In a letter to school principals, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said the president wanted to mark the beginning of a new school year by challenging American students to "work hard" and "set educational goals." In order to do so, the President plans on delivering a speech on the value of education to millions of U.S. grade school students on September 8th.
Obama's speech will be a 15-minute address broadcasted through CSPAN and other local public television stations.
As always, any move by Obama comes with criticism from the right wing. Parents in states like Texas, Utah, and Florida are infuriated that their tax dollars are being used to politicize America's children. Conservatives are not too keen on the idea of having the President encourage their kids to work harder in school.
Why?
Because in their minds, Obama is just trying to spread "socialist propaganda" to America's impressionable youth.
I'm beginning to think that conservatives fail to understand what socialism is. Telling children to set educational goals does not equate to spreading socialist or liberal propaganda. But Jim Greer, chairman of the Florida Republican Party, does not seem to understand that.
"As the father of four children, I am absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama's socialist ideology," said Jim Greer.
"While I support educating our children to respect both the office of the American president and the value of community service, I do not support using our children as tools to spread liberal propaganda."
What amazes me is the fact that America's Presidents have a long history of talking to grade school students, and they have never received criticism for it. In fact, it was always a way to boost their approval ratings among female voters.
For instance, Former President George W. Bush was reading to students during the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on 9/11. Liberals did not accuse him of spreading right-wing propaganda. Ronald Reagan would also deliver speeches in schools.
Conservative television personalities like Glenn Beck are urging parents to avoid sending their kids to school on the day of Obama's speech. But who would want to take educational advice from a college drop out who forces himself to cry to muster up show ratings?
Some school officials have already decided that students whose parents object to the speech will not be forced to watch. This seems fair. I'm all about choice.
In Virginia, state education officials issued a statement saying the decision to broadcast Obama's speech would be a "local decision" for teachers and principals.
It is comical that some conservatives think Obama is training grade school kids to be part of some secret socialist army.
Just calm down.
Comments
Please correct me if I'm wrong but never in the history of our United State's Presidents, since the invention of television, did one of them broadcast a televised speech directed at K-6 children WITH a lesson plan to guide teachers in a discussion of the speech with their students. A lesson plan that the White House drafted and has already needed to revise. This sounds a bit like indoctrination to me. I can't help but feel that there is an ulterior motive here.
How does any one know what the agenda is when it has not been televised yet? Why don't we wait to judge before we start to panic.
just a suggestion
...
Just think of the tragedy of teaching children not to doubt. -Clarence Darrow, lawyer and author (1857-1938)
Kids in public schools have already been thoroughly indoctrinated by liberals, so what's the fuss? Why are people just now realizing this?
The "big fuss" is that the original agenda included a lesson plan where children were asked to explain "what they can do to help the president," and a follow-up where they would be judged if they had lived up to those goals.
The original lesson (with the offending passages since retracted so they can claim to have meant well, which is a load of crap) plan effectively ASSUMES that support for Obama's policies are good. No critical thinking - just blindly obey the Party leaders like a good little comrade should.
PS: And I never voted for Bush -- _either_ of them!
I don't know why something with presidential precedent (Reagan and Bush Sr. made similar addresses which were criticized for being campaign-like) is causing such vitriol.
Writing something like, "How I can help the president," sounds like a pretty simple concept to me that could apply to any president. When Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country," did people assume he meant the country only under his administration? It strikes me as a general assignment about helping the leader of the country that could be applied to any president in years to come. If someone disagreed with Obama's policy, is there any reason they couldn't write that they could help the president by voicing their opinions as to what he should be doing for the country?
The lack of critical thinking is what is being assumed here by those who view the address as a risk to our nation's youth.
come on people why do we waste our time trying to talk logic to this guys ,this is the icing on the cake though.
PS please tell Cenk that he needs to get the rebel headquarters fired up.
I so agree with BJ. Just another reason I'm glad I home educate my children.
hay...
blow jobs
The big picture the left is leaving out is the fact that over the years we haven't been zeoulous enough, we haven't kept watch over what our children are being taught. Part of socialism is to dumb down the population and that starts in school k-12. It may sound paranoid but read up on other socialist countries thier children either don't get an education or they learn only what the country dictates is relevant. Most 20 somethings cant even name the 3 brances of government!! Sad people, sad.
the point about socialism is that education is free and accessible to all parts of their population regardless of their economic status. there is nothing socialist about obama, and especially less about his speech
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!