National PTA weighs in on Obama's speech - "positive messages for children to hear"

[jefferson_dem]

National PTA weighs in on Obama's speech

> Posted by Akilah Johnson on September 4, 2009 11:27 AM

Want to know what the National Parent Teacher Association has to say about President Obama's speech to the nation's children on Tuesday, the speech that some parents across the country--including here in South Florida--plan to protest by keeping their kids home from school? Well, it's all for it.

Here is a list of "talking points" the national office e-mailed to state and local chapters:

Q: How does National PTA feel about the President giving this speech on the first day of school and about parents "opting-out" of their kids watching it?

A: Anytime a president gives a speech about the importance of education; a speech that inspires kids to do well in school; a speech that speaks directly to them; we feel those are positive messages for children to hear. National PTA supports making children feel good about being in school. Finally, any time we can encourage additional student-teacher dialogue on setting academic goals, it's a positive step.

We also recognize that parents have a choice and if they choose to "opt-out" of having their child watch the speech, that is certainly their right. However, it should not be a detriment to the child's learning experience. In other words, the child should only be re-directed to a different activity during the time of the speech and not miss the entire day of school.

Q: Does PTA support those lesson plans and if any guidance is being given by the National PTA to its affiliated schools?

A: The lesson plans were developed by teachers (the Teaching Ambassador Fellows at the US Department of Education) for teachers.

National PTA works on legislative and policy issues; not curriculum. You may want to contact the NEA...

NOTE FOR YOUR REFERENCE: The lesson plans are optional for use (so teachers don't have to do them) and they are framed as "menus" of activities that teachers can use to use the speech as a learning opportunity . Using the optional lesson plans is a local decision to be made by teachers and principals.

Q: Have any parents or PTA officials voiced concerns about their ability to have student "opt-out" of the speech when it airs at noon EST? If so, how are we handling those concerns from the national level all the way to the local level?

A: We have not heard any concerns.

http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/educationblog/2009/09/national_pta_weighs_in_on_obam.html

[Phx_Dem]

1. Public schools are run by the government and the government is

run by the President of the United States. If a public school decides to not air this extremely inocuous speech promoting the importance of education, they shouldn't receive a dime of stimulus funds. If they already have, they should give it back.

Assholes.

[rocktivity]

2. If your school is not providing access to the speech

Keep them home to watch it there and tell the school they'll attend afterwards.


rocktivity

[Frustratedlady]

3. I'll almost bet these kids will end up in trouble before they mature...

be bigoted and nasty to their co-workers through life.

What a sick example to set for your children.