NASCAR drivers support President Obama's address to school

September 4, 9:40 AMGwinnett County Democrat ExaminerAlisa Smith-McMahon

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Some of the most popular NASCAR drivers have made a PSA (public service announcement), in support of President Obama’s message to America’s school children. They are encouraging children to have the drive to win, the drive to stay in school, and for parents to help our children succeed in their educational goals. It’s an amazing message that should be applauded and supported by all parents of school aged children and citizens of our country.

It is unbelievable that people are making a stink out of the upcoming Presidential address to our public schools. As stated by ED.gov, “During this special address, the President will speak directly to the nation’s children and youth about persisting and succeeding in school. The president will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning.” And yet, there are people who are questioning the President’s motives and calling his address “a very troubling turn of events, giving rise to the very legitimate fears of political and social indoctrination.”

The Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, has sent a letter to schools with suggested “classroom activities” so that students can begin preparing for the President’s address. Some of these activities include things like making posters setting out “community and country” goals, and encourages kids to read books about past presidents and President Obama. Can someone please explain to me how these are BAD things?

Not only have our children been addressed by past presidents, they were addressed by two Republican presidents, and one with a political message. President George W. Bush did so in 1991, and President Ronald Reagan was the one who talked politics with students in 1988. But, some people are still saying this is unprecedented and an unacceptable thing for a President to do.It is absolutely shocking to me that people are turning a positive “stay in school, study hard, and learn everything you can” message, into a partisan fight about possible indoctrination. All I can say is that if the indoctrinated message to my children is “stay in school, study hard, and learn everything you can about your government, your country and our history,” I’m all for promoting that indoctrination.
Let’s get serious people. Our President, like all presidents in the past, is simply trying to inspire our children to learn as much as they can and do their best in school. He is trying to show them that they too, can rise up from any situation and possibly become President of the United States of America. There is no way you can convince me that’s a bad message for our children to hear.

Please, my Republican friends out there, and there are MANY, join me in support of OUR President’s message to our children. Let’s not turn our partisan fighting over healthcare and other social and economic issues into something that could damage our children. Let’s work together to make our children smarter, want to do better, and be the best people, and citizens, they can be.

Chad Shue, writing as the Snohomish County Progressive Examiner, had more on this subject in his article President's address to be vetted by Social Studies Department.