President Obama should release the complete text of his planned speech to schoolchildren.

[cherokeeprogressive]

And let parents decide for themselves whether or not they want their kids to participate, after being informed about what he's going to say. If it could be proven that The President of the United States was going to be completely apolitical, they'd be easier to ridicule.

I support the notion of the President of the United States addressing children soon after their return to public schools, and private schools should they choose to participate. I should qualify the previous sentence by adding that I support it ONLY if the words he speaks to the children are wholly devoid of any political aspect whatsoever. In fact, I'd support it as a matter of normal return to school procedure.

I don't think parents would be arguing about this to the degree they are if they knew in advance what was going to be said.

Personally, I'd be pissed if my six year old came home talking about what he/she had heard The President of the United States say concerning any matter currently before Congress, or anything that could be construed as election campaign information.

[vadawg]

1. as a parent i applaud this idea, i dont care who the politician is.

[brettdale]

2. Fox Nation is having a field day with this

You can guess what spin they are putting on it.

[cherokeeprogressive]

4. If we had the text of his speech in hand, spin would be impossible. n/t

[Curtland1015]

19. Spin is ALWAYS possible.

YOu think little things like facts or printed words ever stopped FOX news?

[alarimer]

3. It's the goddamn President, for Pete's sake.

I don't care what President it is (Bush even, shudder), at least listen to the fucking speech.

Stupid jackass crybaby parents. "Ooh, the scary black man is going to talk to our kids. He might brainwash them!"

No, it's because Obama is a scary "liberal" Democrat; that's why these people are bitching. They need to sit down, shut up and watch the fucking speech.

[cherokeeprogressive]

9. I don't care who it is. I don't want ANYONE talking political points to my child while he/she's

in school. I don't think it's about a "scary black man" at all. I couldn't give a fuck about his color, and frankly, I'm tired of hearing about what color he is. He's also half-white. I think it's political ideology they're afraid of.

As I stated before, I would wholly get behind the notion of The President of the United States welcoming students back to school every year, and informing them of what we expect from them as they work their way toward being productive citizens. I'd support it as long as it was devoid of any hint of political ideology.

[Huskerchub]

34. Then pull your kids out

of public school and teach them at home!! That is the ONLY way in isolate your precious little people. WTF are you doing about history class, social studies, government class? HELLO are you marching into the class room demanding to see lesson plans and give them a thumbs up or down before they can be taught? NO? Why the hall not? It's your "right" as a parent to protect your kiddies. HOMESCHOOLING is the only answer for nitwits like you.

[byebyegop]

5. Yea, and while we are at it we need to teach intelligent design?

Where does it end?

[Uzybone]

7. Amazing what Im seeing here

You'd think Obama was from an alien race the way people are suspicious of everything. Did anyone ever ask to see Bushs' speeches when he went to public schools?

[Horse with no Name]

24. I see a lot of true colors being exposed here on DU

I certainly hope people are paying attention.
I am not an Obama cheerleader and have certainly been a harsh critic of him. However, I wouldn't think twice about my child listening to a speech. ANY alleged liberal/progressive who doesn't at least trust him THAT much is neither of what they "claim" to be.

[OneGrassRoot]

33. +100 n/t

[madrchsod]

35. alien obama or "my pet goat" boy?

[LWolf]

6. What speech?

I spent 10 hours in my classroom today and haven't read the news.

[sandnsea]

8. Yeah because Obama is known for his polarizing speeches

:eyes:

*sigh*

Bush would give a polarizing speech and be praised by the same asshats who are bitching now. That's because they are the political shit-stirrers, not Democrats.

[lynne]

10. I agree, especially for parents with younger kids -

- my son is older and he's able to understand whatever content is included. I've instructed him to use this opportunity to take notes and ask questions.

[Pirate Smile]

13. What in the world do you think he would say to little kids that parents would need to know about

ahead of time? Study hard? Listen to your teacher and parents? School is important? What?

[lynne]

16. I would hope that would be the context but we really don't know -

- which is why I don't understand why a summary hasn't been released. If I had an elementary aged child, I would not want any politician - any president - addressing them regarding matters before congress or anything of a political nature. My son is older so it's not a concern with him. I think this would be better received if a summary was released by the White House prior to the address.

[Pirate Smile]

21. It is about the new school year. It isn't about politics or health care. God, I can't believe

people on DU are buying this crap.

[lynne]

22. Then they did put out a summary? If that's the case, then I don't see the problem -

- and don't know why it's not better known. Is there a link? I'd think that should answer any concerns.

[OneGrassRoot]

36. link here:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/mediaresources/

[lynne]

38. Thanks! I'd not seen that yet and will pass it along -

- that should answer the questions, I'd sure think.

[Pirate Smile]

11. This entire thing is bullshit. Like the he is going to say anything controversial to school kids.

People in this country have lost their friggin minds and don't even want to teach their kids to have respect for the President any more. It is pathetic. Don't help them.

[The Gunslinger]

12. I don't think he needs to do that

The schools an decide if they want the students to watch it. Bush did the same thing and so did Reagan. they didn't need to show parents the planned text of their speeches.

[kelly1mm]

14. I think the problem is with the recommended materials for teachers

for the follow up discussion which include having the students answer "What can I do to help the President?" and making posters that include quotes of President Obama. I understand why RWers would be upset at this as I would be upset if those same questions/quotes were being asked when bush was in office. The speech itself ... not so much.

[vadawg]

18. do you have a link to this, this i would not be happy with..

best reason yet to release the transcript...

[cherokeeprogressive]

26. Here you go

From the Department of Education. First link is Pre-K through 6th grade, second is grades 7 through 12.

http://www.ed.gov/teachers/how/lessons/prek-6.pdf

http://www.ed.gov/teachers/how/lessons/7-12.pdf

[kelly1mm]

30. Thanks - you were quicker than I. nt

[madrchsod]

31. oh shit i was being sarcastic but it`s true

he really is indoctrinating the children! my goodness he wants the children to actually think!

[Pirate Smile]

42. "Department of Education Edits Out "Help The President" From Classroom Materials On Upcoming Speech

Department of Education Edits Out "Help The President" From Classroom Materials On Upcoming Speech

The Department of Education has now changed their supplementary materials on President Obama's upcoming address to schoolchildren on the importance of education -- eliminating a phrase that some conservatives, such as the Florida GOP, happened to have been bashing as evidence of socialist indoctrination in our schools.

In a set of bullet points listed under a heading, "Extension of the Speech," one of the points used to say: "Write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president. These would be collected and redistributed at an appropriate later date by the teacher to make students accountable to their goals."

However, that bullet point now reads as follows: "Write letters to themselves about how they can achieve their short‐term and long‐term education goals. These would be collected and redistributed at an appropriate later date by the teacher to make students accountable to their goals."

As I learned during my interview today with Florida GOP press secretary Katie Gordon, the bit about "help the president" was turned by conservatives into an example of socialist political indoctrination. I thought the "Extension of the Speech" heading made the context clear enough -- that it's in relation to Obama's speech about working hard in school -- but nevertheless it was raising eyebrows. The new version is now unambiguously related to those educational goals.

I asked Department of Education deputy press secretary Sandra Abrevaya why this was done, and whether it might have been in response to any political attacks. "We clarified some of the language," Abrevaya told me in an e-mail.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/department-of-education-edits-out-help-the-president-from-classroom-materials-on-upcoming-speech.php

[Uzybone]

43. Why do the racists and insane folks seem to get thier way?

help the president = socialist indoctrination? Lawd help this country.

[kelly1mm]

47. So how should they have answered that question during the bush years? nt

[kelly1mm]

29. Link to DOE website with 2 PDF's for different age groups

http://www.ed.gov/index.jhtml

[Pangolin2]

15. The problem with that is of course that anything the President says has political content

or certainly overtones at minimum. I'm seeing a fair number of people claiming that any parent who doesn't want their kids to hear/watch it is a racist, and that might be the case, but if the media event was orchestrated by ... say, Neil Bush who has a very vested interest in America's schools, that argument would have to be modified...a lot.

If the argument is simply that the President must be accommodated, fine but it's a far cry from how GWB's
pronouncements were greeted by us Dems.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

17. Be curious to know how many schools or classrooms won't be watching it

as a percentage

[RagAss]

25. The whole south.

[madrchsod]

28. there`s other parts of the country that hate the president....

[tabasco]

20. Don't you have something better to do?

Your hours wasted here are truly pathetic.

GET A FUCKING LIFE.

[cherokeeprogressive]

32. Now you've gone and hurt my feelings.

Gosh darn you.

You've been a member here for 579 more days than I, yet you have more than 3 times the number of posts I do.

:shrug: 's up with that?

Now, I'll just go and lick my wounds, having been properly chastised...

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

23. How about intelligent people just go ahead and decide right now...

that anybody who keeps their kid out of school over this is a worthless piece of shit and don't deserve to be pissed on if they were on fire.

[madrchsod]

27. yup! we know what he`s up to...

he`s going to tell kids that their parents need to help him pass the socialist health care! he`s going to tell the kids to rat out their parents if they have guns! he`s going to convince the kids to join the socialist communist party!

be afraid! be afraid of the president of the usa!

[kelly1mm]

37. I would be suspicious of bush having a chat with students

with materials asking how students could help the President and making posters with Bush quotes. Yep, I can see the problem here. Can you?

[madrchsod]

39. nope...

[kelly1mm]

40. OK - so when/if another repbub is President don't complain. I will though. nt

[Uzybone]

44. They do it now

and they did it during Bush term and Reagan term and Clintons term and as long as I can remember. Heck last year, my kids elementary school held a mock election.

If this really bothers you, then you should be for getting rid of all references to the current government/ current events in schools unless the parents have given consent. After all there is a chance of political indoctrination there.

[kelly1mm]

46. Just to clarify - I have NO PROBLEM with the speech or any Presidents

speech to students so long as it is in the same nature as President Obama's upcoming address. My problem is with the recommended materials which ask the students to answer the question "What can I do to help the President?" and making posters with quotes by President Obama. I would keep my children home if Bush had such an event so I can understand how those opposed to President Obama would feel strongly about it as well.

[Lex]

41. If Presidents haven't been doing this before, then I call bullshit on Obama having to do it.

nt

[Pirate Smile]

45. Other Presidents have done this.

[Stevenmarc]

48. Some parents need to land their damn helicopter.