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The White House
The President's speech to school children, for many it’s the first day, draws the ire from right and no big deal from left. Obama is quickly becoming one of the most polarizing presidents in modern history.
What concerns the folks on the right with an hour-long speech to their kids is the fact the President continues to insist that he will have a “Civilian National Security Force” as big and well-funded as the U.S. military.
What for? Who will be a part of this civilian army? Who will train this force? All questions have gone unanswered by the President.
You're crazy, the President has better things to do than get some civilian army together. Really? This year HR1388, ‘Give Act’ was given billions of dollars to expand the National Service Corporation. And here I thought volunteers worked for free.
Most can agree that kids are not going to be able to forgo snoozing during an hour-long speech, let’s face it watching the prime-time gigs can be troublesome and we're adults.
What makes absolutely no sense is that school children in the U.S. have fallen far behind in the global education department. Other countries outshine America especially in math and science.
If this speech is really about ‘go get them kids’ and ‘work hard at school’ than why spend all the Department of Education time and money to create a guide for teachers to follow before, during and after the speech.
Why is the President taking an hour of time that could be used to teach reading, writing and arithmetic? Why not have the President put out a 60-second Public Service Announcement (PSA)?
This is the first time an American President is speaking to school kids. Surely, the President and Department of Education could’ve spent their time and money more effectively. Perhaps figuring out why schools across the country are underperforming and what this country can do to regain our prominence at the top of the educational sector.
What do you think?
For more stories; www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Comments
Why not turn this into a real educational opportunity for our children and/or students. Obtain a copy of the transcript of the speech. The homework assignment is to research and verify each statement the president makes as truth, falsehood or emotional plea.
I agree if it's a work hard speech then fine. Although I believe it will be just another political platform for the kids whose parents don't teach or discuss politics at home. People better wake up! Some people call this brainwashing!
Why not make it a prime time speech so that parents and children could watch and listen together and discuss it right then? By the time I request and wait for a copy of a transcript from the governmet, my kids will be adults.
Don't keep your kids home and deprive them of the chance for comrade Obama to teach them how to get all wee wee'd up.
Your facts are a bit off, though; this type of speech is not a first. Both Reagan and George (H.W.) Bush gave speeches to school children that were directly beamed into the classrooms. Reagan had scheduled another one on the event of putting the first teacher into space, but had to cancel it for obvious reasons.
How lucky are my kids! They now get a four day weekend. I called the school today; and I encourage everyone else to do the same; and asked for the curriculum and the questionnaire. This is nothing more than an attempt to brainwash our children. Can you say "Hilter Youth"? Everyone should read the book "Hilter Youth" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti; you will keep checking the cover to make sure your not reading Obama's education policies. I'm sure everyone has heard about the proposal to have a 10 month school year, Monday through Saturday, 8 to 6. It is called brainwashing. Keep your kids home on Tuesday and enjoy them, they would rather be with you anyway. Have a great weekend everyone!!
I think virtually every one of your hyperbolic factoids is false - and I'm not even an Obama fan.
That "civilian national security force" belongs right up there with the birthers, the 9/11 'truthers' and the rest of the tin foil hat brigade.
There's plenty to criticize Obama about; but you wingnutz destroy your own credibility.
Most modern Presidents have given speeches to Americas kids, and only now is it perceived to be some brainwashing plot. You paranoids need to get a life.
First of all, do any of you even know what he will be talking about? No. - but you are quick to assume the worst.
Next, your hypocrisy is in full form. I bet none of you had any problems with the former President talking, whose Administration is under investigation for wiretapping US citizens, not to mention betraying the Geneva convention with bringing back torture. The biggest hypocrisy of all is I bet you let your darling kids watch all the poisonous crap they want like Gossip Girl, and all the other morally unsound TV shows out there that are doing the true brainwashing.
Just admit it - you are hopelessly biased and the only President's actions that you will approve is if he resigns from office- but I hate to break the news to you - it's not going to happen.
You should focus your ire/concern on the current TV shows i
I only wish my kids were old enough to go to school and talk about this speech. What a wonderful learning opportunity to talk about politics. We don't talk about our current state of affairs enough in school. Let's open up the lines of communication. WONDERFUL! Every president from here on out should do the same. This doesn't have to be something that is polarized. It isn't a waste of time because being part of history is never a waste of time.
The hostility expressed by some here is incomprehensible. "The Centrist", for example. This is the type of public discourse that creates more problems. Why aren't these individuals able to disagree respectfully? Why President Obama feels the need to speak directly to America's youth is a bit of a mystery. Perhaps a pep boost. "Let's go Kids!" That seems alright. I guess I'll reserve my comments til after he speaks. At that point, we'll all be able to tell what his intentions were. God Bless America!
This all boils down to trust. A president talking to our kids shouldn't be a big deal. But we can't trust him to make an unbiased speech or anything else for that matter. Not to mention putting this oportunity in the hand of teachers who will inevitably put their own spin on things. I think the safe thing would be to have it during prime time and let the parents decide to participate or not. Just leave my kids out of it!
It positively amazes me that these same people who talk about President Obama's speech being "propaganda" apparently have no issues with their kids being subjected to mandatory viewings of Channel One (which, if my math is correct, amounts to approx 40.5 HOURS per school year of advertising-laden fluff "news"), and schools filled with corporate crap-food vending machines. Then again, these are the same people who hold signs saying "Obama is a Muslin" and "No Amensty" and "Get a brain Morans" so I guess you can see exactly how much they really value education.
I have no problem if the President wants to tell our kids to work hard and stay in school or if they put their minds to it they can be anything. Any rational person can see that this is just another ploy for the far left to try and brain wash our children. If not, why is the education dept. sending out pamplets on how teachers should discuss it with the childrens and the things to focus on. As far as the previous administration, they weren't wire tapping US citizens, but only known Al Quida supporterswitin US borders. And as far as the Geneva convention, it is only relevent with other convention members who also agree not to torture us. OH, BUT I GUESS CHOPPING INNOCENT AMERICANS HEADS OFF ISN"T TORTURE!
Now Gingin, maybe Morans, whoever he is, really does need a brain. And I have to admit my wife has at times complained about the 'men sty' I call my workshop.
But I'll agree that calling the President a bolt of fabric is kinda rude. They really should stick to that socialist-nazi-racist claim, don't you think?
Damn, red, white, etc. - not only illiterate but incorrect on all counts? You make an excellent example of our educational system.
Yes, the Bush administration DID use wire taps on US citizens, illegally - their own attorney general admitted that. And I can't believe anyone still woofs that crap about the Geneva Accords not applying - EVERYONE EVERYWHERE under ANY conditions of conflict is guaranteed certain minimal rights under the conventions. Military members in POW status have more rights - but everyone has some. And since the USA signed them as treaties, they are federal law.
I really do think that we have a society of closed minded people who are objecting to the president's speach. It is a good thing that he is trying to do and it is being made out to be a brainwashing ploy!! This is just crazyness! Let's bring out the truth here...if he wasn't a black democrat we wouldn't be hearing all of this about his speach. And no I am not black...I am white! I would not have a problem with my children hearing his speach and why doesn't everyone wait until they hear what he has to say before jumping to these paranoid conclusions!! Get a grip people!
Afraid of a 10 month school year? You don't believe teachers should work close to a year for the year's pay/benefits they accrue? You don't know your history enough to realize "Spring Break" was NOT for trips to countries that allow drinking at 18, but for plowing and planting? And summer break was not for "play" or vacations, but for maintaining, harvesting, replanting fields, on the farms? You know, the duties we currently assign to "illegals" nobody wants here?
You have taught your children so little respect (U.S. has a 50% school drop out rate) for learning, that you feel threatened by an educated man, your country's President, emphasizing to them the importance of relishing education as they return to school?
You don't want your children to hear the U.S. President speak?
LEAVE THE UNITED STATES PERMANENTLY!
First, the sore-loosing right is the reason for polarization in this country. But, I suppose that is debatable. Here’s something that is not debatable – in 1988 Reagan spoke to school kids. Some middle school kids were actually in attendance (live). But, it was also piped into schools and viewed by many. Reagan actually went off on a rant about low taxes – darn indoctrinator. You are entitled to your own opinion – not your own facts.
We home-school - is this going to be webcast where we can show it to our kids, too?
We homeschool our children and I really hope we will be able to view our president speaking to them!!! I amazes me that anyone would object to the U. S. President giving a speech to our children.
Nice article. Seems like you are getting a lot of similar comments to what I have received. I think people fail to realize there is a distinction between the content of the message versus the use of the system to deliver it.
Education is great, but let's not forget that we don't really know everything he's going to say. As Gary reminds us, Reagan indoctrinated kids about low taxes. In 1991, Bush senior talked about how successful the war on drugs is (which I think is a flat out lie). Why should presidents be allowed to do this in a public school?
I am also really sick of the importance patriotism or "if you don't like it you can get out!" comments. They are utterly juvenile. These aren't arguments. To say "if you disagree with me you should shut up" is not a rebuttal of any sort.
If these people don't like free speech, THEY can get out - to a communist country.
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