Over 300 soldiers were killed so far this year. The unemployment rate is close to 10%. Texas was again ranked number one in repeat teenage pregnancies. Real problems face our country, our state. 
But instead, the news is full of controversy surrounding the fact that the president of the United States wants to address the children of our country with the message to stay in school and be healthy.
Seriously, what on earth could people have against that? Apparently plenty, as Galveston Independent School District decided this week not to air the speech live. Instead, a note was sent home to parents informing them that the speech would be shown the following day, Wednesday, Sept, 9, via online video during the students’ social studies or advisory classes. Parents were given a form in which they could opt out of allowing their child to view the speech. Students would be given an alternative assignment, hopefully not a Disney movie in the cafeteria.
The Houston Independent School District has chosen to allow each of its teachers to decide whether to show the speech. It also gives students the choice to view the speech or be given a different assignment. Other districts, like Magnolia and Montgomery, will not be showing the speech at all, while others would offer a written copy of the speech. Boring!
I could see why parents might be frightened of our great leaders. Danger lurks on every political corner. We all remember what happens when we allow presidents near our children. Dan Quayle, though technically only a vice president, showed off his lack of spelling skills when he ill-advised a Trenton, New Jersey spelling student to add an “e” onto the word “potato”. The photo of George W. Bush reading a book upside down to a group of students speaks for itself. Other presidents have given similar speeches, including Ronald Reagan and George Bush, Sr.
A parent from Pearland was quoted in the press as saying, “I think it's inappropriate because it smacks of political indoctrination of the worst kind,” said Brett Curtis, a parent of two children. “It's not just a speech. It's a specific curriculum to go along with the speech directly from the president of the United States without review.”
In this situation however, people are jumping to conclusions. Will subliminal messages be flashed between his head movements? Will he have children throw up their arms and shout “Heil Hitler?” No, and for those unaware, everyone can read his speech in its entirety, at the White House’s homepage, starting on Monday, September 7. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” said a wise Franklin D. Roosevelt. 
It is too bad that those parents who demanded the schools not show the president’s speech could not think about it all from a child’s point of view. “Look Mom, that man is just like me. He has brown skin and does not know his father very well and he worked hard and got to be the president. I can do that too.” Or, how about the fact that the president actually wanted to speak with our kids, that he shows concern for their well-being? He is a parent to two young girls and he knows how important education is. Remember when we could take a tour of the White House and it was an honor, no matter your parents' politics? Nah, let’s just bury our heads and teach our kids to plug their ears to anyone who thinks differently than we do, and not let our kids decide for themselves what they think of his words. Good or bad, it is history in the making and we shoud not be afraid.
Comments
Take a journalism class and do some fact-checking. It's not just about education, it's about indoctrination. Google this subject, why don't you, and READ the Department of Education's talking points. You should already know that the Department of Education isn't allowed to send lesson plans or curriculum to the states. Maybe some parents don't want their kids wondering "What can we do to help the President?" and "Why should be listen to our elected officials." Maybe those elected officials should be asking what they can do to improve their reputations with the public. Why would any parent want this president - who surrounds himself with racists and eugenists - to get within 10 feet of their children. Look up Van Jones. Look up Ezekiel Emanuel. God forbid you ever have a special needs child. Do some reading.
Due to your lack of editorial skills, I can't take anything that you say in this blog seriously when you're placing doctored photos in your article. A very simple snopes search on the George W photo will tell you that it's been digitally retouched, and you can see the original AP photo there as well. If you want any credibility in your words, you need to be professional (and not spiteful) with your presentation.
V frets retouched photos.How negligent of the writer.S believes that public servants are here only to serve, not to lead.When Ronald Reagan and GHW Bush addressed the students in our schools no one had an objection.All of a sudden, a black man want to tell you that most of the new engineers and software developers should be our homegrown students, building our future from within, instead of from an external power, and he is a socialist Nazi.All of the Ed Hardy wearing, Hummer driving, God fearing, big house owning, hate loving, external factor blaming people are up in arms.They spend their money on things to impress their neighbors and families (idolatry) cheat on their wives (adultery).They blame the "socialist Obama" for their problems.Yet they are suckers of commercialism, have no insurance for their families, smoke, and eat mainly nitrite and corn sweetener laden foods and choose to spend their incomes on cars and stuff; instead choosing free socialist education over real education
The message "Staying in School" could this be the first salvo this president fires at homeschooling? Could a President's position and influence aimed at children without critical thinking skills (eventually) be abused? Do politicians say they believe in strong civic mindedness hoping for a lockstep group of youthful followers?
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