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I'm not criticizing school districts, individual school administrator or teachers.
I found out this morning that our school district in North Carolina was leaving the airing/taping of the President's speech up to the individual schools.
They also set up a district-wide requirement that parents had to be notified and receive their approval for their child to be involved.
Given that this was a holiday weekend and the shit didn't hit the fan about this until Friday, needless to say, I doubt many teachers went out of their way to try to reach parents for the whole opt in/opt out thing.
My daughter's high school "isn't doing anything. No taping, no anything." Whereas other schools I called said they are leaving it up to the individual teachers.
My problem with this comes down to the simple fact (IMHO) that this NEVER should have been an issue, and certainly not something to opt in or out of. I know some here disagree, but I would feel the same if it were Bush. This is taking politics beyond the theatre of the absurd.
A generic motivational message from the President of the United States to students is not something to politicize. Obama didn't politicize it -- CRAZY RIGHT WINGERS DID.
And they therefore triggered the schools to have to make decisions about how to handle it -- with the time constraints of a holiday weekend involved as well. (School started two weeks ago here, btw.)
If the crazies had not revealed their pure ignorance and hatefulness in all its shining glory, I'd like to believe it would have automatically been shown in all schools, or at least taped for future viewing and discussion.
Now that this has happened, however, and my daughter's school has decided to just act like it isn't happening at all, I'd like to make my voice heard.
I'd appreciate feedback as to how reasonable you feel the following requests are. I don't want to make life miserable for my daughter, but I also can't stand for hypocrisy to reign without countering it. I feel I'm standing in my integrity by requesting that:
1. They not have ANYONE speak there who could be interpreted as speaking about anything even remotely political without the prior notice and opting in/out.
2. They not have any teachers -- other than Civics and History teachers -- discuss anyone or anything political. For example, my daughter's AP English teacher conveniently works in her "appreciation of Sarah Palin as a speaker" with her lessons and how she is a "fan of Ann Coulter's writing." And this is an award-winning, well-traveled teacher, mind you!
3. They NOT have military recruiters visit the school.
I'm tempted to ask for The Pledge to not be recited and the flag taken down, but I suppose that supersedes politics. I don't know...I still think it's hypocritical to require The Pledge be recited but not allow the students to listen to The President. To me, patriotism is intrinsically linked with respect for the Office of The President of The United States, even if you disagree with the person holding that office.
Even though I don't believe Bush was the democratically-elected president in 2000, it never would have occurred to me to try to block a speech such as the one being given today.
Thoughts, recommendations?
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