 9, 2009 3:23 PM
"would you have kids be taught all of the different theories about how humanity evolved?"
Yes. There aren't very many different theories on how humanity evolved, and the differnce are mainly in some of the details, but I think, that at the appropriate educational level, discussing some of the differences would be perfectly acceptable.
Do you believe that the alien visitation theory should be taught along side intelligent design"? Do you support alternative theories of creationism, other than the Christian version being taught in the public schools?
Posted by: We can't let facts into our classrooms! | September 9, 2009 4:14 PM
"would you have kids be taught all of the different theories about how humanity evolved?"
Yes. There aren't very many different theories on how humanity evolved, and the differnce are mainly in some of the details, but I think, that at the appropriate educational level, discussing some of the differences would be perfectly acceptable.
Do you believe that the alien visitation theory should be taught along side intelligent design"? Do you support alternative theories of creationism, other than the Christian version being taught in the public schools?
Posted by: We can't let facts into our classrooms! | September 9, 2009 4:14 PM
I would support anything that is presented from a fact based pointof view-it is a fact that most human beings believe that their existence is based on some divine force... this does not have to be in conflict with evolution theory and should not be treated as if it is some fringe viewpoint...
Our schools are failing because we are not teaching our kids to be critical thinkers first- excluding the creationist point of view adds no value to the education of kids-
Your point is well taken- where do you stop?- this is the case with any non-finite subject.. think of literature alone- it would be impossible to cover every possible cultures writers and thinkers, and still teach the basic math science and reading.. you only have so much time in a day.
I think a good approach is the 80/20 rule - with a goal of exposing kids to 80% of the viewpoints that are in the popular culture and you will probably get them started on the right track- their curiosity will take them to more info once you spark the interest.
Posted by: heartburn | September 9, 2009 5:09 PM