There should be very little controversy over the President of the United States hosting a web address to speak to schoolchildren. Many presidents and first ladies have addressed the nation's youth with the intent to reach the younger generations and provide encouragement and motivation. Who could legitimately have concern with the leader of the free world telling kids to stay in school, get good grades, try their best and always strive for their goals?
The problems with this president speaking to our children are: 1. The message won't be quite as traditional and 2. The speech comes with a creepy lesson plan.
According to the letter from the Department of Education that was sent to school principals this week, the web address should be accompanied by a lesson plan that includes asking questions like these:
What is the president trying to tell me?
What is the president asking me to do?
What new ideas and actions is the president challenging me to think about?
What do you think the president wants us to do?
Does the speech make you want to do anything?
What specific job is he asking me to do?
Is he asking anything of anyone else? Teachers? Principals? Parents? The American people?
Are we able to do what President Obama is asking of us?
As an "extension of the speech," teachers are encouraged to ask students to record portions of the speech, write down ideas or phrases that are "important or personally meaningful," and to hang quotes from the speech around the classroom.
Much of the original version of this lesson plan has already been removed or changed, but can be found at this link.
Perhaps the reason so many are uncomfortable with President Obama talking to our children directly is because he has lost the trust of the people. Or perhaps it is because he is following the playbook of Hugo Chavez, communist, socialist and dictator.
Last month, there were protests in the streets over the indoctrination of Venezuelan children through a law that requires educators to teach socialism as early as elementary school.
From the AP:
Maria Briceno de Queipo, president of the congressional committee that drafted the bill, denies the government intends to indoctrinate children or copy the education model of communist-governed Cuba.
She said Venezuela's schools must be overhauled to ensure equal opportunities and to teach children the need for increased social responsibility in a country sharply split along class lines.
A new model is needed that "breaks with values emphasizing individualism and mercantilism," De Queipo said, defending the bill's emphasis on "principles of sovereignty and self-determination" along with "commitment to social transformation processes."
More protests are scheduled as teachers, parents and school administrators stand united against the indoctrination of their youth.
My critics will say that I am crazy and that this could never happen in the United States; that no president is able to indoctrinate our children; and that it is just my hatred for Obama that drives an article such as this.
That's okay. I know I'm not crazy. Remember, we also thought that the government would never take over the banking industry. We thought the federal government wouldn't dare purchase auto manufacturers. I will no longer say, "It could never happen to US;" that was the mentality before 9/11/01. And I know in my heart that I do not have hatred for any person, least of all the president.
But to those ends, I will ask: why does the president need to ask our children to take action? What kind of action will he be asking of my children? Is it really appropriate for the president to hold a "call to action" speech for first graders? Why is this happening now? Why not wait a couple of weeks when the students are settled in? Will he talk about health care reform? Will he talk about the GIVE Act?
Will students be able or encouraged to challenge the opinions of their peers? their teacher? the president? What would parents have said if presidents Bush or Reagan had done the same?
*** Note: Michelle Malkin has an extension of this story as it relates to Bill Ayers, Hugo Chavez and the Bolivarian revolution. View her post here.
I have posted several pieces about the playbook of Chavez and how Obama is following it. View more by clicking here.
Comments
well all i got to say is that i like obama and i dont care what no one says so you do your thing obama
Oh please. Obama hasn't lost the trust of the people at all. Compared with his predecessor and his cronies Obama is waaaaaay ahead of the curve. Give me a break. It'll be refreshing to have a President who can speak in complete sentences and not butcher the English language speaking to my kids. After 8 long years we have a leader with his own brain.
He can speak in complete sentances if his prompter doesn't go blank or his paper doesn't fly away.
i just want to say something..it is not my intention to compare both presidents, they are totally different human beings..but, when chavez won here in venezuela..he was everyone´s favorite too..and now...i can assure that..no matter what you see in the news...he doesn´t have people support anymore..believe me..i live here and i think mr. obama probably has some leftist side on him...you will remember these words. ..oh sorry..my english is not so well..
do not let them get to your children they are the future of the world...we venezuelan people have no choice...it is too late for us..but you still have plenty of time to make things right...
It seems from the link provided to the lesson plan in this article that President Obama's address is geared toward students in grades 7-12, who are approximately 12 years of age and up. No one is "calling your first grader to action", please stop fanning the flames...
Bush still sucks
Yes, he has his own brain, but will your children if everything he is trying to accomplish comes into fruition?
Keep up the good work President Obama!!!!
It's amazing what you think of as scary after eight years of silence on Republican consolidation of power. Don't be silly, Obama has as much interest in brainwashing children as he does in expropriating your business. If your thinking car companies and banks when I say that, remember the desperate gratefulness those busineeses had for government intervention. And don't simply say Obama "has lost the trust of the people." That's quite the stretch.
I just got back from Caracas, Venezuela and don't let people tell you there's no free speech and no democracy. Chavez has huge support in Caracas, and there's vocal opposition live and well against him. Somewhere around 70% of urban citizens support the president. You guys sure take some extreme opinions when discussing liberals, if you looked closer you'd see their republican counterparts act the same way all to often.
Stop with the nonsense. George W also addressed childern. In fact a lot of persidents have. Where is the hatred coming from, bucause you lost the last election. This ranks up there with the comments from conservatives that they don't want government in their health care but love their medicare.
Does anyone recall the story of the boy who cried wolf? I get reminded of it every time I read or hear about the latest Republican propaganda. George H Bush did the same thing in 1991. But who cares about the facts anyway? It's all about entertainment right? PFFF, Do your thing Mr President...YES WE CAN!!!!
Erin,
On June 12, you responded to a post of one of your articles, and I'd like to address it in an open forum so that your readers can begin to (hopefully) see the truth....
Erin says:
The media has a responsibility to be NON-partisan.
They actually don't have the right to say whatever
they want in the form of "news." The media is supposed
to report, not propogandize. Big difference.
June 12, 10:24 AM
Would you be willing to back up this statement,
or extend an explanation as to why you're able
to 'propogandize' with every one of your articles
on the Examiner? I'd be interested to hear your reasoning
as to why you "have the right to say whatever they want
in the form of 'news'?
I'm not surprised at the left radical wing comments. They are so obsessed with Obama taking care of them with his socialist programs they are willing to offer up their children as and offering to him. Now take it or leave it (and most will leave it since it involves independent thinking, but a client of mine is a University teacher. I asked her, judging from the change of classroom subjects since I was in school, why have the classes change so much to social agendas rather than reading, writing and math? She replied - "The government feels that the more people who think the same way, the more peaceful and controllable society will be. You have to start with the young with this concept"
Now while I do not have any problem with the President showing his face and challenging children of all ages to do well in school and encouraging them to do their very best, I do have a problem with assignments to further "how they can help the president, and so on.
That is abuse of power.
Maybe Obama could take this opportunity to tell our children why he needs 32 plus czars (as in Russia) to run this country and why many have radical agendas and one specifically (Jones) a self-proclaimed communist who thinks our last President was behind 9/11 and who sympathized with the terriorists who bombed NY. That would be a nice speach to give children. Or maybe he could talk about one of his czars who believes in sterilization, or the one that wants to take away rights to arms, oh I could go on and on, but it will fall on the deaf ears that spend their time running to the mail box looking for that check from Obama for one thing or another. They are correct to offer up their children for the next wave of radical social service suckers. Just what we need.
TR - For the last time, I am NOT a news reporter. Several others who have commented on my posts have tried to explain this to you, but you must not read beyond your own comments. I am a CONSERVATIVE writer. I list my columns as "commentary" not news reports. I do not promote any political party on my site and neither to I defend former President Bush. So let's put this whole notion that I am some sort of investigative, unbiased journalist to rest. I'm a commentator.
Thanks for reading! I appreciate your feedback!
Um... lots of idiotic conjecture in this! Wow. You do realize that this sort of thing isn't a conspiracy? Right? I mean presidents have done this sort of thing in the past. Obama is going to have a positive message about education, not about going out and raising a shrine to him. Right? Well, if we are supposed to be snarky, I'm sure he does a better job than Bush did reading My Pet Goat to bored students on 9/11. Oh no, the president is going to talk to students. Run away!
Well as President that helped the next generation? Name one thing? Bush was the worst president in the history of this country and the next president is still picking up the pieces from Bush's mistakes. If you can't see that then well, you are a sorry individual.
Appalled when we got the call from the school board informing parents of the address on Tuesday. I am writing a note now disallowing my child to participate in the speech or the lesson plan associated. This all sounds way too Hitler Youth to me.
When I was a child, back in the 50's and 60's it was quite common for the President to address schoolchildren. It was not viewed as some sort of subversive event. After all, children are also citizens and deserve to hear from their President. The President, whether it is George W. Bush or Barack H. Obama is the President of the USA and should be able to address our citizens without having his intentions questioned.
if george bush got a natzi tatoo on his forehead the americans wouldnt care. but obama is adressing kids and people are saying hes a natzi what crackheads are worried about this.
Appalled when we got the call from the school board informing parents of the address on Tuesday. I am writing a note now disallowing my child to participate in the speech or the lesson plan associated. This all sounds way too Hitler Youth to me.
That's the key, we don't trust Obama. And that is warranted, judge him by his acquaintences. it is horrible that we feel this way about a president speaking to our vhildren. but this is about Obama, lesson plan has words Obama or President in it 40 times, words united states or country 5 times.
It seems from the link provided to the lesson plan in this article that President Obama's address is geared toward students in grades 7-12, who are approximately 12 years of age and up. No one is "calling your first grader to action", please stop fanning the flames...
Wow, the freak-out on this by the crazy-fringe Right wingers is downright laughable. To quote Barney Frank, "On which planet do you spend most of your time?"
"Truly insane" is the only way to describe this "column".
phill hi, i dont know from wich caracas you just got back..but in the one i live...at least 70% of the population is angry with chavez...there´s hungry and poverty in every corner..and the criminality rate is super high...from 30 to 40 violent deaths each weekend...you may have come as a visitor but when you live here you really get to know the facts as they really are.
Oh my goodness, you're right. There are so many connections between Obama and Chavez! They are exactly the same! They even have the same haircut! Socialist haircuts!
What's the argument about? A president graduated with highest honors from a prestigious college. A man with knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. A man, who has the passion and desire to give back the things he was taught. A man, who believes that one day there can be a better America "if we just educate the children of today and tomorrow." A man, who have two little girls just like you. Are you teaching your children to continue the same all Racist Demise- "NEVER TO LISTEN TO A BLACK MAN OF AUTHORITY"? Just look at the man/women in the mirror.
You can learn something too. Did you argue about past President speaking to school children? HMMMMMMMMMMM.
PRESIDENT OBAMA IS OUR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
NO MATTER WHAT!
god, you americans keep up with the mcdonalds diet, one die ill see yo on a tree scratching your head!!! how come youre so ridiculous? what maggie says is completely true, but for the right wing, they have been brainwashing your kids trough hamburguers and stupid tv and videogames and all kind of crap, your children are more stupid each day and yet you think everything is ok, even if the believe southamerican and mexico are just the same thing.
Say wasn't Bush speaking to kids and reading My Pet Goat when the Twin Towers were attacked. Didn't he and Laura travel all over the country talking to school children. I suppose if a republican does it,,,he can promote the republican agenda and nothing is said but if a Democrat talks to kids all Hades breaks loose. Oh well consider the source...republican butthole parents.
Chavez has been opposing USA all his presidency. Called American names. Hate Americans. Threat Americans. He threw the American Embasdor out of Venezuela. He has been getting together with terrorist and guerilla groups. He supports them even. And yet, now he wants to get together with the new President and be a pal!
By the way, I did not like Bush either.
By the way, I did not like Bush either.
Erin,
Do GM and Chrysler still have an unfair advantage?
PPOOOOHHHHOOOOHEEEEEE HEEEEHHHHHEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Drink some more Bachmann Kool Aid why don'tcha
"GM sales dropped 20 per cent, while Chrysler was off 15 per cent" Nice prediction....Is it going to rain tommorrow?
Pull your kid out of school because the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is presenting??? Who's "Anti-American" again???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
You are right on the mark. Being an American currently living in Venezuela I see many similarlities between the two regimes. It is as if Obama is following in Venezulas' footsteps on a daily basis. Americans have a right to be fearful and to not protest the socialization of America is simply insane unless one wants to live in a third world country. From the outside looking in I feel that Obama supporters are of one of two types. Either wacky enviromentalists who want to recreate the 60's or someone who has a stake in goverment handouts. There is no other reason to side with him, Pelosi, Reed, or Fat Teddy.
Hi Erin - once again you are right on the money! This sub-human we (net me) call the prez is so sickening. I cant believe the amount of dumbS*&T libatards that fall lock step in with this imbecil and his roving gang of thugs - I am just amazed - no more words to descibe it.
PS - my kids are staying home
“It’s a good speech,” Gingrich added. “I recommend it to everybody if you have any doubts. I would love to have every child in America read it, think about it, and learn that they should stay in school and they should study.”
So....To the recent (proud) post about keeping your kids out of school...Do you like apples?
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