At my son's HS, parents can "opt their kids out" of hearing Obama's speech

[wtmusic]

I am furious.

Since when are parents of high school kids allowed to opt their kids out of listening to the f*cking President of the United States because of his party or beliefs?! Face it a$$holes - you lost the election. He is now your elected president, and whether you or your kids agree with him or not it is Citizenship 101 to listen to what he has to say.

These are truly, truly strange times in which we live. :grr:

[madmax]

1. The times aren't strange

People are stupid.

[LeftyMom]

2. It's California. Parents can opt their kids out of anything.

Seriously, ANYTHING. Sex ed, standardized testing, evolution, math lessons involving the number three. ANYTHING.

And that's a good thing. Parents are ultimately in charge of their children's educations, and know what is and isn't appropriate for them.

[wtmusic]

3. Bullshit.

Parents can opt their kids out of math lessons involving the number three? That's a good thing?

Parents know more about education than teachers do?

Parents are ultimately in charge of their children's educations? Not according to CA state law, they aren't.

You are out of your mind.

[LeftyMom]

7. No really, parents can opt a child out of any school activity.

Amazingly enough, they don't abuse it, but seriously, they can opt kids out of anything.

Which is why you get schools in some areas begging parents not to opt their kids out of their statewide exams. They have to have a minimum percentage take the tests, and a lot of parents opt their kids out for whatever reason.

[wtmusic]

9. Wrong.

See #6 below.

[patrice]

5. All parents do not know what is and isn't appropriate for their children. Some - and not just

a few - are involved with their children in ways that - SERIOUSLY - impair their judgement.

[patrice]

4. Parents have had the legal right to opt their kids out of curriculum for a long time.

for whatever reason they wish to do so.

[wtmusic]

6. Not true.

"If they elect to send their children to public schools, parents have very limited rights to prevent their children from receiving the entire range of instruction available in public schools."
<>

"There are some topics that parents have a right to notice about and/or the right to opt their
children out of, but, outside of these specific topics, parents do not have any general right to
notice and the opportunity to opt their children out of the curriculum.

• Health, family life education, and sex education.
• AIDS education.
• Guest Instructors on the topics of STDs, AIDS, human sexuality or family life.
• Questionnaires, Surveys, or Examinations."

http://webpages.maine207.org/south/departments/lrc/california_optout_statutes.pdf

[lynne]

11. I can't speak for CA since I'm on the east coast but it seems to me -

- that the obvious answer is that a speech is NOT part of the state required curriculum, no matter who's giving it, which is why students could opt out. In my area it was left up to the discretion of the teacher as to if the speech would be shown. On the east coast the speech was at Noon which was a problem as many were at lunch without access to TV's.

[wtmusic]

12. Possibly.

I'm bringing it up before the school board and that's the answer I'll probably get.

Gotta open my mouth anyway.

[Old and In the Way]

8. The good news is you'll never have to let your kids listen to a Republican President!

Seems kinda stupid to me. I never thought that a Republican President addressing my kids would corrupt them; but, then again, I'm not a delusional idiot, either.

[wtmusic]

10. My son was seven when he first heard Bush speak on TV

He started throwing paper wads at him and mocking him, saying, "Duh! I'm stupid! I'm stupid!"

I knew he was parroting what he had heard his Mom and Dad say, so I nailed him. "Why is Bush stupid? Do you even know what he's talking about?" He turned bright red.

I think he's a better listener because of that episode.