Why Obama’s Address to Schoolchildren Is Objectionable

[Sinatra]

I dont have a problem with the President addressing school children. If he did anything partisan it would be a perfect opportunity to show kids how ridiculous he is being. If he doesnt, then no harm no foul.

The Lesson plan follow up was a bit more controversial. making kids write about what they can do to help Obama.

That was beyond controversial - it was a bit creepy...

 

[Modbert]

I dont have a problem with the President addressing school children. If he did anything partisan it would be a perfect opportunity to show kids how ridiculous he is being. If he doesnt, then no harm no foul.

The Lesson plan follow up was a bit more controversial. making kids write about what they can do to help Obama.

It doesn't mean that they have to even agree with Obama. It sounds harmless to me. It's a bunch of kids who just heard a speech about staying in school, etc. What do you think they are going to write about? How they are ready to submit themselves to be followers of the new "Socialist Revolution"?

Hell, over a billion people already believe in a man who told people to leave their families at the drop of a hat and lived in a commune. Which is why I find this whole "He's trying to get our kids to be socialists!" laughable.

A gold star to whoever can name the person I am referring to.

 

[Vel]

I wonder how many of these people screamed when Reagan talked to kids, When bush 41 talked to kids or when Bush 43 talked to kids?

You know they screamed when Clinton did.

As has been said before.. produce the lesson plan that the Reagan or Bush Whitehouses sent to all public schools telling teachers how to prepare students for the speech and how to "guide the discussion" afterwards, and then your Reagan/Bush compare will have validity. Until then, it doesn't.

George Bush Presidential Library and Museum :: Public Papers - 1991 - October
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.

Well THAT example was a miserable failure. Bush was TALKING to one classroom of students. There was no "prep" materials sent from D.C. nor lesson plan to guide the discussion after. Show us apples to apples please.

 

[edthecynic]

I wonder how many of these people screamed when Reagan talked to kids, When bush 41 talked to kids or when Bush 43 talked to kids?

You know they screamed when Clinton did.

As has been said before.. produce the lesson plan that the Reagan or Bush Whitehouses sent to all public schools telling teachers how to prepare students for the speech and how to "guide the discussion" afterwards, and then your Reagan/Bush compare will have validity. Until then, it doesn't.

Exactly.

Obama attempted to go far beyond a simple address to school children - it was accompanies by prepatory activies prior to the speech, with follow up activities after the speech - including an emphasis on how these kids could "help the president."

It showed arrogance and disregard - both of which continue to plague this administration well beyond this issue...

I dont have a problem with the President addressing school children. If he did anything partisan it would be a perfect opportunity to show kids how ridiculous he is being. If he doesnt, then no harm no foul.

The Lesson plan follow up was a bit more controversial. making kids write about what they can do to help Obama.

But there was no controversy when Bush wanted letters of support.

George Bush Presidential Library and Museum :: Public Papers - 1991 - October
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.

 

[Modbert]

That was beyond controversial - it was a bit creepy...

I suppose you think Reagan was also being creepy huh?

Conservative media take note: Reagan preached tax cut gospel to America’s students | Media Matters for America

Oh wait, you agree with Reagan, so you consider this to be right and justified. My mistake!

 

[edthecynic]

As has been said before.. produce the lesson plan that the Reagan or Bush Whitehouses sent to all public schools telling teachers how to prepare students for the speech and how to "guide the discussion" afterwards, and then your Reagan/Bush compare will have validity. Until then, it doesn't.

George Bush Presidential Library and Museum :: Public Papers - 1991 - October
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.

Well THAT example was a miserable failure. Reagan was TALKING to one classroom of students. There was no "prep" materials sent from D.C. nor lesson plan to guide the discussion after. Show us apples to apples please.

Well, THAT reply was a miserable failure. It was BUSH and it was televised for all schools to have access to it.

 

[Vel]

Well THAT example was a miserable failure. Reagan was TALKING to one classroom of students. There was no "prep" materials sent from D.C. nor lesson plan to guide the discussion after. Show us apples to apples please.

Well, THAT reply was a miserable failure. It was BUSH and it was televised for all schools to have access to it.

LOL I know that. I caught my own typo and corrected it before I saw you posted.

 

[paperview]

Well THAT example was a miserable failure. Reagan was TALKING to one classroom of students. There was no "prep" materials sent from D.C. nor lesson plan to guide the discussion after. Show us apples to apples please.

Well, THAT reply was a miserable failure. It was BUSH and it was televised for all schools to have access to it.

*ouch*

 

[xotoxi]

You've got to tighten up your Venn diagram a little to make things more realistic.

 

[Emma]

Bush was TALKING to one classroom of students.

"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.

Now we're going to walk over to the school auditorium to say hello to the rest of the student body. To all the students across the country who watched us here in this great classroom today, may I simply say thank you and good luck to you this school year."


His remarks were broadcast live by the Cable News Network, the Public Broadcasting System, the Mutual Broadcasting System, and the NBC radio network.

 

[bodecea]

This is the stupidest issue I've ever seen Republicans get caught up over ever since lipstick on a pig. I think it's the one year anniversary for that, so it would make sense. The Republicans need a faux outrage over something once a year.

There are millions of students going back to school tomorrow. Getting a pep talk from the commander in chief, reminding them about the importance of a good education and to stay in school is a huge deal and I would absolutely, positively make my children watch this speech whether it was from Obama, Reagan, HW Bush or W Bush. Education is one of the biggest elephants in the room right now - it's disgusting how our education system is one of the worst in the world - compared to countries that have far less money than we do. While I maintain that schools should receive money from local and state funds, I also maintain that the school year should be longer, children should be taught more about culture, art, philosophy, different languages, etc. and that we should completely overhaul our education system and give more federal oversight of it. A better educated society in the long run can have massive, positive implications for society overall.

Look at our educational system compared to India's... or China's... this is something that should be a huge priority for the federal government and unfortunately, it's not. Do we really need to keep learning the same American History, the same World History in almost every other grade? Do we really need to learn Algebra when only a very small fraction of society uses it? Why can't we teach a 5th grader about the nuances of music theory? Why can't we teach a 6th grader how to appreciate art instead of the same BS painting and clay crap?

Even with the educational system as it is, receiving a pep talk directly from the President no matter what party affiliation he has, would be something special. I'm going to buy a #2 pencil today just for the occasion.

All I can say is...it's almost "War on Christmas" Season.

 

[dilloduck]

Does a member of every political party get equal time to address kids in school ?

 

[Modbert]

Does a member of every political party get equal time to address kids in school ?

Did Democrats get a chance when it came to Reagan, H.W Bush, and W. Bush? No? Then no go.

This is the President of the United States encouraging kids to stay in school. Some politician that the majority of kids don't even know won't matter to them.

 

[Toome]

I think what's overlooked here is the reach of Obama's speech. Whenever a President visits an elementary school, it's a brief visit with perhaps 15 to 20 minutes with the kids. Usually, the kids will have some sort of presentation or show or musical recital in honor of the President, then the President says a few words mostly along the lines of encouraging kids to stay in school, work hard towards achieving their goals, etc. In the end, only a handful of kids were visited.

This is different. This is a nationwide TV broadcast reportedly an hour long that is specifically directed to school-aged youngsters with a speech to date no one knows the contents of. Parents, teachers, school principals and school administrators don't know the contents of that speech. It's reportedly voluntary; however, the Department of Education is "encouraging" schools to tune in. Therein lies another problem: is it really voluntary as the administration claims? Or is there some measure of subtle pressure being leveraged against the schools? We don't know, but we do know that it is not unheard of for Obama's people to use Chicago machine politics tactics such as intimidation and coercion. Look at how debate over the stimulus package, auto industry recovery and health care are handled: behind closed doors rather than public discussion.

I hope to hell that I am overreacting and that this is nothing more than the President wanting to spend an hour with school kids reinforcing the sort of message that we would want all role models to give: the benefits of staying in school, setting goals and achieving them through hard work and determination.

But the "trust factor," after all the other issues Obama has handled, is highly suspect.

 

[Vel]

Well THAT example was a miserable failure. Reagan was TALKING to one classroom of students. There was no "prep" materials sent from D.C. nor lesson plan to guide the discussion after. Show us apples to apples please.

Well, THAT reply was a miserable failure. It was BUSH and it was televised for all schools to have access to it.

You are correct. Apparently it was available to schools. I guess I stand in the same company with Obama's Secretary of Education. I should have double checked before posting. However, you still haven't provided the lesson plan for Bush's speech. Please link to it.


"Secretary of Education Arne Duncan urged the nation's principals to allow their students to watch a Sept. 8 address on the importance of education from President Barack Obama.
"The President will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning," Duncan wrote, adding, "This is the first time an American president has spoken directly to the nation's school children about persisting and succeeding in school."

PolitiFact | Barack Obama is not the first president to address school children.

 

[Modbert]

I think what's overlooked here is the reach of Obama's speech. Whenever a President visits an elementary school, it's a brief visit with perhaps 15 to 20 minutes with the kids. Usually, the kids will have some sort of presentation or show or musical recital in honor of the President, then the President says a few words mostly along the lines of encouraging kids to stay in school, work hard towards achieving their goals, etc. In the end, only a handful of kids were visited.

This is different. This is a nationwide TV broadcast reportedly an hour long that is specifically directed to school-aged youngsters with a speech to date no one knows the contents of. Parents, teachers, school principals and school administrators don't know the contents of that speech. It's reportedly voluntary; however, the Department of Education is "encouraging" schools to tune in. Therein lies another problem: is it really voluntary as the administration claims? Or is there some measure of subtle pressure being leveraged against the schools? We don't know, but we do know that it is not unheard of for Obama's people to use Chicago machine politics tactics such as intimidation and coercion. Look at how debate over the stimulus package, auto industry recovery and health care are handled: behind closed doors rather than public discussion.

I hope to hell that I am overreacting and that this is nothing more than the President wanting to spend an hour with school kids reinforcing the sort of message that we would want all role models to give: the benefits of staying in school, setting goals and achieving them through hard work and determination.

But the "trust factor," after all the other issues Obama has handled, is highly suspect.

Well its obvious you're not paying attention.

Text of Obama speech to be released before school broadcast - CNN.com

Here's the "Socialism":

http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/

 

[NYcarbineer]

President Obama is going to urge schoolchildren to listen to their parents.

Rightwing parents should DEFINITELY object to that.

 

[NYcarbineer]

Does a member of every political party get equal time to address kids in school ?

Yes, every time one that party's members is President.

 

[paperview]

Does a member of every political party get equal time to address kids in school ?

Yes, every time one that party's members is President.

So that's what they mean when they say elections have consequences!

 

[dilloduck]

Does a member of every political party get equal time to address kids in school ?

Yes, every time one that party's members is President.

so we're going to do away with the oppositions response to the state of the union address too ?