We're getting a lot of calls about Obama's speech to kids.

[donco6]

As much as I've disagreed with some of Obama's moves, I believe it is the President's right to address people of the US. We have parents calling, telling us if we show the speech, they're keeping their kids home. All they want to know is if it will be an unexcused absence. I'm fairly certain the Supt. will say that it is excused.

That's just really, really sad. I just can't even express it. And I'm so disappointed in our community, that we have people like this in our schools - we're 80% Latino/a!

When I was a kid, no one would have even QUESTIONED whether the President could speak to schoolkids. Today, people can get away with questioning every act, no matter how innocent. It's depressing.

[bluestateguy]

1. There is a real opportunity for a civic lesson here

You tell them that this will be considered truancy.

Unexcused absences and an F on all work missed for the day.

They can learn a lesson called "Accepting the Consequences for Civil Disobedience".

[donco6]

5. *I* can't tell them any such thing.

If the Supt. says it's excused, it's excused.

Supt's aren't known for having strong spines.

[WCGreen]

7. Well they are hired by the School Board which is elected...

[donco6]

15. elected by the same people in the community -

who are wanting to pull their kids out of school.

[Hutzpa]

27. Sounds like you are in favor of this hogwash n/t

[donco6]

41. ??

So, because I point out the obvious flaws in someone's non-solution, I'm automatically a racist asshole?

That would be a no.

[NoSheep]

65. No. It doesn't. Ignore it. It's the bait o' the nite.

[damonm]

57. Sounds like you need to re-take Logic 101 n/t

[Jennicut]

2. My little 5 year old is excited about it.

I wonder if she will see it since she goes in the mornings only for kindergarten. She loves Obama and points him out to me whenever he is on tv.

Also, Nancy Reagan had a Just Say NO program against drugs for schoolkids back in the mid-1980's. No one questioned it.

[Cha]

28. That's so endearing about your 5 year old, Jennicut~

Good point about Nancy Reagan, but she wasn't Black..I don't like thinking that but there are too many insecure bigots who listen to hate radio.

[FlaDem83]

58. Nancy wasn't black. Anything to undermine Obama and make him appear to be illegtimate

I'm so sick of these sub-human cretins. Can't stand them, and their whining, and their ignorance. It is truly absurd, but sadly not surpising. I wished more for my fellow Americans.

[YOY]

3. Are these people mentally disabled?

Jesus...has Obama got hypno-eyes that he's gonna use on their kids or something???

[treestar]

48. I know - it's amazing how powerful they think he is

in a way, it makes me feel better. :rofl:

[DrDan]

4. partisanship has taken over

[CanonRay]

6. No, insanity has taken over

25% of our population is bat-shit crazy.

[WCGreen]

9. I think it may be higher than that....

[Cha]

29. Whatever percentage can't think for themselves and

depend on hateradio to think for them.

[nolabear]

8. And of course the kids will dash to Youtube

and see what the fuss is all about as soon as they can. It's ridiculous. I think the teachers should invite the parents to come see it WITH the kids and then everyone discuss the importance of education together. The definition of parenting is not just to keep your kids locked up; it's to help them succeed in the world, even with a president with whom you don't agree.

[WCGreen]

10. What message does this send to the kids...

You can get out of anything for any reason as long as you complain and complain loudly...

[PSzymeczek]

61. Wow. That's an excellent idea.

This is the first time I've seen that suggested.

[orpupilofnature57]

11. At no other time in History would the president speaking at a school ..

be thought of as anything but , an Honor & Privilege.

[mucifer]

12. can't help but think it's racism.

Have they ever done this to another dem president?

[soleft]

16. Everything that's happening from healthcare to Montemayor is showing the racism

that I think only a few people realized was still as bad as it is in ths country. I didn't, and it's freaking me out.

[Cha]

Do you mean Sotomayor?

President Obama knew this wouldn't be easy but we won and we will carry on in spite of the tragic ignorance in our country.

[soleft]

37. Oh God, Montemayor used to be the Insurance Commission of Texas

Yikes! Sorry!

[kjackson227]

36. I totally agree with you on this, I didn't want to be the one to say it though.

[donco6]

17. You mean Rep -

And, no, it didn't go this far with the Republican speeches to kids.

Reagan did it to talk about war.

Bush did it to talk about war.

Obama talks about staying in school, and it's Armageddon.

[mucifer]

18. I meant a different dem president. They didn't do this to Carter or Clinton

(tho I doubt Clinton would speak to school kids after the sex scandal. It wouldn't be the best political move.)

[donco6]

20. I remember Kennedy speaking.

It was thrilling.

'Course, it was way back in another world.

[IdClaire]

67. my thoughts exactly..

I'm trying to imagine if this would have happened if Hillary were President. Of course, she has a large group of haters too so maybe not a fair comparison.

[eleny]

13. Peter Boyles is helping to whip up controversy on radio this morning

[jonnyblitz]

14. If I had children and they were subject to a Bush speech I

wouldn't even have remotely considered keeping them home despite my disdain for Bush. we might have a vigorous discussion of it all after. The president is the president and kids who are learning should know what he thinks about the issues, despite ideology, so it can be discussed, yay or nay. :shrug:

[Rwalsh]

34. I would have kept them home. n/t

[Strong Atheist]

54. In case it has never happened, Welcome to DU!

:toast:

[PSzymeczek]

62. Fortunately,

my daughter graduated before that travesty occurred.

[firedupdem]

19. Complete ignorance and racism!

Reagan, Bush, and all the others were A okay, but not this president. They are teaching these kids that message early.

[msongs]

21. white racists, republicans, KKK, NRA, the usual hard core right wing neo fascist groups lol nt

[NavyMom]

22. My son's private school THOUGHT they would not

show his speech but when I pointed out Bushie's crap about the war was broadcast to the entire school. I told the head master for those that do not want to see this speech should be moved to the auditorium/gym hell even the roof but it will be shown or I will be suing his ass until the cows come home. I still have the notice they sent when bush spoke so I showed him a copy along with all the other misinformed parents in the conference room as they were bitching about the speech, my son told them it is part of the school curriculum to set goals each week so what is wrong with the President expounding on this issue. He stated the kids do not have a problem with this, they are excited, it is only the parents so they do not have to watch.

One of the parents threatened to sue if he did show but since my son's father is a lawyer along with the GLOWING information about Bush speech how we should be honored, the importance of the speech blah blah blah some of them finally realized they have no leg to stand on.

My son and his best friend told them the only reason is because he is BLACK, that is the only reason they are upset along with the fact this school prides itself on providing the best education possible (hell they charge enough) so what is wrong with encouragement.

Did I mention my son's best friend just so happens to be the head master (hate that title) son. I was so PROUD OF THOSE KIDS fighting to have it shown, some of them even going against their parents fake outrage.

[Brother Buzz]

24. Cool Beans!

:thumbsup:

[Cha]

31. This is an amazing story, Navymom!

Thank you so much!!:fistbump: Thank your kid and whomever else from us.

[NavyMom]

38. Hehehe got call from school, son is causing "dissent" on

the campus, English teacher issued an open floor where they can talk about anything. After I finished laughing told her to deal, open floor is just that, open floor and just because they are loosing the debate DON'T call me again. Apparently the other students are upset their parents may force the head master to keep them from seeing the President.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Cha]

40. Yay! I never liked what

prejudices my dad tried to enforce on me, either.

[surrealAmerican]

44. Sounds like you've got a pretty terrific kid there.

I can see he's making you proud. Congratulations.

[NavyMom]

53. Thanks we think so, he has a high IQ hence private school

he can or will debate them on ANYTHING, the majority of the time he wins because of his age they under estimate him. His dad was laughing all day today, his partners thinks it is just too funny the teacher is complaining our son is smarter than they are or appear to be. He got kicked off the debate team for sleeping during an event, he said they were using the same arguments and bored him but the fact he knocked down all their points even while he was sleep.

His dad promised him ANY vehicle when he reaches 17 if he tries to tone it down a bit, but he says "I want real freedom not perceived freedom", hehehe frustrates the HELL out of his dad. I am behind him cheering him on, his dad just says he is so glad he's an attorney and his partners just LOVES when he does this, sometimes they pull numbers to go down to his school.

[Diamonique]

55. What a wonderful story! ^5 to those kids who stood up.. and you too!

[leftynyc]

23. I wouldn't let them get away with

that nonsense. If they don't want to show up, they can write a 10 page paper giving their reasons. Their moronic parents can even help.

[donco6]

26. I'd like to give them a gift when they return -

A t-shirt that says:

"Hi!, I'm a Racist Asshole!"

[Cha]

32. LOL!

It would be nice to call them on it and not act there's any OTHER reason.

[leftynyc]

39. In most cases it's more like

"Hi, my parents are racist assholes".

[Cha]

25. President Obama won in Colorado so

there will be pockets there who don't want their kids to hear what the Prez has to say but there will be lots of parents who do.

[OneGrassRoot]

30. Does your school recite The Pledge, or fly a flag?

I say if they don't show a Presidential speech, simply motivating students about education -- NOT a political/partisan nor religious speech -- they should take down the flag and discontinue recitation of The Pledge.

Respecting the Office of POTUS is part of it.

They can't have it both ways. It's quite apparent the "patriotic" crowd, who have wrapped themselves in the flag for the last eight years, are really not patriotic whatsoever.

They don't have to like Obama, just as we didn't like Bush. I wouldn't have even considered trying to block a speech such as this made by Bush from PUBLIC schools.

[donco6]

42. I agree.

Even when Bush was in office, it was important for kids to respect the office, if nothing else.

Some other school districts are showing the speech, but not allowing any discussion about it afterward. WTF? Why the hell not?

Like I said, it's very depressing.

[OneGrassRoot]

43. It really is. This trumped-up controversy has me more upset....

than anything else thus far. I'm sure it's just the proverbial straw, with so much leading up to this to push me over the edge.

:crazy:

Good luck to you. :)

[KayLaw]

45. I was just thinking the same thing.

It's one stupid thing after another with these jerks but this is going too far. That's one thing about the wingnuts-they always go just a little too far. The media do nothing to discourage this, though. On our local news they said some bigwig with the Florida Republican party wants this speech stopped. Something about brainwashing our children with a socialist message.

We're talking foaming-at-the mouth crazy here.

[OneGrassRoot]

46. Good grief.....

:eyes:

:(

[donco6]

50. Of all things, this one has bothered me more than any.

I can't put my finger on why - maybe it's the utter pettiness of it all. It's just really . . . low.

[Spazito]

69. It is especially repulsive to me because they are using children....

as weapons in their made-up war.

[harun]

33. Racists

[DevonRex]

35. Donco, thank you for this post. K&R. nt

[yeswecanandwedid]

47. I think it's our duty as citizens to at least listen to our President. nt

[countingbluecars]

49. Will these same parents

insist that their children refuse to accept the Presidential Physical Fitness and Presidential Academic Awards?

[donco6]

52. I wouldn't put it past some of them to refuse to participate.

I have a feeling ANYTHING Obama does will be vilified from now on. And we're training our kids to believe the President is evil. I may disagree with the guy once in a while, but I don't see him as evil in any way.

[ChoralScholar]

51. I know, I just got an email from our principal saying the same thing. EOM

[Bill219]

56. read some of the crap that is being spewed on the chatboard...

at teachers.net

go to www.teachers.net and type Obama into the search box

[donco6]

59. I've been looking at all the news blogs, too.

Ugh. I need a bath.

I've never seen so much thinly veiled racism in my life. SEriously.

[Iris]

63. are the posters actual teachers?

This is all I had to see, "The only difference this
time instead of making things better Obama made them WORST> Instead of solving
problems he added to them. "

[Generator]

60. It's amazing isn't it?

I was screeching to my family today about it. What the fuck? What country is this? Their little children are helpless under Obama "mind control"? They hate black people? The are insane? What has happened to my country-oh yeah a black man got to be president. Must be a problem then. GOD, when does humanity ever evolve?

[IdClaire]

64. same thing here.. it's sad

I can't believe the controversy a simple encouraging speech about working hard in school, is generating. People in this country are going absolutely ape shit over this presidency.

[NoSheep]

66. I wonder if they get by with it because we let them.

We are more reasonable and considerate...therefore bend to their needs....which are UNREASONABLE.

Somehow we have to intervene as the more logical, reasonable people we are. Would you lose your job if you took a mild mannered stand?

Not accusing. I feel your pain. We have to start somewhere..taking the truth back. What are we to do?

[donco6]

68. I did express my disgust with the whole thing.

I'm pretty close to the Supt. In a lot of ways she's great. But I suppose she feels really vulnerable with this sort of thing. The board can be a little whacky, and she works at their pleasure. But still, if it had been me, I'd be saying, "Yes, we are showing the speech, and no, it will not be an excused absence. Thanks for calling!"

What would they do? Throw a hissy? So what! I don't think it's that big a risk.

[NoSheep]

70. I'm very encouraged to hear that. I suppose they are to be treated as fleas...

a bit of a nuisance...but not life threatening. We cannot allow bullies to take good will from the reasonable. I just remember Obama saying to rabid detractors during the campaign..."Now that's just silly". Hang in there donco6. I'm with you.

[depakid]

71. Only now can we see just how far America- Americans- and once responsible institutions have fallen

btw: you're wrong about this:

Today, people can get away with questioning every act, no matter how innocent.

On the one hand- you have so called "zero tolerance" -and on the other, you lie through your teeth and break most any law with impunity.

[Kablooie]

72. Hey, they let Bush read about goats to kids.