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Obama is held to a different standard on school speeches. AP Photo Alex Brandon
In my deep memories of elementary school and junior high I had remembered listening to Presidents Reagan and Papa Bush speak to all of us on television. I had recently doubted those faint memories as I told myself that surely those two Presidents must not have spoken to school children. After all if they had attempted to speak to school children their conservative base must have decried the "indoctrination" of school children and threatened to pull their kids out of school in response. It turns out I was wrong on both fronts. Presidents Reagan and George H. W. Bush did in fact speak to school children in national addresses, and conservatives at the time did not react the same way they are reacting to the Obama school address.
In the video below Fox News (known for their liberalism) reports that both Reagan and Bush addressed the nation's schoolchildren. Now conservatives may claim that the situation was different in that the Reagan and Bush addresses were non-partisan. First, most of the objections I have seen about the Obama address are not about the content of his message but rather the whole idea of students being "forced" to listen to the President. Second, President Obama's address much like that of Reagan and Bush is being previewed as a politically neutral message about hard work, setting educational goals, and staying in school. For anyone who doubts the truthfulness of that claim they can check the White House website on Monday where they have promised to pre-release a copy of the speech for parents to see.
Others might say that whether the practice of school addresses were done in the past does not matter. It is wrong either way. I would disagree. The reality is while some Democrats (wrongly) made a fuss about the cost of the Bush address in general their was not the same fury over the Republican President school addresses. There were certainly no claims of "indoctrination" of school children. Most correctly saw these addresses as the President simply trying to give a positive, politically neutral message to the nation's children. It was right for President Bush and Reagan to address school children and it should likewise be seen as acceptable for President Obama to do so.
Comments
One lesson plan urged elementary school students "write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president." It advised that the letters "would be collected and redistributed at an appropriate later date by the teacher to make students accountable to their goals."
Another included questions asking students whether Obama was "inspiring you to do anything" or "challenging you to do anything?"
The "I Pledge" video shows stars pledging to consume less energy, drive more hybrid cars, smile more and one celebrity saying: "I pledge to be of service to Barack Obama."
Sounds like indoctrination to me.
What does the "I Pledge" video have to do with the speech to school children September 8th, 2009 ? Comparing apples and oranges.
So what did Ronnie boy have them pledge to do?
The Reagan speech was hardly bipartisan
non partisan, rather.
The Bush and Reagan address to school children didn't include asking the what the children could do to help the president. They were presidents that didn't need help. Obama is trying to get advise from 3rd graders. That tells me a great deal about our president. and his experience to be in the highest office of the land. Maybe he should look to adults for advice.
Reagon spoke to high school seniors who were already adults and would soon be voting. Bush spoke to ONE school. Obama is doing a MASS distribution to every school age in this country. That is the difference between democracy and totalitarian regimes too. The students could choose NOT to participate with Bush and Reagon. Not so with Obama. Young childhren have to attend their class.
Wrong again Ryan. It is amazing how you always seem to conviently miss the facts. Bush 41 spoke to only one school and there were many Democrats who spoke out against it at the time. As others have pointed out Reagan's speech was made to high school seniors. Obama is targeting the very young children and then asking them to help him push his agenda. I see a major difference there. You on the other hand choose to distort the facts and are seemingly for the indoctrination of young, impressionable children, as long as they are being guided to follow a far-left philosophy. My childern will be withdrawn from scholl before the speech takes place. They will not be allowed to participate in any "homework" that Obama has asked they be assigned. Instead we will spend the afternoon studying the founders of our nation, and the principles American was founded upon.
Actually watch the clip from FOX NEWS mind you. It states the address was "nation wide." I do not know of the single classroom that exists across the entire nation. Facts from your conservative source not MSNBC here.
I find it interesting that anybody here or any where else in this country thinks they could do the job of the President. When was the last time any of you even attempted to take office locally? Don't be so hateful and scared people. You're in America lets show the rest of the world we're stronger than we're acting. Pull your kids out of schools. Let them be singled out for being un-patriotic. You don't have to like Obama's politics to respect his position in this country. Its sad that the children that will miss this speech will learn from THEIR PARENTS that being an American is more about politics and being right than fighting for and with each other to strengthen this country. I'm glad your children won't be there because they would miss out on this great opportunity at home for parents and children to have a discussion about service to your country and education. and I hope you find the country you are looking for where everyone thinks the way you do and acts the way you want.
If The Obama camp had just said they were going to do the speech and no accompanying curriculm had been sent out and especially the curriculm that was sent, most of us parents that are objecting would have been fine. However, if you look at the content of the curriculum, it is hard to trust what our children will be hearing on Tues thus I have opted for mine to sit it out. Personally I don't think it is appropriate for any political figure to make an address to kids from a political platform of any kind regardless of affiliation. If they want to go into the school and outline the job description in a general sense the way that a fireman or doctor would do that is different. Parents should have the right to decide what their kids are exposed to and when it comes through the school system that right is taken away. That is what the fuss is all about.
And I guess people in this state have never been Indoctrinated! I am happy to to know that I am raising my kids to be able to listen, process and decide what is right for them.
I'm finished with you. You would not know the truth if it bit you on the ass. Your essays are going in my trash folder.
I remember Nancy Reagan and her "Just Say No" campaign--I guess that's why we don't have a drug problem in our country. Do we really believe children can be influenced that easily? If that were true, we could never let them out of our sight to be influenced by others AND I would not have had so much trouble with Math in school. This is NOT the "I Pledge" video which was made during the 2008 campaign. That was a campaign commercial. This is a live speech about staying in school and meeting your own goals. Where is all this fear and anger coming from?
You were indoctrinated before the bar. Grow up!
I'll tell you Julie. Some folks just hate our new Obaman Socialist Nationalist, Abortionist, and we don't want our children in the same room with so called leader. I don't like this writer and the trash bin is a good idea...
He does not represent America. Possibly Kenya, but not here. 2 billion to Soros!!!! That SOB!!!
Why do we need positive messages in our schools, like that of the President's? To raise a generation of kids that can think past their own selfish interests like the people railing against any kind of reform right now, and especially to have kids stay in school so they don't end up a xenophobe like good ol' Sam here. Wow, it's a shame what America has become right now, when some are consumed by fear, myths, and urban legends. Sad.
"f The Obama camp had just said they were going to do the speech and no accompanying curriculm had been sent out and especially the curriculm that was sent, most of us parents that are objecting would have been fine."
Judith, that's bull and you know it. You'd have a problem with it regardless.
Nobody's FORCING your kids to listen. Parents are always allowed to take their kids out of class. ALWAYS.
You guys need to quit barfing up this racist, partisan junk and admit that you're just mad you lost in November. Still.
As for Reagan, UHM, since when are seniors allowed to make their own decisions? You going to let them vote and drink at 17?
Get over it. No one's indoctrinating anyone. You're all a bunch of paranoid dumbasses.
My son knows Obama did crack and drugs as he wrote in his biography. He is in seventh grade and when I told him what Obama will speak about he said, "he's just going to tell us what our teachers tell us every day about working hard". His science class will be interrupted for this and frankly I think with the science deficit in this country Obama's speech is a travesty. BTW Obama is scarey because of his obvious ties to statist totaliarian socialists, a declared Maoist in his administration. Bush and Regan did not have totalitarian sympathies as Obama who glad hands Chavez, sweet talks Amadinajad and buddies up with Bashar Assad.
MOJO needs dose of reality. Neither Bush nor any other President ever asked for loyalty to THEM, the person. Every other President asked for loyalty to the US Constitution and our way of life - not wealth distribution through taxes,not apologizing to terrorists for our actions. I could go on and on with what is wrong with this demagogue and his sycophants but you would still be oblivious. Annoy a liberal, get a job and be successful!!!!
Sam, please refrain talking ill of my country. Am a Kenyan who lives in the US, and I love it here. When I read someone write something so untrue and uneducated about my country, it gets to my nerves. President Obama is not Kenyan, he is American. As much as they might want you to believe, Obama has never been Kenyan, he only had the priviledge to be, which he lost once he turned 20. My country does not allow for dual citizenship. Pres. Obama was born and raised in America, by an American. All the values he holds are american.
Don't confuse him with his father, whom he never even knew.
Obama can't do anything without Republican nutjobs going crazy. He could turn a cow patty into gold and some wingnut would have a problem with it.
R
House Democrats criticized President Bush yesterday for using Education Department funds to produce and broadcast a speech that he made Tuesday at a Northwest Washington junior high school.
The Democratic critics accused Bush of turning government money for education to his own political use, namely, an ongoing effort to inoculate himself against their charges of inattention to domestic issues. The speech at Alice Deal Junior High School, broadcast live on radio and television, urged students to study hard, avoid drugs and turn in troublemakers.
"The Department of Education should not be producing paid political advertising for the president, it should be helping us to produce smarter students," House Majority Leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.) said. "And the president should be doing more about education than saying, 'Lights, camera, action.' "
Two House committees demanded that the department explain the use of its funds for the speech, an explanation that Deputy Secr
An article in the Dalton Daily Citizen from Dalton, GA says that Principals are to decide on who watches the Obama speech on Tuesday. Furthermore, the schools that will show the speech are requiring permission slips from the parents to allow the student to watch. What are these people afraid of? Permission slips? Up to individual principals? How pharisaic can you get? If President Bush was making a special speech to the school children, you can believe that every last school in Whitfield County, GA would set aside time for the broadcast and there would be no permission slips involved.
cincilitigator...you're simply an idiot.
What a travesty. I cannot believe all I am reading, The President is just saying stay in school.. we need to help our children realize how important it is.. What is wrong with this country.. that a simpls statement is taken out of Context and made political.. I did not vote for Obama but I think all the hopla ove this speech is garbage..
So sad--our president is unable to offer encouragement during these hard times. This is our president--a guy that commands respect of world leaders, but not from our own citizens, who oddly enough was elected by us. So sad.
Neither Reagan nor Bush nationalized private industry before making their speech to children. Hitler did!
The problem has to do with the curriculum imposed by the Department of Education. One of the "initial" post speech homework assignments asked students to“write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president." It was revised to read how they can help themselves achieve their educational goals. Conservative/liberatarian view point is overwhelmingly underminded in the media and schools. This is why Obama's address is disconcerting to many. I smell an agenda, and it stinks.
The Department of Education prepared a curriculum for teachers to follow that guides students (post speech) to“write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president.”It was changed to read how they can help themselves achieve educational goals. Conservative/liberatian view point is overwhelmingly underminded in the media and schools, this is what have many in an uproar. It's hard not to smell an agenda, I do and it stinks.
Give me a break. What is his real purpose of making a speech directly to children? "Assemble the children before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live and may teach them to their children." "Children, Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds and teach them to your children." "From the lips of children and infants he will ordain to silence the foe and the avenger." Children's children are a crown to the aged one, and parents are the pride of their children." "The children arise and call him blessed he who pretends to hold the staff and the spindle as he opens his arms to the poor and extends his hands to the needy." "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to children, how much more will he that pretends to do good will give good gifts to those he wants to rule." "He took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and deceived many." So, the only advise I can give you all is "OJO" my fellow americans.
“write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president.": Sounds bad if you just have the materials and don't know what the speech is about, which is staying in school so our country can prosper. Also, it doesn't say 'read Obama's book', it says read books about Obama and other presidents, yawn, not too scary. go to ed.gov to read the materials.
I actually see this from both sides. Bush did the same thing and democrats didn't like it. Anything Bush did the democrats hated. Now the shoe is on the other foot and the democrats want Republicans to just say OK.
There was a time when we had honest debate on both sides, but those days are gone (mostly because of Monica Lewinski); because if one side does it, then the other side has to do something worse. Really, I would love to see both sides get together and work on what is best for this country, but get over accusing one side when your side also does it.
It happens on both sides, so now your guy is in power and you feel that any rejection of his policies is a personal attack. People…this is politics…grow some thicker skin. No…Republican's aren't going to concede a point - even if they agree - just like democrats never conceded when they were out of power.
It is what it is and writers like this clown that wrote this article love to muddy the waters. You won and they lost, n
Oh...and I also remember name calling from both sides when Bush was in office. Yes, just more of the same.
Oh...and I also remember name calling from both sides when Bush was in office. Yes, just more of the same.
When will the color of one's skin not matter in America? When our REAL ENEMIES succeed in dropping that nuclear bomb on this great country, then and only then will the color of one's skin not matter 'cause we won't have any. Or Yellowstone blows. Or Jesus cracks the sky. Peace.
Robert Moon is spamming The Activity Pit again: twi.cc/lAlq
Just tell the truth. You do not like the man because you think he is black, You call him a Muslim, socialist, Kenyan tribe’s man, and whatever else You can come up with, but what most want to call him is a N….R. Never mind the fact that he is half-white. You do not see it you do not want to see it. All of you small minded ignorant people who are in a rush to jump head first in to the junk that the GOP is pushing for this nation. Therefore, here is what I think. Let them win, and I will sit back watch and laugh my a$$ off as the GOP makes us a third world nation. You people seem to like the smaller paychecks, and watching your jobs go overseas. Have fun, welcome to the new America. God forgive us all.
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