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twitterLetter to the Editor:
Why the president should speak to students
Monday, Sept. 7, 2009 | 2:04 a.m.
The president of the United States of America, the greatest democracy in the world, wants to speak to the nation’s children as they start the new school year. He wants to encourage children to work hard and stay in school. It’s obvious, from the recent dropout rates and poor results on standardized tests, that our children can use all the help they can get.
Instead of appreciating President Barack Obama’s efforts to improve education, and enhancing his much-needed message, some parents and school personnel are showing their own ignorance in protesting the effort and making the children think the president wants to do a “bad” thing. Regardless of political affiliation, we would hope that adults would set an example for the children and show respect for the position of president and the much-needed message.
Our children are starving for direction. Have we become so jaded in our thinking that we will allow adult prejudices to determine who can tell them what they need to do to become educated adults?
The writer is a retired teacher.
Discussion: 96 comments so far…
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I don't know how Ms Morris knows what Mr Obama is going to put into his speech as I understand it hasn't been completet into its final form. Even if her assumptions are correct I would expect it to have little or no effect on the thinking of the children. Looking at Obama's agenda I have virtually no respect for the man and if I had children, I would certainly make my views known to them to counteract the propaganda put forth by the educational establishment.
jib101 said: "My kid is 24 and not very ambitious. I pay his way continuously from rent to food to medical care."
Maybe your kid should visit a school and listen to the President's speech. It might get him inspired? It's worth a shot!
My son also has mental problems. We have spent well in excess of $50,000 out of our own pockets since he started puberty trying to get him on the right track with specials schools and expert help. I don't think thirty minutes of listening to Obama babble is going to change anything.
Good Morning. The thing is, how do I confirm that my kids WILL see the speech?? Should I keep them home, will I be able to see it, etc?? The arguments on this subject are very ineducated and I refuse to comment on them. Just, please, contact me or post what WILL be happening.
Sincerely
I don't have a problem with the President speaking to school children but when he attempts to use these children to further his political agenda that many call socialist, I, like a lot of others, do have a problem. This presidency appears to be approaching cult status.
A cult is a group or movement exhibiting a great or excessive devotion or dedication to some PERSON, idea or thing and employing unethically manipulative techniques of persuasion and control designed to advance the goals of the group's leaders to the actual or possible detriment of members, their families, or the community.
Two tasks that students were to do after speech:
Students "write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president."
Another task recommended for students immediately after listening to the speech: to engage in a discussion about what "the president wants us to do."
It's all about him...
Hey Sheila >>>>> You know as well as everyone else dos that 95% of all teachers are Democrats and that President Obama being black has nothing to do with it. It's his liberal message thats the problem here. One thing that you never saw happen was all those teachers and the news media supporting President Bush to make a speech like this. The only adult prejudices being shown here is from those teachers and the news media towards the Republican party. RIGHT!
I remember such "cult" presidents as Ronald Reagan addressing students the opening day of schools.
Let's not forget our Bush father and son speaking to kids on the first day of school, without the cries from these crazies.
For those anti-Obama parents, I would think they could keep their kids home or ask them to cover ther eyes and ears if the message of staying in school, working hard in class, respecting their teachers, believing in themselves, overcoming any obstacles placed in their way to succeed as he did and making every effort to do the best they can, is simply too dangerous a message for their children.
If parent keep them home on the first day of school, because their parents are afraid of the President's message, it may make Obama the coolest President in the minds of their kids.
Or.... you narrow minded haters can read the message for yourself and discuss the President's message with your kids and show them how wrong the President is for wanting them to succeed in school and in life.
Free and informed thinkers welcome the President's message.
This is crazy. A speech by the President intended to inspire kids is off limits to children of some extremists, but these same kids will be watching "Jackass" on the comedy Channel later that evening. Make sure they don't miss "Dude, What Would Happen" on the Cartoon Network, where a discussion of popping the world's largest zit is scheduled.
That speech by the President of the United States trying to persuade them to do well in school couldn't be as good for them as Beavis & Butthead on MTV.
These idiotic extremist views keep America on the fast track to mediocrity.
free with misinformation is at it again.
Rejoice, the anointed one will speak. His message will be lifting and all students will want to worship their leader.
Then the students will all set down and write an essay on how they can help the President. (Not how to help the Country)
New phrase coined: ASK NOT WHAT YOUR PRESIDENT CAN DO FOR YOU, ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR PRESIDENT.
"I don't have a problem with the President speaking to school children but when he attempts to use these children to further his political agenda that many call socialist, I, like a lot of others, do have a problem."
I'll endorse this nonsense if Obama will speak without the aid of a teleprompter and if he'll release his records from Columbia University, especially the application which lists his place of birth.
"I'll endorse this nonsense if Obama will speak without the aid of a teleprompter and if he'll release his records from Columbia University, especially the application which lists his place of birth."
Careful, mike. Your tin foil hat is slipping...
Ms. Morse, if children need direction the people that they should be look toward for it are typically called "mom" and "dad." This is why I have denied permission for my six year old daughter to view this in her school. I, like many other parents, believe that my child should be receiving an education while in school and not listening to ANY politician. My child does not need direction as far as her education is concerned; both her father and I are very much involved and do not need the president to interfere with our values and teachings. The only children that Mr. Obama has the right to address regarding education are his own.
mikegino: A "birther!" Who would have guessed! Time to get off it mikegino. Even your amigos have left you behind on that one.
The retired teacher is showing her ignorance when she says, "are showing their own ignorance in protesting the effort "
I have no problem with the President giving a speech to whoever.
But it is the right of any American to protest any thing that the government does and if the teacher ever took a civic lesson then she would know that.
It was Obama's Education Department that started all this nonsense. They generated lesson plans that was a blatant attempt to get young school children to become cheerleaders for the President. The Education Department fixed those errors. Other than firing somebody in the Education Department we all should move on.
Retired teachers calling people ignorant does not help anything either.
wayne: Duh, I'm not asking for his non-existant birth certificate. I'm asking to see what he himself claimed in writing at that moment in time. It's an old cross-examination trick.
OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! The White House has RELEASED THE TEXT OF THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH PLANNED TOMORROW!!!.. The Horror!! THE Commie!! How Dare He CHALLENGE THE STUDENTS TO WORK HARD, STUDY HARD AND AIM FOR SUCCESS!!!
Let's rum him through with a #2 Pencil!! Lets smother him in eraser dust!! He should be strapped to a desk and forced to write "I will not encourage the nation's youth" 20 million times with a crayon..
Read it your own self and weep. Once again our president has PLAYED YOU LIKE a $2 fiddle, and you bought it all lock, stock and barrel. You are all SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO gullible.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources...
I hope "powerdope/nancyboy" has something to say about the message of encouragement.
Otherwise, I officially label all you right wing nutbags as FRAUDS and B.S.ers and I call you all Full of the stuff that exits the rear end of a cow..
cmom: did you read the original lesson plans? The White House was not originally going to release a copy of the speech to the American public until the people aligned and demanded it.
"It's an old cross-examination trick."
You are right...It IS old..and stupid.
"did you read the original lesson plans?"
Anyone knows that lesson plans are flexible until implemented. I can write in my lesson plans "feed students to a live lobster." Until I implement it I can change it as I SEE FIT. Once again people are reacting to "Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda.." Just admit that the President "Played you" and send your kid to school, so they can hear the message. You are free to read the text and invent any secret "Commie" message for yourself.
Well, unless the government changes this within the next few hours, *I* am the guardian of my children and *I* get to choose to what they are exposed.
My child will be attending school, along with the permission denied slip that I personally faxed to the school office. She instead be learning what a six year old should be learning about: reading, writing and arithmetic. If anyone should be speaking to my children about what they need to value or what direction they need to take, it should be either their father or me.
Lesson plans are indeed flexible; however, they are an intended course of direction. Excuse the millions of parents and school authorities who found the original plans to be offensive.
"She instead be learning what a six year old should be learning about: reading, writing and arithmetic"
If "reading, writing and arithmetic" are the ONLY things you expect your 6 year old to learn, then you have my sympathy.
I guess civics, humanities, learning, social behavior and many other necessary skill don't exist in your school. I hope you are not letting your child watch "age appropriate" television, since they all have lesson plans, and teach concepts like (god forbid) good judgement, sharing, valuing education, and many other subjects.
What are your "True" reasons for not letting your child hear words of encouragement? I KNOW it has NOTHING to do with the president spending 5 minutes to ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO DO WELL IN SCHOOL. Be real with yourself. What "Sane" person thinks that 5 minutes at the Beginning of the day is "wasted time?" do you know your child's teacher's morning routine down to the minute?
Just look inside and find the real motivation for not allowing your child to hear the president and think to yourself " would I have made this decision if McCain were in the white House"
cmon: I voted for Obama. Do not assume that just because I am against the president speaking to my child that I voted for McCain.
I do know my child's day. I am very much involved with her and her education. I do not want ANY politician addressing my child. Instilling values and responsibilities into my child is MY responsibility, not the president.
ASK NOT WHAT YOUR PRESIDENT CAN DO FOR YOU, ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR PRESIDENT!!!
I like it...
NEWS ALERT!! On Wednesday, the Vice President will announcement that the President's speech on Tuesday saved 250,000 students from dropping out of school. He will also announce that 500,000 students have increased their grades.
I find it interesting that parents will allow their children to watch videos and play the music of Michael Jackson...long regarded as a pervert, sex fiend, a mental fruit cake or whatever else one can call him from his life history.
I believe there is something really wrong with parents and some of their thinking and priorities for their children. They are leery of having their kids listen to our president for a 30 minute speech for fear he may mesmerize them into believing some imagined political doctrine.
These same parents see nothing wrong in letting their impressionable children listen, watch and emulate MJ dance with vulgar gyrations to music like "Beat It !". On the other hand they don't want their kids to hear the President of the United States speak about something that is more positive like...staying in school, shutting off the computer games, competing your homework and getting a quality education to insure yourself of a successful life and future in this world.
They see nothing wrong in letting their kids spend endless hours texting stupid messages to their peers instead of working on homework; it is ok to send your kids out for hours of practice in some sport in the imagined fantasy hope that someday they will become a fabulously rich and famous athletic superstar. But, whoa to any thought that their kids might hear our president tell them to do their homework, study, become good students then worry about the TV, computer games and athletics.
The priorities of our nation, states, local communities and the people living in them is totally skewed. Something is wrong someplace...where did this country lose its common sense?
Wake up people and face reality! Our nation is going into the sewer because we cannot compete with other nations in the world in terms of industrial output and quality of our products. Why? it's simple because our students are not prepared academically for the current science, technology and computer world...they live in a fantasy world that tells them fun and games is all the world is about. Athletics, socialization, and computer games occupy too much of their time.
Sometimes, we have to do things that we may not agree with, in order to show the way for many others who need enlightenment..
"They are leery of having their kids listen to our president for a 30 minute speech"
Actually, according to the text, the speech should be 5-7 minutes. God forbid!!!
Wait.....They claim he's a closet Muslim...Allah forbid!!!!
Obama is growing increasingly desperate to get any message of residual hope out to anybody who will listen.
Maybe he can give a speech to Congress on the importance of reading Bills.
He certainly can't give math or history lesson without heavy revisions to reality.
Darn... Now you guys are knocking Michael Jackson...
Come on guys, it's not a big deal... The earth will not come to an end. Parents are allowed to have their children opt out of saying the Pledge of Alliance, prayers, holiday festivities, eating fish on Fridays, saying that Columbus accomplished something and all the other politically correct nonsense.
Anyway, I just hope that the President has more luck with the children then he did with the economy, health reform, Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea and cash for clunkers.
Correction... I just got a phone call from Joe Biden informing me that the world may end on December 21, 2012.
Larry, You're right...
Damn the stock market for improving since January....
Damn the economy for showing positive signs.....
Damn the cash for clunkers for forcing ford and GM to recall workers......
Damn North Korea for offering to go back to the negotiation table....
damn Health Reform for daring to make sure everyone has an opportunity for low cost health insurance....
And damn the president for not undoing in one year, what the GOP took 8 years to f-up.
And don't forget the debt that he ran up...
Oh, Oh, Oh... And don't forget the 30 Czars that he appointed without vetting. He can do away with Congress now and do it all from the White House...
"And don't forget the 30 Czars"
You mean......He SHOULDN'T do what the GOP messiah RONALD REGAN did by appointing his "Czars?"
Wow, it's nice to know that you think Regan was foolish....and Bush I...and Bush II...and Ford....and Nixon....Oh wait....Nixon was the Republican who resigned in disgrace......
maybe you can ask Mike for one of them there tin foil hats...
As Bill Clinton once said: Read my lips..
I don't think any President should have White House Staffers who have not been vetted by Congress.
Does those there "tin foil hats" repel BS?
"As Bill Clinton once said: Read my lips..
I don't think any President should have White House Staffers who have not been vetted by Congress."
Next time Bill Clinton's back in office, he can have congress do just that. Besides, according to the GOP nuts, Bill Clinton was a liar...I think you are missing a few layers of foil...
Hey I voted for Bill Clinton the first go around...
So, you agree with me that NO President should have White House Staffers who have not been vetted by Congress.
I could not find any foil. I had to use Saran Wrap.
Actually, I really couldn't care less whom the president picks, so long as they can do the job they are hired to do.
look at our retarded republican friends...
they are children...
everything is me me me...
no respect for others...
me me me...
no respect for adults...
me me me...
no respect for the office of the president...
me me me...
and make no mistake boys and girls...
obama is the adult in the room...
obama holds the office of president of the united states...
like i said...
our retarded republican friends are retarded!!!
Our country is being taken over by nut-jobs who listen only to right wing wackos because nothing else can be trusted These are the same people who protested that any questioning of "W" was un-American, particularly in a time of war. Now, when they didn't vote for this president he has some hidden agenda he's going to brainwash our kids with. Well, they're right. He's going to ask them to stay in school and learn how to think for themselves.
I think that whatever department deals with homelessness should be led up by someone who was homeless, departments which deal with geriatric issues should be headed up by someone over 65, Education should be headed up by someone who actually spent time in the classroom of an inner city school, defense should be headed by a Master Sargent - someone who has spent time getting their ass shot at - and did not play the game, ans so forth.
put people in jobs, who have actually been in the job. People who had to fight and struggle to find effective methods, and became successful. Those are the people who get listened to-who have "Cred." if they have a few flaws, who gives a rat's behind. I bet anyone with that kind of success has learned to overcome many obstacles and weed out the BS.
There's a new show in town called "Birdie and Friends."
Birdie says: "obama is the adult in the room" THEN WHO ARE THE CHILDREN???
lvmachead says: "Our country is being taken over by nut-jobs." YES IT HAS...
cmon says: "who gives a rat's behind." MY SENTIMENTS EXACTLY...
Larry, I think your medication has worn off...You're rambling
Or the Saran Wrap is not doing the job and you are going Beck on us....
Who give a rat's behind... I like it...
Larry, be careful putting that saran wrap around your head. Some folks might get the wrong impression.
cmon: why the fascination with the derrieres of rodents?
I saw a news clip of George HW Bush saying the very same thing about asking how students could help him. Where was the outrage back then? The outrage today seems too much like childish revenge for the LEGITIMATE cries of foul by the democrats for the last eight years. Grow up republicans! Your arguments against our president are WEAK!
Careful mike your tin foil is slipping again....
cmon: "careful" is my middle name...
Let's take your pontifications to the next logical level: the penal system should be run by someone who has done hard time, the grocery stores should be run by someone who has been a checker, the automobile industry should be run by a former grease monkey, etc. Don't worry, we'll save Special Education for you and the master sergeant.
so you have something against a Master Sergeant making decisions?
Do you have a problem with Bill Gates running Microsoft?
It seems to most of us with a complete set of working dendrites that having someone running a department, who may actually have some experience, a good idea. We tried the opposite: The Shrub appointing a horse inspector to run FEMA-look at how good that was....
I guess you are one of the tin hats whom are openly rooting for our government to fail...have you done any teabagging lately?
How bout revealing your true self as to why you want our country to suck, and have have a healthcare system worse than Switzerland. Do you wan't lower personnel costs at auto factories? Are you in favor of actually educating children instead of treating them as widgets to be thought of purely by cost?
to quote a former president "either you're with us or against us...."
Which is it?
"Besides, according to the GOP nuts, Bill Clinton was a liar"
What? Are you saying that Clinton was not a liar? You know Mr "I Don't Know What Is Is" and who look into the camera and told millions of Americans and ....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP5FunbZvJ8
What planet do you come from?
I think we made first contact.
I don't know Bill Gates. I wonder if he washes his own dishes.
Why I want this country to suck? I bled for this country, bub.
Yes, I want lower personnel costs at auto factories.
I guess that means I'm against you, "Top."
"I don't know Bill Gates. I wonder if he washes his own dishes"
Ummm....He started his company by working on the bottom...at the nuts and bolts level... Making my point about someone starting at the bottom and coming out on top. Now, wouldn't you want Bill Gates directing the national educational technology initiative??? Or why don't we follow the Shrub's idea and have someone head up the initiative who spent their life milling grain....
"I bled for this country, bub."
then I would expect you, of all people, to appreciate that the pencil pushers have precious little idea what goes on in the real world of bleedin' and Dyin'. "The Art of War" quotes, "Never ask your men to spill blood, if you haven't or won't gladly do it with them." Would you rather have had your Generals leading you into battle?
"Yes, I want lower personnel costs at auto factories
Then allow the companies to reduce or eliminate healthcare costs, by allowing ALL workers access to the Medicare system, by paying a sliding scale premium.
"I guess that means I'm against you"
Then according to Dick Cheney, you are un-american, and you have my pity, "Middle"
I defy any of you morons out there who are afraid to let their children listen to the President speak to read the text of the speech and find anything, ANYTHING, objectionable in it.
You people are just nuts.
Would you rather have your kids listen to Rush Limbaugh or Anne Coulter?
Duh... The President's speech was released today at noon.
Early last week, copies of worksheets that were to be given to students were released to the public. They included the following two tasks that students were to do after speech:
Students "write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the President."
Another task recommended for students immediately after listening to the speech: to engage in a discussion about what "the President wants us to do."
Late last week, the Department of Education decided to pull those worksheets because those two questions were not deemed appropriate.
By the time the Department of Education decided to pull the worksheets, public opinion had turned against the project.
John, do we have to make a choice? I would rather not listen to any of your choices. Let's keep politics out of the schools.
For the record. I have not read the President's speech and I don't intend to. And bet you can't make me...
Larry,
If you read the speech you would see there is nothing political about it.
Presidents routinely address school children. Both Presidents Bush did it. President Reagan did it.
It's the opposition to President Obama that's political, not his speech, and the people posting on this page are too stupid and too easily led to see that.
It was Obama's Education Department that started this mess.
They are the ones who published lesson plans that contain instructions on how encourage school children to become cheerleaders for Obama and his policies.
They corrected those horrible mistakes.
If the left wants to whine about people using their 1st admemdment rights to protest the government than they should whine about the incompentence of the Education Department.
John,
I understand what you are saying and don't disagree with you. There is enough politics in schools anyway. I just would rather not see any politician give speeches to children. Once you start, where do you stop? What if the other political party wanted equal time like they do after Presidential speeches etc?
Politics should be like the church and kept out of schools. Would the Pope be allowed to speak to the schools?
One final thought and I know it is so far out there that someone will tell me how dumb I am for saying it. But what if Harry and/or Nancy wanted equal time to talk to our children???
Sorry I had to say that, just trying to make my point.
To all,
I beg your pardon. I let my emotions get the best of me. I would never suggest that any of you are stupid. Please forgive my use of the word.
LarryVegas said...
"For the record. I have not read the President's speech and I don't intend to..."
Hmmmmm.....why am I not surprised? That's what I love about right-wingers such as you. You always come so prepared when it comes to a debate....
You always study all the information that's out there...you always look at both sides of an issue....and you always keep an open mind...
Elitist.
Racist.
Ignorant.
Paranoid.
Irrational.
Delusional.
Misinformed.
I have yet to see a post with a rational, reasoned explanation as to why you are so damn scared of an educated black man speaking to your children as President Of The United States Of America.
Are you afraid he'll "outsmart" you?
Thanks John, but sometimes we resemble that word. I don't know of any other country in the world where one would be allowed to express our thoughts like we do here.
Just when we have peace, along comes El Lobo and gmag39 to stir thing up again.
Now, El Lobo, don't take it too personal, but I did not come here to debate you or anyone else on the contents of the President's speech. If you would have read my post at 7:03, you would see that I could care less what the President has to say. I just don't think that politicians belong in the schools. Kinda like religion, if you know what I mean.
gmag39, it kinda sounds like you are describing yourself...
Ok, Lar.
Hey, lets go over to Birdie's place and pull a few feathers out of that crossed eyed, egg sucking bird. He's had a free ride today...
If we could this nation an ENEMA we should stick the nozzle under the capitol dome...we need to flush out Congress....their constipated thinking is killing this country...Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Socialists, Nonpartisans, be they left, right, in the center or above or below the norm...flush 'em all out at the next election.
GOD help this country if this bickering and back biting continues unabated for another 10 years....
"GOD help this country if this bickering and back biting continues unabated for another 10 years...."
Luckily, if that happens, we will have restarted the Civil War, part deux, and I'll have moved to the mighty superpower country of St. Martin, where my weapon of choice will be Guavaberry Rum, crystal clear water, blue skies, and Caribbean music. Try arguing with that.....
OK cmon, I just about had enough of you telling me what to do, say and drink..
How about a tall cold frosted mug of Goombay punch, loaded with aged Jamaican rum and topped with a garnish of fresh fruit. I can hear the steel pan music now as I sit on a soft white sand beach with the surf softly lapping at my feet. Oh, please pass me a few conch fritters...
Now on the other hand Guavaberry Rum might also be just what the doctor ordered.
"How about a tall cold frosted mug of Goombay punch, loaded with aged Jamaican rum and topped with a garnish of fresh fruit"
I'm in, and I do play Cello pan, and occasionally double tenor pan.
Children, bow down before the Benevolent Dear Leader Obama! All hail!
Also kids, if you leave class and don't listen to the speech, your teachers have been ordered to make a list and send your names directly to the White House for "Re-Education."
anti obama folks- just keep your kids home, they're sure not learning anything constructive at home anyways. just another generation of racists and rich people ass kissers. people watching speech will probably be guarding your angels in prison someday.
I think you got this backwards....
"people watching speech will probably be guarding your angels in prison someday"
In a survey over 70% of convicts would vote for Democrats according to the NY Times.
reading the comments lead me to believe that most of these people need hope the most. drug addled, mentally unfit to tie their shoes, social outcasts on their last legs, brain deficient and physically overweight, no wonder the children of this nation are so lost. when they look at their father and see what a loser he really is, no wonder the kids cant think straight. now that the president wants to talk to the kids, the fathers cant handle it.
i swear you cowards should just come out and say your racist aleast then i'd have respect for you..as repungnat as i find that stance at least i know you stand up for what you think.. .. ive never seen so much ....hatred over stupid things in my life Regan , Bush both spoke to children...i sure did not care then ....so why are you so up in arms this shift in the counrty has got so many freaked out its funny.....
You guys are nuttier than a snickers bar. For the Third time a president speaks to the school children of the country. And immediately you flip and stick your heads up your a$$es. Well some of you never pulled it out to begin with.
What makes everybody think the kids will listen to the President. They don't listen to anybody else. I bet the Presidents kids don't even listen to him. Kids ain't worth the bother. Just keep fanning them and feeding them. It always worked in the past. In the end, when those kids are 36 years old, they'll start living normal lives, until then just fan and feed.
Let him give the damn talk. He always screws it up anyway. He has yet to clearly define his goals on health care reform. Let him give the speech and move on.
I actually agree with vsestini, clean out Congress. Their only concern is re-election and power and they will vote whichever way the puppetmaster (special interests) desires. After the vote they will talk down to us and make us feel better.
what has happened to the parents of today? God forbid they actually have to "raise" their children and not depend on someone else. Maybe the President know that kids don't have the homelife and direction that they should have so he has to step in
When is the last time youparents out there talked to YOUR children about working hard and studying? or are you all like mom2AnC who are so narrow minded that they would cut off a SIX YEAR old from listening to the person who runs our country (maybe not as well as we all wo uld like but runs it no matter). Where is teaching RESPECT for people in authority? my bet that little angel of yours will end up in juvi hall by the time she is a teen ager because she will only kn ow one way of thinking.
All around education is learning about ALL things, not just a bigoted, biased way of learning things. Let them learn what a democracy is or go live in Pakistan or Afghanistan. Open their minds young and let them grow. some of yuo parents think and act like the KKK or Hitler's youth movement.
No one said a word when Bush II talked to kids. He barely made it thru school but no one seemed to care thn.
I'm embarrased to be an American with some of the thiking on here.
As Bill Clinton once said: Read my lips..
LarryVegas - you're a moron.
George H.W.Bush (the first one) said, "read my lips, no new taxes". He used it as a campaign slogan in order to get elected. However, he was forced to create new taxes to pay for the first Gulf War. This resulted in his defeat during his re-election campaign.
I believe that ws Bush I that said that.
I am not an Obama man.
I respect the institution of the Presidency. I respect the government of the United States. I do not put my personal agenda ahead of the interests of the Country (although, I admit to some questionable deductions on income tax).
So long as the President addresses the kids in a motivational fashion without politics. I have no problems.
George Bush was talking to a grade school class in Florida on 9/11. No big deal, presidents do it all the time and well they should. Kids should respect the Office.
Motivation not politics and I am okay regardless of the President. Politics not motivation, I am not okay... regardless of the President.
Lets resist the urge of media and talk show hosts to polarize us as a society. We should not be a Nation of paranoid schizophrenics.
Det Munch,
You are wrong do some research the first GULF WAR was almost entirely paid for by other countries, we almost made a profit.
Obama, 1st speech he was going to give was found - out to be about promoting himself and having children write to him (Obama) and to help him. Thats clearly what a lot of bad leaders have done in the world and they were all dictators, everyone of them. SO he new he was caught so he change the speech to save face, since he is already fighting an uphill battle over his policies.. and thats the truth>
sbrooks. please read muddapuckers post.
Pay special attention to the last line. Please.
munch: Larry is not a moron and you most likely are not a Det., whatever that is.
I was not going to bring this up but, and you can correct me if I am wrong. Way back in October 1991 when President George H.W. Bush delivered a similar speech to students at a junior high school in Washington, D.C., Democratic critics went much further and investigated the event. Democrats, who controlled Congress at the time, ordered the General Accounting Office to probe the production of the speech and later summoned top Bush administration officials to Capitol Hill for a hearing.
So tell me where I am wrong. I will be waiting for your answer...
have the commies taken over, run larry run
Larry, do you have a source for that 1991 GAO investigation / hearing?
sbrooks
those were NOT my comments about Bush One.I copied that from Wikipedia to show LarryVegas what a moron he is. Dad Bush said "read my lips" not Clinton.
Det. Munch...
I hate to inform you, but that was a little pun on Clinton. It must have went over your heads or probably it just was not very good. Get it? Read my lips... Do you remember Monica?
Isn't it a great country we live in where we are ALLOWED to post our comments against and for our government? We seem to forget that between all the nasty and negative posts. The country will never recover with all the division.
If thos who don't lke what Obama is doing - give us some suggetions on what YOU would do, put your money where your mouth is.
ThisOneGuy: This was in the Washington Examiner:
When Bush spoke to students, Democrats investigated, held hearings
By: Byron York
Chief Political Correspondent
09/08/09 7:11 AM EDT
George H. Bush, 41st President of the United States (Photo by Logan Mock-Bunting/Getty Images)
The controversy over President Obama's speech to the nation's schoolchildren will likely be over shortly after Obama speaks today at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. But when President George H.W. Bush delivered a similar speech on October 1, 1991, from Alice Deal Junior High School in Washington DC, the controversy was just beginning. Democrats, then the majority party in Congress, not only denounced Bush's speech -- they also ordered the General Accounting Office to investigate its production and later summoned top Bush administration officials to Capitol Hill for an extensive hearing on the issue.
Unlike the Obama speech, in 1991 most of the controversy came after, not before, the president's school appearance. The day after Bush spoke, the Washington Post published a front-page story suggesting the speech was carefully staged for the president's political benefit. "The White House turned a Northwest Washington junior high classroom into a television studio and its students into props," the Post reported.
With the Post article in hand, Democrats pounced. "The Department of Education should not be producing paid political advertising for the president, it should be helping us to produce smarter students," said Richard Gephardt, then the House Majority Leader. "And the president should be doing more about education than saying, 'Lights, camera, action.'"
Democrats did not stop with words. Rep. William Ford, then chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, ordered the General Accounting Office to investigate the cost and legality of Bush's appearance. On October 17, 1991, Ford summoned then-Education Secretary Lamar Alexander and other top Bush administration officials to testify at a hearing devoted to the speech. "The hearing this morning is to really examine the expenditure of $26,750 of the Department of Education funds to produce and televise an appearance by President Bush at Alice Deal Junior High School in Washington, DC," Ford began. "As the chairman of the committee charged with the authorization and implementation of education programs, I am very much interested in the justification, rationale for giving the White House scarce education funds to produce a media event."
Unfortunately for Ford, the General Accounting Office concluded that the Bush administration had not acted improperly. "The speech itself and the use of the department's funds to support it, including the cost of the production contract, appear to be legal," the GAO wrote in a letter to Chairman Ford. "The speech also does not appear to have violated the restrictions on the use of appropriations for publicity and propaganda." (cont)
Washington Post Examiner(cont)
That didn't stop Democratic allies from taking their own shots at Bush. The National Education Association denounced the speech, saying it "cannot endorse a president who spends $26,000 of taxpayers' money on a staged media event at Alice Deal Junior High School in Washington, D.C. -- while cutting school lunch funds for our neediest youngsters."
Lost in all the denouncing and investigating was the fact that Bush's speech itself, like Obama's today, was entirely unremarkable. "Block out the kids who think it's not cool to be smart," the president told students. "If someone goofs off today, are they cool? Are they still cool years from now, when they're stuck in a dead end job. Don't let peer pressure stand between you and your dreams.
Thanks.
"This presidency appears to be approaching cult status. A cult is a group or movement exhibiting a great or excessive devotion or dedication to some PERSON, idea or thing and employing unethically manipulative techniques of persuasion and control designed to advance the goals of the group's leaders to the actual or possible detriment of members, their families, or the community." - LarryVegas
The same can be said about both sides.
Mom2AnC - if your child is 6 years old, he or she probably didn't need to listen to the President's address. It is a parents prerogative to instill values and work habits in their children, but let's not forget, it takes a village. I think if President Obama were to deliver a politically charged message, it would be unacceptable. Most right-wingers just try and twist what those lesson plans were about. Were they poorly worded? Probably. If the lesson plans asked them to write essays about what they can do to help the President achieve these goals, it could be assumed that most children associate the U.S. government and the president to be one entity, unless they've reached the portion of their education about Separation of Power. Instead of fighting the idea of the President addressing the youth of America, who need more role models, maybe they should have just asked for a red pen to go over the lesson plan.
Wow, 94 comments over much ado about nothing!
Why didn't you Republican Retards "Just Say NO!" Oh, wait, THAT is what YOUR President said to end the scourge of drug abuse on our children! How well did that bit of "education" work out? Oh, yeah, now I remember - it did NOT work at all!
I do have problem with the retired teacher saying, "It's obvious, from the recent dropout rates and poor results on standardized tests, that our children can use all the help they can get." It's OBVIOUS from RECENT dropout rates and poor results on standardized tests - RECENT you say? I'd call a 30 to 40 year decline in the Ameircan educational system something far worse, and the writer has grossly understated the FACTS!
The failure of our public schools is nothing short of a crisis requiring a mammouth national emergency response - so, I'm thinking the President of the United States, especially this President that is highly educated (unlike the village idiot Bush), is doing the right thing speaking to all of the American children about the basics of staying IN school (showing up and going back are GOOD things), being respectful to one another AND our teachers, doing our homework and graduating is a GREAT message!
These unbelievable, crazy objections are tantamount to criticizing someone for calling 911 and reporting a crime or yelling "FIRE" when there truly is a fire blazing - it is just NUTS!
Yeah, damn me if you wish, for being concerned about American society - I guess I am one of 'dem dam dem socialist guys! But, I served honorably for 22 years in our "socialist" Army and got a "socialist" education through that there "socialist" G.I. Bill, and I'm getting my healthcare through that "socialist" V.A. Healthcare system TOO!
What's really questionable is that those radical "socialist" professors taught me that learning was a life-long process - HOW DARE THEY put such propaganda into my young vulnerable mind! They also taught me to "Question Authority" - boy, I wish I'd learned that lesson BEFORE I voluntarily went to Vietnam!
Hey, NevaDUH Dummies - it is NOT too late to say, you know, something like, "Gee, maybe I am wrong?" "Maybe, just maybe these people with a lot more formal education and a lot of world travel and experience with many other cultures, maybe, just maybe, they DO know something more than I do?" Oh, wait, that would take a little character like "personal responsibility" now wouldn't it?
I'd also like to point out, to those of you afraid to use your own names, some of us actually believe "fear is our friend" (the "socialist" U. S. Army taught me that one) and if you'd like to have half a chance of earning the respect of readers you really ought to be willing to put your real name on the words you write in public!
So, all you cowards and sore losers out there do your homework and repeat after me:
"FEAR IS MY FRIEND!"
"CHANGE IS GOOD!"
"I CAN CHANGE!"
it really dosen't matter who we stand for, rich and powerful run everything, even if it's bad. why give a crap anymore. people could have power but get divided when we should be standing together.