Newscom
President Barack Obama waves as he walks across the South Lawn of the White House on Sept. 2. An upcoming Obama speech to schoolchildren has caused an uproar in conservative circles.
Conservatives wave red flags over Obama school speech
By Matthew Shaer | 09.02.09
Update: Obama school speech suddenly a prickly issue for educators.
It’s pretty straightforward stuff: On Sept. 8, President Barack Obama is scheduled to deliver a major speech to American schoolchildren. According to Arne Duncan, the secretary of education, the president will discuss, among other topics, the importance of working hard, and setting educational goals.
“He will also call for a shared responsibility and commitment on the part of students, parents and educators to ensure that every child in every school receives the best education possible so they can compete in the global economy for good jobs and live rewarding and productive lives as American citizens,” Duncan wrote in an open letter last week.
You know, the basics. The kind of things that most kids should know. But the prospect of this speech – which will be broadcast live on the White House’s website – has sent tremors through certain corners of the blogosphere. At issue is a document the Department of Education has created to help teachers drive Obama’s points home. Here’s an excerpt:
Students can record important parts of the speech where the President is asking them to do something. Students might think about: What specific job is he asking me to do? Is he asking anything of anyone else? Teachers? Principals? Parents? The American people?
According to commentator Michelle Malkin, the lesson plans have the whiff of subversive activism. “Schools have used students as little lobbyists on everything from illegal immigration to gay marriage to anti-war activism, and most recently, [c]ensus collection,” Malkin wrote. “Will Obama be able to resist issuing a call to youth arms to marshal help in passing his legislative agenda?”
Meanwhile, the conservative radio host Dana Loesch has launched a campaign urging parents to keep their children home on the day of Obama’s speech. In an email urging against the “Socialist Indoctrination of Americas children,” [sic] Loesch explains that Americans must not “mind our Ps and Qs and blindly follow their directives”:
That’s not the manner of governance upon which this country was founded – it is quite the opposite; even the hobbyist Constitutional aficionado appreciates this. So yes, keep your kids home on September 8th and teach them that the power of America rests in the hands of its people, no one else.
As of this afternoon, the email had gone viral, and made the phrase “Obama school speech” one of the most searched on the web.
So is the uproar having an effect? In some cases, the answer is yes. Dallas officials “are leaving the decision to [view Obama’s address] up to individual teachers,” the Houston Chronicle reports. “[P]arents who don’t want their children to see it can opt out. In Houston, each school will decide.”
And in at least one part of Missouri, kids won’t be seeing the speech at all.
For its part, the White House says that conservatives misunderstand the purpose of the address. “The goal of the speech and the lesson plans is to challenge students to work hard in school, to not drop out and to meet short-term goals like behaving in class, doing their homework and goals that parents and teachers alike can agree are noble,” a White House spokesman told FOXNews.com. “This isn’t a policy speech. This is a speech designed to encourage kids to stay in school.”
Update: Obama school speech suddenly a prickly issue for educators.
—
Curt Schilling as senator?
Don’t count on it. The competition in a general election would likely be far too stiff for the former Red Sox ace.
—
Follow us on Twitter.
<< Labor chief: Public option ‘essential’ for healthcare reform | MainComments
2. Peter Litwin | 09.02.09
The “basics”? The basics never included totalitarian indoctrination of our children.
3. ramsam | 09.02.09
We are starting to irritate you? You think this is a Republican movement? That is exactly why it is not going away…you are wrong. People all over are waking up to this Marxist and the ‘irritation’ will only grow, my friend.
Newsflash-
Many parents want to have a say in what political agenda are taught to their children. Be prepared for a fight.
4. Monera | 09.02.09
I am waiting for the president to issue us little black books full of his sayings. Rejects the Cultural Revolution for what it is.
5. dancvcc | 09.02.09
Hmmmm When Pres Kennedy called young people to get up and do something nothing but good happened ie peace corp, the moon… Simple minds simple ways
6. DLJ | 09.02.09
Nice try ramsam, but the only people talking like you are conservatives and Republicans, so bring on the fight.
Gee, wonder what you nutbags would say if Obama was there to just read “My Pet Goat”…
7. Todd | 09.02.09
Education is the biggest socialist program in America. The first thing we will do is get rid of socialist school sports programs. No more socialist football, socialist basketball, and that favorite socialist program baseball from all the schools. I’m not paying my tax dollars so somebody’s kids gets indoctrinated into these socialist programs, and have to recite socialist prayers during these socialist sports events.
When we get rid of all these socialist sports programs, then we can dismantle the whole socialist school system.
8. shannan | 09.02.09
This is not just a Republican movement. Democrats…stay bored. Please! Sit back and watch as AMERICANS protect our liberties. I’ve never been so moved to become involved in what our “President” is trying to do to our country. I don’t agree with Obamas values. I don’t respect his views and I don’t want him speaking to my children!
9. steveo | 09.02.09
**** Obama Youth!
Schools are NOT for politics.
This is just another example of the president’s incredible tin ear.
He portrays it as innocent encouragement of education. The point is: education and politics don’t mix. The president above all needs to honor this not just to the letter, but to the spirit. Leave the kids alone.
The country did want a change during the last election, but not this kind of change. The extreme left wants to paint those of us who resist the Obama change as thugs or nazis or idiots. In their dream world they think that they have been granted carte blanche to implement their socialist dreams.
Doesn’t this country need the vote of no confidence? We could end this now.
Obama is going to be a one-term president.
10. Dolbay | 09.02.09
It is a sad day when the President’s goal of motivating students through a national speech to students is politicized. Yes, teachers, principals, and the President of the United States are each accorded tremendous respect, trust and open ears from our young students. What better way to start the school year off. Kudos to Obama for making this effort to reach out.
Will we next be hearing that principals and then teachers have ulterior motives if they ask students to work hard and set achievement goals. What message do we send children when we encourage them to stay home because the President will be speaking to them?
That response is an embarrassment!
11. Jon Adams | 09.02.09
More of the same whining. Yawn. Yea, Obama’s the devil. Whatever. When I was a kid, we had a picture of President Reagan in
12. Kanna | 09.02.09
Thus continues the polarization that is tearing this country apart. This is getting out of hand.
13. Mike Johnson | 09.02.09
I like how the presidency has become so politicized where large groups of people are not only demonizing him, but teaching their children not to be civil to our nations leader. It was ridiculous when liberals were doing it to Bush and it is still ridiculous now.
If your political ideologies are so weak they can only be maintained through ignorance, you are pathetic and should not participate in the democratic process.
14. Buffy | 09.02.09
What all of these comments seem to miss is that the administration has taken it upon themselves to outline “class work” about the speech.
If the speech is a simple “the importance of working hard, and setting educational goals.”…stay in school then why are our educators being asked to have the children take notes about “specific job he is asking me to do?” etc.
Will this speech make a difference in helping “at risk” kids or will this speech be the first of many speeches performed in order to train young minds to believe in the power of government?
15. Moderate | 09.02.09
Gee, no demonstrations when Bush was speaking to school children on 9/11/2001. Stay in school, work hard - what a terrible message to give to our children. The right is so polarized now, they act out of spite regardless of the social benefits. As much as I suspect the Bush/Cheney administration systematically broke the laws of our country, I would not have told my children not to attend an event because they were speaking. Most likely, the negative thinkers commenting here only get information from right wing television commentators (I purposely avoided using the phrase “news reporters”).
16. soisay | 09.02.09
As a former teacher, I can state that the complainers have no idea the purpose or structure of lesson plan outlines when provided by a source. First off, they are all over the place (check google!) There is simply no time and no purpose for every teacher in America to invent learning objectives, questions, team projects from standard teachable moments. Those lesson plans were created by educators. Sheesh. Each teacher adjusts them as they see fit. Sheesh. Such generic plans are devoid of political, religious or cultural indoctrination (except for tolerance of other children) or you hear screaming. If you are screaming about what *Might* happen, you are simply being paranoid.
17. Pondering It All | 09.02.09
If President Obama proposed feeding the hungry, starving Republicans would show up to protest…
This is a perfect educational opportunity for some students: If your parents are afraid to let you see and hear a speech from the President of the United States, then they are suffering from some mental problems. Encourage them to get some help. Talk to your other relatives about getting them some help.
18. Amy | 09.02.09
It’s pretty straightforward stuff? A presidential address (complete with curriculum guide asking children to reflect on questions like “What is the President asking me to do?” is unprecedented in the United States of America and, frankly, creepy. In what other countries and systems of government do you see the image and words of the nation’s leader everywhere you go all the time? Does every student and teacher in America need to stop what they’re doing that day to listen to the message “study, work hard, set goals”? Why is that more important coming from the President than from parents and teachers? Even if I voted for the guy I would think, by now, that he’s in my face way too much. Back off, dude. Take a nap. Leave us alone. The problem: he doesn’t just give nice presidential speeches. He’s in permanent campaign mode, going around the country trying to sell a leftwing agenda and calling citizens who do not agree with him names. Why should we trust him not to proselytize to our kids?
19. John | 09.02.09
If Bush had done this, the press would be slinging around “Hitler Youth” comparisons.
Politics do not belong in schools. My kids are staying home that day.
20. John | 09.02.09
>>> shared responsibility and commitment on the part of students
Ah, the code words of socialism. “We’re all in this together. All I need is control of the auto industry, the insuarnce industry, the banks, the health care industry and just another 18% of your blood, sweat and tears and the world will be filled with rainbows and unicorns and kittens.”
21. Chuck | 09.02.09
“Stay in school and work hard.” Now there is a message with subversive written all over it! Lets face it whether you agree with the President or not….this is not an evil Socialist plot to bring down America. But if the President speaking to America’s children offends you this much as a parent follow the advice of Ms. Loesch and keep your kids home. Its too bad that they’ll miss a day of school, but perhaps you could do something together that will be affirming to both you and your kids. And for those children who do attend that day if the President’s message reaches a few of these and provides encouragement to work hard and stay in school all the better. (After all that is a message on which I would think conservatives and liberals can agree.)
22. cob | 09.02.09
Republicans, please keep your children out of school so they can grow up to be as ignorant as you are.
23. mother | 09.02.09
If Jesus Christ isn’t welcomed in our schools… why the world would we welcome Obama?
24. DIBBY | 09.02.09
I wish there was this much fervor by right-wingers regarding separation of church and state!! You’re absolutely right politics don’t belong in school, but a speech from the President of our United States encouraging school children to do well in school and setting educational goals is not a threat. THE SPEECH WILL BE SHOWN LIVE ONLINE so go ahead and watch it and then go home and have a discussion with your family about what was said and how it applies to your beliefs. Encourage your children to think for themselves and come to their own conclusions, with your guidance - that’s our job is as parents! What are you afraid of? Do you worry that what the president has to say will actually make sense to your children? Do you think by shielding your children from what our president has to say is going to help them? Putting your head in the sand and hiding from reality is not the answer. Talk with your kids! Help them become free-thinking! That is what we are lacking in our country…free-thinking citizens who research the issues and political representatives, looking at both sides of debates and ONLY THEN make educated choices/votes!!
25. Lib…ertarian | 09.02.09
Why does this article and all those leaving comments fail to mention that Bush Sr. gave a similar speech to school children in 1991? Maybe because then they can’t polarize/politicize the issue. Calling Obama a socialist does just as much good as calling Bush Jr. a fascist.
26. Carl Cronquest | 09.02.09
If it is indocrination to tell kids that to listen to our country’s president’s recommendation to work hard, stay in school and take notes on what you can do for your country, then we need to have a whole lot more indocrination in this country. Enough of the ridiculous criticism!!
27. joanne | 09.02.09
Dear Bill-
Wake up! My child will not be at school if this speach goes forward and is “optional” for my child to watch. When is anything optional at school? If school children are not there they will get a rude awakening also! Schools dont get paid!
28. Christie | 09.02.09
Teaching my children about the importance of respect for authority and the importance of a good education is my responsibility and privilege. I certainly do not want someone I do not trust trying to influence my children. The damage would actually be greater if Obama were to simply repeat what my husband and I have taught the children because, subconciously, they might begin to see him as trustworthy and be placed at risk of believing future utterings.
29. john | 09.02.09
It is a real shame that a speech designed to help motivate students to set goals and achieve them is being denigrated by folks who perceive some sort of socialistic flavor with every action of this administration. Have you even bothered to go to the White House website and look at the supplemental teacher materials provided by the Dept of Education? They encourage things like critical listening and thinking skills — things of no obvious use to a democratic society, I guess. The materials encourage students to develop their own goals and chart their progress toward achieving them throughout the school year. Again some sort of socialistic plot, evidently; never mind the fact that every business motivation book has the same process outlined for business executives and whanabees. It is indeed sad that people are so mean-spirited they see evil in everything someone does. I expect better from CS Monitor readers and am sorely disappointed by many posts to this and other blogs at this website.
30. Jacob | 09.02.09
Oh sure, if Obama delivering a message to schoolchildren is considered socialism then Bush paying visits to schools can equally be considered a promotion of pre-emptive war and torture. Now which of these is a greater violation of our American ideals?
31. P | 09.02.09
The absolute EGO of this man!
Parents are in charge. Period.
How to think, set goals?
Mind your own children,
and stay the **** away from ours.
Unbelievable!
32. xtra | 09.03.09
There have been comparisons between the current regime and Fascism..and I thought about that:
The US government consists of legislatures (city councils to Congress) that pass laws and collect taxes to pay Courts and Police. Those laws are commands to the Court. The Law demands and the Courts require..and the police are officers of the Court who aid in the enforcement of the law by the Courts.
A judge who ordered a police officer to harass or arrest a personal enemy of the judge, the legislature could withhold pay or otherwise penalize or punish the judge.
However..a mayor or a President could use public funds, taxes to create a separate group, either a burearough or a community organization that would carry out personal and political agendas, and thereby circumvent the Courts.
A politician who had a large campaign fund, could hire organizers and canvasers to work for him. Once that politician is elected, he could use public tax money to pay those same people to promote his agenda. Now, the people who are paid will lose their jobs or their promised rewards if the politician’s agenda fails or if he isn’t re-elected. In the beginning, a politician could say..I am not doing well in the polls..so we need to do more than just canvass and campaign for me..Those..(for instance) jews don’t like me, won’t vote for me..so if you don’t want to lose your jobs..run them out of town, break their kneecaps or rig the polls.
That was Hitler..and there are eery parallels between those times and these times..with ACORN, astroturfing, Union thuggery and Black Panthers at the polls. Tax money that should go to Courts, Police is being funneled into community organizers and political activists who are not quite in the “balance of power” equation” in the Constitution.
That is why the Obama addressing schoolchildren raises questions. It is deja vue Hitler Youth. How soon before children will have little black books of quotes?
33. Tyler | 09.03.09
Americans are the only people left on the planet who still can’t see past the left/right paradigm. Wake up fools! Your being played off one another while your government runs you into unpayable debt and destroys your countries name world wide. America is being destroyed from within. Bush and Obama both work for the same team - wall street.
34. K | 09.03.09
Don’t worry, they will not be missing anything the first day anyway. The schools are so pathetic, that’s all they do is take days off for this and that. I think they actually work about 6 mos of the 9 month year. And on the days that they are there, the teachers stand up and spew their socialist agenda all day long. This guy is such a narcisist it is absolutely sickening, remember “ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”, NO, this admin says “write yourself a letter saying what you can do for OBAMA”. Unreal.
35. Chris H. | 09.03.09
This might be a little easier to take if the former presidents were included. It would also be better if the address was given after school hours so parents could at least watch it with their kids, if not shut it off altogether.
Doing it this way just sets a bad precedent.
36. wert | 09.03.09
The WingNut Right is just upset that their favorite paranoid schizophrenic Glenn Beck is not able to deliver the speech instead.
37. Michael | 09.03.09
Hmmmm, well we have seen that Obama is not above using children as political ammuniton by a recent town hall meeting. Remember where the child ask our president why are the people holding all those mean signs? Hmmm well she was the child of one of his people!
38. M | 09.03.09
To shannon and all the other coservative nut jobs that have commented on this item:
How you people can twist having the president ask our young people to be responsible, work hard and stay in school into a bad thing is truly beyond me. Unless you think that responsibility, hard work and education are actually bad things, in which case all I can say is that the inside of your head must be a very dark and miserable place to live.
M.
39. Tom P. | 09.03.09
Why doesn’t he just broadcast another speech on national television. That way it doesn’t appear like he’s
specifically addressing young minds that have not learned critical thinking. If the parents think it’s valuable
enough for their kids to hear, they can watch it with them. I would rather be in the room with my child when
a major political figure is telling them something. Then I can be the advocate for what they are listening to,
good or bad.
Or maybe if you feel it needs to be in the school you can have a joint speech with members from each party.
Otherwise it really does seem politically motivated.
40. B | 09.03.09
“Loesch explains that Americans must not “mind our Ps and Qs and blindly follow their directives””
This from a radio host who instructs his listeners to blindly follow his directives, which is based on the false assessment that Obama is socialist.
I agree wholeheartedly with comment #1.
41. Dan Disner | 09.03.09
Though Joe McCarthy has been dead for over 50 years, it is clear his spirit lives on.
42. Kathleen Bond | 09.03.09
Some observations:
–You are arguing about hot-button words like Socialist without defining your terms.
–It is obvious that parents do not trust their children’s teachers to guide the use of study tools.
–You break the rules by insulting each other with really, really horrible names that have no place in a civilized discussion.
–Whether we like it or not, politics is everywhere, even in schools. It is better for children to talk about ideas than stay home.
Best wishes to all.
43. Rafael Rivero | 09.03.09
Have you all noticed that the nutty right-wing commenters who actually oppose this harmless and innocuous innitiative misspell about half of their words? Perhaps they should think twice about keeping their kids home that day, since they are clearly in no position to educate their own children properly.
44. Que D | 09.03.09
If the President go left, conservatives go right. When the President go right they go left, if he’s up they’re down and on and on and on. I know most Americans notice this, right?
45. Willow Wynters | 09.03.09
The Resident in the Oval Office is a socialist well trained in a special form of hypnosis, and should not be allowed to speak to young minds. Look what he did to the Democrats! They think he is the Messiah!
46. A. L. Flanagan | 09.03.09
The paranoia on display on the Right is truly amazing. In the worst days of the Bush presidency, did anybody suggest he shouldn’t be allowed to speak to children? What is this country coming to?
As for the charges of “socialism” and “totalitarianism”, Bush was a lot more totalitarian than Obama has ever been. And do you even know what socialism is? Look it up before you start throwing the term around.
47. Michael | 09.03.09
You poor, sad Americans. The world is watching an empire spiraling downward, out of control.
48. Roland Olsen | 09.03.09
For Rafael Rivero who lectured: “Have you all noticed that the nutty right-wing commenters who actually oppose this harmless and innocuous innitiative misspell about half of their words?”
It’s “initiative” not “innitiative.” ¡Qué chistoso!
49. Jeff | 09.03.09
Yes, this is an example of Obama’s tin ear. Apparently he still hasn’t learned that America is a national full of irrational, sensationalist talk-show-host driven, wild-eyed conspiracy theorist fanatics who cannot be reasoned with or treated like adults. Obama is a complete fool for thinking that he could talk to the American people in a rational and honest manner. He should have known that he should instead just wave an American flag and say meaningless quirky down-home things followed by “Praise Jesus!” every 2 minutes instead…
50. Mike | 09.03.09
This country has turned into a big sandbox with a bunch of screaming kids. If this Obama school speech is such a big deal, why wasn’t anyone compaining back when Bush was making his appearances in school classrooms. Remember where Bush was on 9/11/01? A school classroom. Lets get on with the real issues instead of wasting out time whining about this ****!
51. Don Walter | 09.03.09
President Bush SR did not ask us to pledge allegiance to him as President Obama is doing in his propaganda video. Coming soon the mark of the beast.
52. i’m a nut | 09.03.09
I teach my child to respect the office of the president, which does not include bowing down to everything he says. Am I wrong for that? If Obama wishes to address this nation’s children, he should take a clue from the presidents who have done so before him and do the broadcast after school hours. That was all parents could choose whether or not to let their child watch the address, and we could all go on with our lives. He has no business broadcasting in the classroom and giving out lesson plans. I am aware that lesson plans are needed for everything used in a classroom, but to provide one for the president’s speech is sickening. That alone makes me think that the speech will be more involved than a “be cool, stay in school” generalization. If that makes me a nut, fine. I’m just using the critical thinking skills he’s going to ask the kids to use on Tuesday.
53. Bill | 09.03.09
A fascist regime is one that fosters centralized autocratic government
headed by and authoritarian leader…a dictator. Many in other nations
have learned this the hard way. This president, Obama, most definitely
has fascist ambitions. The far, far left Democrats are just as dangerous
as Obama himself…because they support Big Brother. The Goddess Liberty
is waking up at last and does not like what she sees happening to our
great nation. A growing number of us in both parties, as well as
an increasing number of Independents, have had more than enough of Obama’s
blatant abuse of the constitution, and his attempt to replace the American
way of life with socialism. We will, most assuredly, shut down the Federal
government’s grab of personal freedom…at the election booths in 2010 and
2012.
54. Penny Lane | 09.03.09
This President unfortunately thanks that his job is to give good speech. His sonorous voice is all that is needed to make kids learn and teachers teach.
What this uproar is about is that he has lost the trust of a huge swath of average people. We don’t believe the vaunting language and sonorous words. Because through his actions and policies, he has reveal an agenda that threatens our economic system and our way of life. He praises and exhorts America in speeches and then works behind closed doors to weaken the economic strengths of our free market system that have made us the envy of the world. Luckily, many average citizens are not worshippers at altar of the Obama cult. They are simply not fooled anymore. And they don’t want their children worshipping at that altar either.
55. A Voice of Reason | 09.03.09
Okay how is it socialism to say lets have a discussion? Plus look what 8 years of Dick Cheney and figurehead George W. with their doctrine of complete secrecy and non-communication and non-discussion have produced.
It’s the Republican’s who need to get their head out of the sand and move into the 21st century. Taking your kids out of school–yelling and screaming about how much you hate health care reform–trying to ban gay marriage and in general beating people over the head with your bible is just isolating you, making you look like idiots and isolationists and making militants out of those who might have wanted to talk to you but got shouted down or told to shut up before they were given a chance to explain or discuss their ideas with you.
If you have something to say–say it. If you think you can do better-run for office, if you don’t like what the President is talking about-become a speech writer, if you disagree with community rules–hold your own town hall meeting. But quit just being so obstinate and hateful to the point you have become a joke, and actually start contributing to finding solutions rather than being part of the problem
56. Mitch | 09.03.09
Ok, Mike, put your head back in the sand. I’m with you, Don. Bush = for the people; Obama = Anti-Christ, anyone?
58. Misti | 09.03.09
I say lets get rid of everything socialist so the nutjob far right can no longer say we are heading to socialism…lets start with government paid for schools-socialist/GONE, next medicare and medicaid, and throw in WIC for good measure, government paid for=socialist/GONE. How about all those socialist paid for roads and bridges…GONE. Next, lets move onto student loans that are government backed=socialism/GONE. Anything the government pays for is socialism, therefore it is GONE. You people are a bunch of loons. If this is what America is coming to, the loony right wing, oh my God.
59. mike | 09.03.09
Im in shock wether you walk on the right or left side of the isle, keeping you children home because of a speech on the importance of education from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES is just un-American!!!! I really cant believe anyone could tell thier child , “your staying home today son because the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES is giving a speech on the importance of school.
60. Prometheus | 09.03.09
Oh, how I long for the days when there were substative matters to talk about, like death panels and Kenyan birth certificates,
“Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it” - Adolph Hitler
61. Jeff | 09.03.09
I was an ardent opponent of the Bush administration and I couldn’t stand Geroge W. Bush, but liberal as I am, if Gearoge Bush had done something like this it wouldn’t have bothered me a bit. We all kow that all that presidents say in things like this is: “School is important, work hard and you can get ahead, education is important for you future, your parents have responsiblity too and need to be involved, respect your teachers, etc, blah, blah.”
The funny thing is that conservatives have noted for some time how much Obama’s talks on education follow a conservative mindset, talking about parental responsibilty, individual responsibility, etc.
And even more funny, the reality is that if schools do show this it will be to an audience of half sleeping kids, rolling their eyes, passing notes, and trying to talk to each other about what so-can-so is wearing today. Half of them won’t even pay attention and of the other half that do, half of them will just see Obama as a typical adult trying to tell them what to do and will probably just rebel against whatever he says anyway…
The Republicans are really off in an alternate reality of tin-foil-hat wearing loons being puppeted by talk show hosts whose only interst is ratings and bilking more money out of sponsors.
62. Julie | 09.03.09
This is a sad day for America when you have a party that would be against the children hearing that it a good thing to concider other and to do good, that they would be upset that children were tought to help other and to do good deeds. The speech I heard ( same posted for all) sounded more like what they would learn as Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts. And the crazy part of all of it that the people out there throwing fits about teaching good citizenship and careing for your fellow man are the very same people who CLAIM to be the moral majority , the Christians , well I never heard of Jesus be against doing good or being conciderate, or helping your neighbor……….. YOU are no more than a bunch of selfish hypocrates…….you better pray you never have to turn the likes of you when your down………………………..
63. henry hanlin | 09.03.09
you have one MAN wanting to convince all the people in the good old USA that his way is best…………foolish man!
65. cindy-SanFrancisco | 09.03.09
I love that Obama will be speaking to children. I can’t wait to show it in my class. Enough of the hating folks, he has been in office 8 months for goodness sakes. I know it is a lot for you Repubs too deal with, I mean an intelligent, educated and articulate President, but we are very lucky now.
66. Moe | 09.03.09
I am also extremely dissapointed in the Christian Science Monitor _ I would never expect to see all of this hatred.
I would like to respond to whoever wrote that parents are in charge …. I am 66 years old and there used to be “parents” that gave us disipline and guidance —-NOT ANY MORE….ask any given teacher….watch kids and parents interaction …. for the most part it is sickening…. the blatent disrespect for each other as shown in these blogs is so so sad. You all should be ashamed of yourselves.
68. thlipsis29 | 09.03.09
I’m not in a position to judge President Obama’s motives in addressing students on Tuesday, and even if I give him the benefit of the doubt, that he has no intention of making this a political statement but as an opportunity to encourage students to work hard and stay in school, there is still something that feels so Orwellian about this. Unfortunately education has become an ugly political battleground and the only casualties seem to be the students.
69. TS | 09.03.09
Just because someone is a Republican does not deem them ill fit to share their views. I would not mind letting my child hear what the President has to say if I deemed it necessary. I just pray that we can draw our own conclusions from what it said, but I do agree that it should be in a forum that better suites family viewing and not just targeted viewing.
70. lyle | 09.03.09
To moderate- right wing political commentators…maybe you would rather us all listen to Keith Olberman. We could all be pulling out our hair, foaming at the mouth and acting mad. Cable news is not news….it has become for the most part editorial, hearsay and gossip. Get a grip!
71. Debbie | 09.03.09
I have a choice. President Obama has a choice. He could do the right thing and do this in the evening, while parents were home to listen and speak to their kids about his speech. Schools could also show it the next day if they chose, after parents had the option to see it with their kids. Why is the White House giving “lesson” information to be used by schools in forming discussions? I am choosing to not allow my kids to be involved. If this is not about Democrats, Republicans, political agendas, or, anything other than an “opportunity” to encourage and enlighten our youth, the most important people in their lives, their parents should be there to use it as an “opportunity” to open dialogue with their kids. My kids volunteer hundreds of hours a year and know the importance of school and education and where it will get them. Keep politics out of school!
72. Isabel | 09.03.09
God forbid our President should urge kids to stay in school and get an education. Maybe then our kids can learn to have an opinion and lend something to this world instead of stay home and let the bible tell them what to think. Ridiculous!
73. Ken Schenck | 09.03.09
This is absolutely hilarious. Wait, I think there’s someone hiding in the bushes outside.
74. Sherri | 09.03.09
I fully support what the President is doing. My teenage daughter has never paid any attention to politics period. However, during the campaign one of her school assignments was to watch one of the debates and write an opinion about what she thought was the most important topic. Since the day she heard Obama speak she soon became very interested, and was so happy when he became our president. So, I know she will listen and listen very carefully about what he has to say. I think as a mother its very cool that he is stepping down at the students level to express the importance of education. GO OBAMA!!
75. Kathy | 09.03.09
In Texas the largest majority of children dropping out of school or being placed in special eduation is African American for being emotionally disturbed. Second are Hispanics who are being placed in Special Education for learning disabilities, because of their inability to communicate with their teachers, and last but not least Caucasian children are being placed in Special Education for Attention Deficit Disorders. What is strange here is the amount of talk about the President addressing the students to stay in school and work hard. The irony is three fold- If the children do stay in school, they stand the chance of wearing as many labels as the President, If they stay out of school, the public school systems that are already suffering from inadequate funding will suffer more, and last but definitely not the least the children are being placed in Special Education when it seems that they are so many so-calle adults who are showing the signs of attention deficits, being emotionally disturbed and expressing their inability to communicate. Now this is what I find to be interesting.
76. Mary Anne | 09.03.09
Anyone who is getting worked up over this is a serious DRAMA QUEEN. Seriously folks, you think “Stay in School” and “study hard” is a socialist message? What values are you teaching your kids to disrespect a president who cares about their education? If that is socialism then sign me up. If you’re SO against socialism why don’t you call your local police dept and fire dept and tell them to ignore any help you need in the future . . . .
77. Billy Ray | 09.03.09
What message are you sending to your children by keeping them out of school because of a stay in school talk? Sure, statistics prove that the more you are educated the greater the chance you’ll vote on the left but isn’t keeping your kids from hearing from their President a bit of an overkill? You’ll have to remove your kids permanently from the 3rd grade on to guarantee they’ll vote Republican.
78. John Frum | 09.03.09
Reagan delivered a message to students. No one objected.
Bush 41 delivered a message to students. No one objected.
Bush 43 delivered a message to students. No one objected.
Suddenly thousands of people are up in arms about the President of the United States delivering a message to students, saying he wants to “indoctrinate” them, and that they will protest, keep their children home from school, instruct them to turn their seats around, or give them ear plugs. Why the change this time? Parents of schoolchildren had political differences with the aforementioned Presidents just as the current one does.
If you want to know what the President will say in his address to the schoolchildren, just review what he’s said already. If you do you’ll find you can expect it to involve things like “turn off the TV” and “put away the video games for awhile”. Scary stuff, eh?
It’s far too late to worry about our children being “indoctrinated” by one message from the President. From what I’ve been reading, their parents are doing a fine job of brainwashing them already.
79. Gregory Allen | 09.03.09
This is almost unbelievable even for the wacky, extreme right wingers. Never before in my lifetime has ANY group of Americans acted so despicably towards ANY elected leader of this nation. Never before has a political party spread so many outright lies about our POTUS in an effort to rally their political base. Never in my lifetime have so many supposed patriots ordered their offspring to disregard and totally disrespect an elected leader of this nation.
Why are you people so deathly afraid of Obama? So many Palin supporters like to THINK Democrats fear her… in reality, YOU are so fearful of Obama and his message that you would rather stick your fingers in your child’s ears while shouting “I can’t hear you!” If he is so totally wrong, ignorant and insignificant, why do you all fear him so? Why would you rather have your offspring fear the unknown and hide them away from reality, preferring to keep them ignorant?
May God help us all if this is any indication of the future the right seeks for this nation.
80. larry | 09.03.09
ok, its bad to pull “your” kids out of school in protest of something the parents do not believe in, but its ok for Obama to take his to Maine, at $35,000 a day, and all over the world. Do his children not need an education. His children are in private schools, are they required to listen also. Maybe his next speach will be to homeless people to get up and go get a job. or to cripples to throw down their crutches and walk. where is that water he walks on?
I do not dislike Obama, but I do very much dislike his policies and agenda
81. ropopo | 09.03.09
what a pathetic country when parents are keeping kids from going to school so they can not here what is wright from wrong…than let the watch the local news and teach them to be murderers, rapist, etc…kids already are so terrible with respecting each others and adults this is exactly what they need
82. Misty | 09.03.09
Oh my all of you silly people are so wrong we are all human and need so much to just get along oh my goodness what are we really teaching our young people for the future to disagree and be judging we are not God and I believe that God has the power and is the most highest then any of us. If you sstop a think this behavior is the reason our country is doing so bad. I feel you all should stop and take time out and read the bible and to God that what his will be be done.
83. ron | 09.03.09
I think me as the parent should tell my kids what I think is right not obama who cant even run things half ***. DONT RAISE MY KIDS LET ME!
84. Kathy | 09.03.09
Normally I don’t have this much to say about this form of idiocy. But enough is enough. The man has only been in office for eight months and he has been dubbed everything except one of God’s created. If he was the Messiah (the anointed one) and I never heard him address himself as such, we couldn’t accept him anymore than we could over 2000 years ago. Most importantly, who has talked to God and God has told them the color, gender or even sexual preference of the coming Messiah. You might want to keep your kids in school so that they can find this information in the book that has indoctrinated so many to become separatist instead of one unified divine creation. Reading is a most fundamental part of education.
85. Jennifer | 09.03.09
“The point is: education and politics don’t mix.”
That’s hilarious because where on earth do public schools get money? Were you OUTRAGED with Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act? I was because it doesn’t work. Were you outraged because he mixed politics with education? I don’t think so. You’re outraged NOW because you think Obama is a socialist and when HE mixes politics with education, it’s an “evil leftist agenda.” With all of you whining about how we need to stop “wasting” money on certain things… you act like education is a waste of money and not a concern for politics at all. Well, ever think about how education is an INVESTMENT? If kids are actually graduating and LEARNING things and able to fend for themselves as opposed to working minimum wage jobs at McDonald’s for the rest of their lives, MAYBE we’ll have less crime and less money we’d need to spend on prisons. Maybe with people doing fine in their lives, they wouldn’t need drugs. With less drugs, maybe we wouldn’t need to spend so much money on the war on drugs. I don’t know, MAYBE education is actually a big concern for politics. It’s not some stupid party politics ****. You’re just concerned because you think Obama is a EVIL EVIL SOCIALIST and that he will tell kids to do EVIL EVIL SOCIALIST things. No. Indoctrinating? YOU’RE indoctrinating. The people who are pulling kids out of school are indoctrinating, especially since you’re not actually giving them a choice. If I force my 5 year old to hold a sign that says “I AM A PROUD NAZI!” at a rally, I’d be indoctrinating. If I told him that gay people were f-gs and that they deserved to be beaten up, I’d be indoctrinating. If I’m angry at Obama for being “socialist” and pull my kid of out school, I’d be indoctrinating. In none of these situations would a 5 year old be able to determine for themselves what stance they would rather partake in. Why don’t you ask them to think about what’s going on instead of TELLING them what to think. If you’re so concerned, maybe a, “Now, don’t believe in everything people tell you. Take them with a grain of salt. Just because Obama says education is good for, it doesn’t make it true. It might be true, it might not. It’s up to you.” Then let’s watch your kids not graduate.
86. Cecilia | 09.03.09
Thank you President Obama. Finally, someone who is concerned for our future children. Conservatives fear education - Education is a way out for the poor and Conservatives like poor people - who else will do their labor for so cheap..
87. joann | 09.03.09
After what my son came home with from school during the election he will not go to school. In a paper discussing what was going on with the election in the country it had a picture of Obama and next to it it said “Baracoli is good for you”. Nothing about McCain. Well I’m not falling for this stuff trying to sell their socialist agenda to me thru my child - this is pure political and I am offended.
88. Concerned Parent | 09.03.09
How could this speech be so prickly for educators and even parents? Although they may be our children, when do they learn to be responsible for the rest of their lives and make the decisions that will affect their lives, forever? This speech encourages them to do better and work hard and also, make the right choices. Real parents know that they must provide their children with the right tools to get them through life. Sometimes the right tools that you have given your child may not get through to them but, your job as a parent is to keep enforcing them. Not all children pay attention to the tools that parents provide for them. But, as parents, we can never give up because if we do we give up on our children, The children are our future and with the right tools we can accomplish many things.
89. Bob | 09.04.09
One only has to read the statements above to see that each side is the same. Liberals hate Republicans and Republicans distain Liberals. No one seems to be entitled to an opinion unless you agree with them. Personally I think that what makes this country great is our right to our opinion. Something that we currently are entitled too. After watching the speech I think that possibly we may not be entitled to it much longer. Possibly Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness will be taken away also. But that is just an opinion. For me; I Pledge to the United States of America one Nation Under God. Not one nation about Obama!
90. Bob | 09.04.09
Jennifer, If you take God out of education you are Indoctrinating. If you say creationism is wrong and evolution is correct you would be Indoctrinating. Indoctrination is done all the time we just don’t have to always accept it. Do We?
91. Julie | 09.04.09
I do not dislike our President. However; as a parent of two underage children…I feel is it my right to decide if my children hear this speech. It is not up to the school…it is not up the to President. It is up to me!! I do not feel that this speech should be shown in school. This speech could be televised in the evening where I can sit next to my children and hear the speech. Where I can decide if my 12 and 9 year old should hear what the President has to say. It is my right…and that right is being taken away. This is the first time I have ever felt this strong on a political subject. As a parent the values I teach my children are my own and for my household. I am very disappointed in what is going to take place in the schools on 9/8. I am considering not sending my two children on that day. As it is my right…for now
92. Matt | 09.04.09
This discussion has opened my eyes! I’ve now decided that since I don’t like what my boss tells me to do, I’ll stay home form work next week. I don’t believe I should ever be subjected to a viewpoint or opinion that I disagree with because the house of cards I’ve constructed in my mind might come down at any moment. From now on, I will only associate with those who proclaim allegiance to my POV.
Hyperbole aside, is any of this drama helpful? There was a time where this would be considered un-American. Are there no shared values any more? Are there no more basic rights and ideas that everyone shares? Its all become a shouting match, where everyone is arguing over shades of grey and nothing is getting done. For the sake of the country, its time to move on.
93. Katie | 09.04.09
Cheers to ‘Dolby’ (10). Obama was chosen in a fair election by the majority of Americans and now he is everyone’s Commander-In-Chief. This does not mean we must follow him blindly. On the contrary, I encourage and applaud robust, good-faith, informed debate about the many incredibly important issues this country faces! And I absolutely defend your right to whole-heartedly disagree with Obama on policy issues and on his focus/actions as he attempts to lead this country out of our current very real troubles. But, for goodness sake, from all I can ascertain, in THIS speech he is reaching out to the youth of this country with a message about the importance of their education and encouraging them to prepare themselves – through education - to rise to the (currently unknown) challenges THEIR generation will face. Please don’t reject this message, on which I have to believe we all agree, and instead make this an ugly ‘political’ issue out of fear, anger, or the emotional whipping-up by conservative pundits.
94. joann | 09.04.09
Ok who cares if Obama is going to speak to our children, don’t get your panties in an uproar, he is going to promote education, don’t you want an good role model for your children? And I will constitute the President as a good role model! With that said don’t you all have better things to do but continuing to under grade every effort the president is trying to make? Don’t you have some cookies to bake, or maybe cleaning out your own closets before putting down other peoples ideals?
95. Allan | 09.04.09
58. Misti | 09.03.09
I say lets get rid of everything socialist so the nutjob far right can no longer say we are heading to socialism…lets start with government paid for schools-socialist/GONE, next medicare and medicaid, and throw in WIC for good measure, government paid for=socialist/GONE. How about all those socialist paid for roads and bridges…GONE. Next, lets move onto student loans that are government backed=socialism/GONE. Anything the government pays for is socialism, therefore it is GONE.
I’m not going to say the G—n word
I think Misti has a point
Every government program that helps people in any way, should be axed and the sooner the better
Government back insurance the FDIC
Food stamps
Food/meat inspections,
Drug safety,
Veteran programs
Elderly programs… food on wheels and such We don’t want them to die, but we don’t want to help them live as well.
Laws mandating safety in the workplace
Unemployment insurance
Interstate High/freeways
Public schools
I’m sure there must be countless other Government programs I missed.
Just think of all the money we could save if Tax dollars wwere not going to those things.
While we are at we should take away women’s right to vote, let their Husbands make their choice for them. And since they will have their husbands or fathers making their choices why bother sending them to school. Let them stay at home learning how to cook and sew.
God said let the woman bet the help mate, not the co-bread winner.
96. ALT | 09.04.09
Our school system/district has made a very smart decision - “the district is not planning to interrupt the acdemic schedule, we will record the message and make it available to parents who wish to view the speech with their children at a later time.”
“We understand the speech may have instructional value if aligned with current course content being taught (Gov’t, Social Studies, Politics, or part of a unit about presidents) in a specific class. If a teacher feels the speech has instructional value specific to their class, they will be working through their building principal, and parents will be notified if the address will be used in any classroom. Teachers will be prepared for an alternative type lesson if a parent chooses to withdraw their student.”
SMART CHOICE !!!!!!!!!!!!!
97. Stefanie, Texas | 09.04.09
So when Reagan gave a televised speech to millions of students was he an evil dictator too? Was he indoctrinating children when he spoke about his tax views to millions of school students? What about Bush Sr. when he gave his televised speech to millions of students? Bush Sr. even said, “Write me a letter — and I’m serious about this one — write me a letter about ways you can help us achieve our goals.”
Bush Sr. speech transcript
http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu/research/public_papers.php?id=3450&year=1991&month=10.
Conservative media take note: Reagan preached tax cut gospel to America’s students
http://mediamatters.org/blog/200909030020
98. Doris L. | 09.04.09
Presidents Reagan and Bush (not W.) gave back-to-school speeches just as President Obama plans to. I do not hear any of you demonizing them. Interesting.
As for those who enjoy stamping the “Marxist” or “socialist” labels on everything they disagree with, I would love to see you DEFINE the words in front of a class of history / social studies students. When the laughter dies down perhaps they will explain it to you.
99. American Mom | 09.04.09
If Obama wants to talk to our children he can do it a 7pm with us present. To go to the schools and go around the parents is arrogant and foolish. Read the stimulus and read the health care reform bill that is out there right now. They smack of Socialism. You can cry ‘right-wingers’ but you’ll be crying TO those right-wingers when you finally wake up and see where the country is headed under this megalomaniac. All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. Don’t forget this and get your head out of the sand.
JOANN - putting down other people’s ideals? Um, getting my family’s ideals trampled on by my President is my concern.
And ALLAN - GOVERNMENT PAID PROGRAMS???? - pal, my tax dollars are paying for those programs.
100. New Parent | 09.06.09
“I would rather be in the room with my child when a major political figure is telling them something. Then I can be the advocate for what they are listening to, good or bad.”
It’s been awhile since I left school but I believe you can still sit in on a class with your child. If you feel strongly enough bought this that you want to watch it together.
Instead of taking the day off and keeping your kid home, why not take the day off and go to school together. Or are you just gonna keep your kid from the other 6 hours of education for a 1 hour speech and send them to a sitter and you still go to work? What did they learn then? Nothing.
I also understand the full speech will be available online the night before for parents to read in advance. Why don’t we wait till this is available so we can all read this for ourselves. If you still disagree go to school with your child and discuss how everyone in the world has a right to their own opinion even if it disagrees with yours. Also, How you can go about showing your opposing opinion in a positive and constructive way.
101. ducdebrabant | 09.06.09
I never thought I’d see the day when parents would demand a President of the United States be barred from addressing their children. Because our current President is of another party (and, in some cases, because he is of African descent), he is now being treated as, immoral, villainous, toxic and alien. It will surely not be lost on African-Americans that a new precedent is being set for our first African-American President. Speaking as a Democrat, I have never in my life dreamed of treating any Republican President like a drug pusher or sex offender simply for offering to speak to schoolchildren. It is the height of impudence that any President’s remarks be “screened” by parent-ideologues of the other party, by tendentious teachers or school administrators. That any teacher, principal, school board, municipality or state should take part in this outrage is nothing less than a scandal. I rarely use this term, but there is no other term for it: is un-American.
102. Funky President | 09.08.09
Liberals and Conservatives in this country = Sheep. If you buy any of the rhetoric and propaganda that either side is spewing out, then you are a chump. That guy Bill who posted the first comment on this article quoted an Ice Cube song. I like that song and I think that Ice Cube is very intelligent, but I can’t say the same for Bill. LOL! Once you realize that it’s not about Republicans or Democrats, your well on your way to having a clue. We the People are letting our freedom slip away. Some buy lies on one side, some the other. A country needlessly divided. There is a good chance that this speech could be more social engineering, but it’s nothing new. Be more concerned with the curriculum that has been pushing these agendas for years! I’m on the side of the people. Your not stupid, just mislead. Your all walking into a trap. Your doing exactly what they want you to do! WAKE UP!
103. Dave | 09.08.09
43. Rafael Rivero | 09.03.09
Have you all noticed that the nutty right-wing commentators who actually oppose this harmless and innocuous initiative misspell about half of their words? Perhaps they should think twice about keeping their kids home that day, since they are clearly in no position to educate their own children properly.
It’s kind of hard to check your spelling when you’re foaming at the mouth. When the American voters soundly rejected the Republican conservative ideals in exchange for the “black guy with the funny name”, it sent them rabidly over the edge. Like most mad dogs they’ll die a slow and painful death.
104. adepaor | 09.08.09
This denigration of Obama’s speech is the most bizarro thing the Republicans have tried yet and they have tried some pretty crazy stuff. Having a successful, well educated, smart, knowedgable person tell my kids to stay in school, work hard, don’t give up, and have real goals, is fine with me whether it is the school principal, the local police officer, a restaurant owner, or someone from any other profession. But it is just extraordinary to have such a message come from the President of the United States.
105. John | 09.08.09
Still isn’t as bad as the GOP’s No Child Left Behind Act or did we forget about that? How’s about the suspension and detention of students who didn’t want to pledge of allegiance? Or when parents didn’t want the teachers lecturing their kids on terrorism, bringing the politics of evolution into a science room? And the GOP is concerned over “indoctrination?” of a fiscal policy. Anyone else see the hypocrisy? And if you don’t think politics play a role in schools today, then you haven’t been talking to a teen today.
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
6. Twitter Trackbacks for Conservatives wave red flags over Obama school speech | csmonitor.com [csmonitor.com] on Topsy.com | 09.04.09
7. Do you care if your kids hear Obama’s speech at school? | A Blog for Busy Moms - MOMania | 09.04.09
Leave a Comment
We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. The comments feature is a forum to discuss the ideas in our stories. Constructive debate - even pointed disagreement - is welcome, but personal attacks on other commenters are not, and will not be published.
Tip: Do not write a novel. Keep it short. We will not publish lengthy comments. Come up with your own statements. This is not a place to cut and paste an email you received. If we recognize it as such, we won't post it.
Please do not post any comments that are commercial in nature or that violate copyrights.
Finally, we will not publish any comments that we regard as obscene, defamatory, or intended to incite violence.
Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. Bill | 09.02.09
Dear Republicans,
You bore us. And you are starting to irritate us. Y’all better check yourselves before you wreck yourselves. Ba-bye.
Regards,
The World