Much controversy and many harsh words have been slung by both sides of the debate over the proposition of President Obama addressing school children in the United States on September 8th. Racist remarks, accusations, discrimination, free-speech, Nazi, fascist, communist state, socialism, mind-control…all of these are big buzz words floating around about the subject. But few have tossed out the words “financial responsibility”?
In the face of unexpected controversy, the U.S. Department of Education has now made a greater disclosure via information on their website (Ed.gov), along with answers to many questions concerning the upcoming Education Speech, few words have been said about whose budget this speech is coming from.
The Ed.gov site states that in 1991 President Bush addressed students on live television via an American History Classroom at Deal Jr. High in Washington D.C. This address was made in the face of much controversy, similar to today’s upheaval over the upcoming September 8th address. In 1991, the House Majority Leader at that time was Representative Dick Gephardt, a Democrat from Missouri. Gephardt was infuriated over Bush’s ideas to make speeches from the grounds of schools (as he did at Northwest Washington Jr. High) and over the idea of Bush actually addressing students at Deal Jr. High. Gephardt stated: “The Department of Education should not be producing paid political advertising for the President. It should be helping us to produce smarter students.”
U.S. parents, teachers, grandparents and tax-payers on both sides of the issue might want to ask, in a time when our finances are small and worries are heightened, who is footing the bill for the speech, air-time, and paper and postage for letters and materials sent to “14,000 school districts (and as many of the 100,000 plus private and public schools as could be reached)”? Mailing stats and contact information such as these are provided in the informational letter on Ed.gov but no information on the cost of this effort or what budget it comes from.
Tuesday’s speech, to be 15 to 20 minutes in length, is touted by Ed.gov to be a joint effort between the U.S. Department of Education and the White House and is an address to students that will include the President’s encouragement to stay in school. The speech, which will now be available for interested parties to read ahead of time on Monday September 7th, is also supposed to spark discussion amongst students so they might be able to answer discussion questions, including the following: “What is President Obama asking me to do?”, “What is President Obama challenging me to do today?” “What did President Obama attempt to inspire me to do?”, “What are the three most important words in today’s speech?”
The 1991 speech by President Bush was made on National Television and was a speech made to one classroom but was broadcast in homes, businesses and some schools. Here are some excerpts of that speech:
“Let me tell you why I've made the trip up from the White House to Alice Deal Junior High. I'm not here to teach a lesson. You already have a very good teacher. I'm not here to tell you what to do or what to think. Maybe you're accustomed to adults talking about you and at you; well, today, I'm here to talk to you and challenge you. Education matters, and what you do today, and what you don't do can change your future.
…The question each student watching today should ask is: Where will I be, where will I be 5 years from now? Will I be holding down a good job and maybe working toward a better one, or will I be out of school and out of work? Will I be on a college campus, or out running the streets?
…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.”
Bush also spoke about drop-out rates, drugs, alcohol, college, finances and the future. He addressed students, teachers and parents. His speech was broadcast in a time when the Internet was not available for streaming video. His speech was broadcast on two television channels: CNN and PBS. It was also heard on the radio via the NBC Radio Network and The Mutual Broadcasting System.
Though controversy ensues on more than a financial level over Obama's upcoming speech, many are still comparing Bush's speeches to Obama's, claiming it will likely be inocuous and nothing to be concerned about. While still others are demanding it be put to a halt.
While many educators have balked at the idea of allowing President Obama’s speech to take up their much needed classroom time, financial anaylysts have to be wondering when educators and parents are going to balk over the Department of Education and the White House using their much needed educational funds?
In the meantime, many school districts across the country are giving parents the opt-out plan and allowing them to remove their kids from school on September 8th. (see video) Other schools are asking parents to come to school to be with their children during the speech or offering alternative events during that time period.
Related Articles:
Parents boycott Obama on September 8 (video)
AP Photo of President Obama by Pablo Martinez Monsivais
Comments
Where IS the money coming from? It can't be too saavy to spend additional money on an Education speech when we're in debt up to our eye-brows as it is. They demanded that big wig executives can't get raises or bonuses but White House staffers did - and they got additional college assistance as well. So now they want to spend..how much money?...to get Obama into the classroom? I'd rather my kids had another computer in the school or more equipment; additional library resources or another Aide in the classroom than spending money on this.
The Obama administration lacks the political candescence in which it was conceived. There fore their trying to generate political controversy to regenerate patriotism. Our current political entourage has become like a withering celebrity that aspires to initiate any kind of public dialogue to rekindle their eminence. I kind of interpret the entire synopsis as an act of desperation.
Excuse me, but can we see the educational advantage in this for children? We've suffered through the Bush administration's approach to education and so have the children. Why not give kids something positive to think about? Goals to set? The 20 minute chance to have their president speak directly to them, encouraging them to do their best and to work hard? Tell me how that is a bad thing. Quit worrying about the money. The USDOE could quit testing our kids to death and save a heck of a lot of time and money. You have no idea. No Child Left Behind set up so many schools, children and teachers for failure and cost plenty--and I'm not talking only about money. Putting something positive in our children's school day, like this talk to them from their president, is a wonderful start. This isn't about money. Look deeper.
educator: I am a teacher as well. You say quit worrying about the money? Isn't that the same approach the last administration had? Let's not worry about the money but let's implement a plan that costs additional funds but gets us nowhere. They care more about testing than anything else. Let's pour hours of our teaching time into prep for tests, not prep for life. It's disgusting.
"Let's not worry about the money" seems to be the current administrations entire motto and look where we're headed - right into 23 trillion plus dollars in debt. I think the entire Congress, White House staff, the President and Senate all need to take Financial Peace with Dave Ramsey!
So, yes this speech will be an unforgettable day for...some students...who may remember it or may not. It may encourage some and it may not. Is the cost worth it just we can say we made a historical speech? I don't think so.
anotherteach: "They care more about testing than anything else. Let's pour hours of our teaching time into prep for tests, not prep for life. It's disgusting." This was exactly my point. Thanks for making it.
Hey! Right!
Tell like it is.
Don't beat around the bush. You just don't like that and African-American is the Commander and Chief. Let alone that he is a democrat. Who's funding it? Is that all you got?
You are really that desperate to get your way that you come up with some weak reason for complaining?
Rupert should be ashamed of himself for sparking such a false controversy.
The dull-brained parents that are opting to allow their children to stay home on the day of the speech are committing an act of truancy.
No if's and's or but's about it.
Dear Parents opting to keep your kids at home,
You are an embarrassment to your country and to our culture. You think you are above the law and are setting one of the worst examples for your children. Thank you for continuing the to fuel the negative image the world has of our nation. What are you thinking?
Sincerely,
Deeply concerned American
I know you probably will not post this comment because it dose no
Thanks for including the link to Bush I's complete speech. Reading it you'll see its actually a political pitch for his education initiative mixed in with other stuff. That's why some objected. If Obama mixes in policy, the same objections could be raised. Why don't we wait and see.
Thank you all for your intelligent comments. It's nice to see when people actually do read the articles and comment on what's written; check out the links and then make comments accordingly.
Al: I found Bush's speech relevant to the children in that he was encouraging and inspiring. I don't find it appropriate that a school setting be used for political purposes, however. I felt it important to include the link to the entire speech though.
It will be interesting to see what President Obama actually shares in his speech. I do, however, believe that there are greater and more benficial ways to spend our education dollars than on PR stunts designed to create historic events.
I tend to agree some with Richard, I'm beginning to believe much of the controveries that currently ensue are somewhat of the "tail wagging the dog" in order to gather attention and garner a sense of patriotism in days to come.
Thanks for the comments.
the man is just as much white as he is black yet black people get so hung up on the fact that he is black people dont like him...are you for real i dont like him cause he isnt able to tell the truth for one second...you are known by the freinds you keep isnt that true thats what we tell our children dont associate with so and so they are going to take you down yet prez obama has bill ayers...the bigest looser around and he is white...what about jeremiah wright...van jones...mark lloyd....his freind are all shady rum emanual, ezeekial emanual they are disgrace to their religion...jews who want to usher in communism...that is sick and sad...how quickly they forgot the natzi era....go figue...i could care less if obama was green if he would only tell the truth on some top any topic the man is chronic or even pathalogical liar...THIS IS THE CHANGE HE PROMISED....show me the change...please prove me wrong....
It concerns me that the administration has not mentioned the cost of this speech to tax payers, or the three or four dozen other speeches President Obama has made in the last few months. Who paid the expenses for his speech at the Union picnic in Cincinnati. Who paid the holiday pay for the extra police office for security purposes...I seriously doubt it was the Union. I wish (AGAIN) President Obama would stay in the Oval Office and get some work done...Quit wasting our money and his time on his well scripted speeches. Question: "Mr. President, is that ALL you can do? Deliver speeches??"
I read President Obama's speech and I thought it was inspiring. The cost of making a speech with the goal of keeping kids in school is a good use of tax dollars in my estimation. I guess now that the "propaganda" speech by the "fascist" president has been discovered to be anything but, people will have to shift the focus to some other perceived outrage by the president and say he is wasting tax dollars. Stop watching ratings-hound hate mongers on tv and learn to think for yourselves!
I could very easily hop on the commentary band-wagon & post the President's speech; attempt to have all those who were against this use of money & time hang their heads in shame. But I won't put my time & energy into defending that which needs no defense.
Those who put forth effort to protect their children, voice their concerns & to understand just what the President - OUR President -was doing, need no defending. Sure, there have been ridiculous comments but also intelligent ones - from both sides of the issue.
Those who suggest that 'pea brains' belong to those who push for more information rather than being led blindly by any White House Administration seem to have forgotten what this country is about.
Perhaps had no one pushed, complained, been up in arms or shouted about this speech - it wouldn't have been released. As some have proposed - we know not what the speech was originally intended to be before parents got involved.
Never fear standing up for your rights!
I have heard the speech President Obama gave for school children. Unfortunately...it was a SPEECH. How much more effective he would have been by using a conversational approach? What I heard in the tone of his voice and gestures was MORE campaigning. Is he ever going to believe he was elected and quit trying to convince the public he made it?? I am so tired of all the speeches from this President. When will he ever stay in the Oval Office and accomplish more than delivering a "good speech?"
I agree Jeannie: Enough campaiging already - but I guess when you have to keep campaigning to get crappy legislation passed, it has no real end. Get ready for another one because it's coming Wed. night. And of all nights - really? Oops - guess it's not PC to express that many of U.S. Citizens go to church Wed. night huh?
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