On September 8th Barack Obama is going to address the children of our Nation in an unprecedented webcast to the nation’s public schools. In a letter sent to principals across the nation, from Secretary Arne Duncan, it was announced that the White House website would be broadcasting a live speech intended to reach the majority of the Nation’s youth as they begin the school year. The speech, according to the letter, will concentrate on the importance of education and, according to an interview Obama gave to a young reporter, how the administration plans on improving the system. The letter came accompanied with two proposed teaching plans for the classes. One plan addressed children in PreK-6th grade, while the other addressed children in 7th-12th grade.
As the current administration concentrates on yet another way to reach yet another captive audience, the mainstream media has largely ignored the proposed September 8th speech. The teaching plans that accompanied the letter from the Secretary raised suspicions from conservatives alerted to the intention of the administration. The teaching plans include such “thinking exercises” as asking “What is the president asking me to do?” and suggesting that the teachers build background knowledge (one suggestion given in the teaching plan is to read books about Barack Obama.). Some think this type of influence on our children is nothing short of propaganda.
In the teaching plans for 7th-12th grades it is suggested that the students examine and read “notable quotes” from the president’s past speeches. (I wonder if one of those “notable quotes” is his infamous “spreading the wealth” comment to Joe the Plumber.) The teaching plan also gives suggestions on how the teachers can help the students “increase retention and deepen understanding of an important aspect of the speech.” It seems Barack Obama’s community organizing days are not behind him as he pushes for an obvious and overt attempt to ask the students to consider the importance of the community’s goals and needs. In one part of the K-6th teaching plan, it is suggested that “it might make sense to focus on personal and academic goals so that community and country goals come more readily.”
The knee jerk reaction of the few people who have become aware of the administration’s plan is to denounce the act as an obvious propaganda driven attempt at indoctrinating our children. Holding off on judgment until after the speech is aired might be a wise a prudent maneuver; however, with the past associations of the president, and his administration’s attempts at manipulating facts to encourage their agenda, it seems reasonable that trepidations exist. On Hugh Hewitt’s radio program it was suggested September 8th become the unofficial conservative "take your child to work day” in an effort to avoid the presentation of a very liberal president in a very liberal environment to an otherwise very un-political mind . . . a child.
After all, the political presentation of education is not exactly a suitable or appropriate subject of study for a child in Kindergarten; or even in third grade. More importantly, however, is the fact that such a direct attempt to “inform” our youth by the leader of the free world is, for a lack of better adjectives, a little strange. It is reminiscent of a maneuver Chavez or Castro would employ to indoctrinate the youth.
A little more unsettling is the fact that the address will be uninterrupted, and in most cases, hosted by a sympathetic administrator: The school. It remains questionable that an obviously biased establishment such as the public school system will have the capacity to fairly interpret any of the president’s talking points; let alone with a proposed teaching plan supplied by the White House. (Below is one extreme example of political bias in the classroom. Please be sure to watch the video.) Why should our children be subjected to such propaganda? If the president feels education is an important issue to tackle, his course of action should be to address the citizens of this country directly; and leave the nation’s youth out of the politically polarizing debate. What grants the president the right to speak, without your consent or presence, to your eight year old child about the importance of education and community? Is it arrogance that has convinced him such an act would be acceptable; or is it more calculated than that? And why do they feel it justifiable to supply teachers with, essentially, White House approved teaching plans?
I encourage you to read the letter and lesson plans for yourself. However, I also encourage you to consider contacting your principal and requesting that the speech not be aired within the school. I would otherwise encourage you to consider pulling your child from class that day, or (at the very least) making a sincere attempt at watching the speech on your own. (It will be on the White House website at 12:00pm EST) I, despite not having a child of my own, will be watching the speech as it airs live on Monday. I hope that the animosity many conservatives have about his attempts to “communicate” (a term I use loosely) directly with our children is unfounded.
School contact information should be available with a simple google search.
Click here to view the letter, K-6th grade teaching plan or the 7th-12th grade teaching plan.
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Below is the video referenced in the article. It came to light during the elections, and is yet again starting to surface. It is The Case for taking an active and important role in your child’s education. Be sure to watch the whole video.
Comments
Read a great observation from fellow Examiner in Newark (Newark Young Conservative Examiner) on how everything is always about HIM with Obama: foxyurl.com/tdh
I do not support the current presidents agenda. My children are also old enough to recognize when partisan bulls*it is being thrown at them, even if that bulls*it comes from the president. I'd actually like them to experience it and learn from it. But, I will not tolerate verbal abuse from either partisan teachers or their fellow students if they are asked to participate in a Q&A afterwards. That is the problem with this, not that the president is speaking to the schoolchildren of America. But, that this president has created a following of bullies. It would be a shame to have to keep my child home from school and miss out on their studies to keep them from being bullied as a result of this.
The first small step towards the Obama youth movement. The next step will be bigger as will be the next. Creating a future generation of purple shirt civilian security.
Oh yes, speach by a sitting President to encourage success in school and acheiving academic goals, to our children, how Hitleresque! How utterly ridiculous! You naysayers are very frightening. You breed hatred and show how incredibly ignorant you are. You hide behind absolutely ignorant statements and unfortunately, your children will turn out just like you. Racists, uneducated babbling fools. You are why I left the republican/conservative party.
Why are we letting all of this happen? Why does he have so much controll? I thought we were his boss and he is to serve us and the United States and if we felt he was not doing his job right we could fire him. I don't mean to sound like I just came out from under a rock but isn't that right? What is happening that he has this control over us? Soon we will have the same problems they have over in Iraq because of all of the robot people being so ignorant and one sided. They back him because he is who he is. They don't have a mind of their own. And Health care reform will make it worse. People will be too lazy to work and not want to because they don't have to worry about paying for health care. Unemployment and welfare will be on the rise. Check the stats in Canada. They are robots there but because they don't have a choice. It is too late for them now. The poor get poorer and that is it. Good luck with the future.
You'll be back sooner than you think Marianne. They've reduced you to a name caller just like all the rest. I don't hate anyone and I'm in no way a racist. I have an opinion just like you but I don't call names or use hateful statments. Take your blinders off and oh yes, my children are of no concern to you so back off.
The bigots and racists who just can't stand that there's a Black Man in the White House will jump on any little thing he does and twist it, trying to turn good gestures into evil.
Hey, I remember George W. flying on AF1 and sitting in classrooms reading books to kids, Presidents talk to kids, he's their President too (Of course, W did it while New York was burning), so, using mass communication to reach kids and talk about the importance of education? Seems like a responsible gesture and may make a difference in some kids lives.
The paranoia of the right wing zealots is absurd. You promote and extend your fear because you are sad little people with limited humanity or concern for the Country as a whole.
Just another step on the way to his beloved Marxist state. You can't argue with that when many of his closest appointments/advisors/czars are VERY radical. Oh yes, their view have changed so much from their "young days"....back in March of this year. He and his cronies are attempting to set up a framework within the federal government which will change our nation fundamentally from what the founding fathers envisioned. Watch Glenn Beck....he goes after both sides....Republicans and Democrats who attempt to screw us. Go ahead call him names, but you can't argue with facts. All you liberal utopia wannabees just keep watching. Your King/Savior will not succeed. We are unmasking his cronies and pulling the blanket off his plan. Why don't we concentrate on fixing the problems instead tearing everything down and building a Socialist/Marxist nation where people learn there is no self accountability because the government will provide all even to the lazy.
Stan, have you read the lesson plans? Didn't think so. You are so ignorant....or maybe just like all those who feel so "persecuted."
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM BEING BLACK. IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT HE IS ATTEMPTING TO TURN OUR NATION INTO A SOCIALIST NATION....AT BEST! YOU KEEP ON WITH THE RACE CARD THOUGH, BECAUSE WHEN THE 2012 ELECTIONS COME ABOUT...HE IS OUTTA THERE!!!!
Gee Mr President you could not convince us so you try to convince our children, let me go to your house and teach your childrena
I do not support the current presidents agenda. My children are also old enough to recognize when partisan bulls*it is being thrown at them, even if that bulls*it comes from the president. I'd actually like them to experience it and learn from it. But, I will not tolerate verbal abuse from either partisan teachers or their fellow students if they are asked to participate in a Q&A afterwards. That is the problem with this, not that the president is speaking to the schoolchildren of America. But, that this president has created a following of bullies. It would be a shame to have to keep my child home from school and miss out on their studies to keep them from being bullied as a result of this
You people are idiots. Read the letter fools.
I am not here to be nasty or throw stones. My primary concern is my daughter. It doesn't matter to me what color, religion or culture President Obama comes from. I just cannot believe I am hearing about this now. Why aren't parent's being informed of this? Because it has been kept quiet, that makes me question the intentions of the President. I pray for and support our President, but unfortunately most of his views do not line up with what I believe. Therefore, I do not wish to have my daughter listen to his "speech." If his speech is truly about achieving goals and doing better in school, this should be done in the family setting.
Dan...sticks and stone may break my bones, blah blah...didn't they teach that to YOU at school?
Yet another name calling bully. THAT is why we are concerned for our children, not that a president is speaking to them, but because of people like you. Kids are smart enough these days to know what is factual, but intimidation is something adults in their lives have a responsibility to look out for.
The teacher is the video is a bully. She lied afterwards stating she said "oh good" when students said John McCain, when in fact it was a sarcastic "oh lord"...did she once say anything positive about her students choices of John McCain? This is why this video should not be shown in our schools. This IS occuring in the classroom and we see it in our neighborhoods as well. I did not vote for Obama, yet I did not criticize my neighbors for voting for him. What a double standard we have.
I bet there would've been a major uproar if President Bush forced students to listen to him speak. The teachers who are mostly union members are already brain washing the kids. I would suggest you take your child out of school that day and teach him about the Founding Fathers. That would be a lesson worth learning!
She ought to be ashamed of herself for using the students in such a manner. Shame on her!
Anyone who try to influence children must be a good role model. We all desire outstanding qualities in our children. Simply, put-- do not kill babies and talk to other babies about pleasant things to do. The higher the office, the greater is the responsibilities.
There is a big difference between "ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country" and "Why is it important that we listen to the president and other elected officials..." ""What do you think the president wants us to do?" and "Are we able to do what President Obama is asking of us?" He is walking a very fine line between helping the country and helping him, personally. It will be interesting how he walks that line on the 8th.
Unprecedented? That's just bad reporting. Reagan talked politics to students in 1988, and George HW Bush in 1991.
Pudly,
Really? Reagan and Bush did an internet webcast to schools Nation wide? (Aided by White House supplied teaching plans, and suggestions on how to encourage the children to "help" the president?)
Were'd you get that information?
PS: I'd have had a problem if Bush had done this. "Creepy" comes to mind as an appropriate adjective.
Mike:
On November 12th, 1988, Reagan went on a rambling speech to middle schoolers broadcast live, then replayed over 3 days to academic channels around the country, in which he pontificated on taxes ad free trade .. to freaking middle schoolers....
Regardless of whether you agree with his politics or not, a speech to middle schoolers was really no place for it.
There is nothing 'unprecedented' about this coming speech. I will reserve judgement until I hear what was said. If he tells them to get off the couch, put down the video games, and concentrate on their studies, I will say kudos. If he talks about health care reform and foreign policy, I will criticize him.
Racist ? Unless my memory is faulty, he is half white ? Do we ever hear about this ? Of course not. Racism apparently only goes in one direction !
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