NWR - Obama addressing school kids debate

lyndausvi

What is your thought?I'm not an Obama fan, but if I had kids I would have no problem with him addressing them in school.  I'm so suprised at all the people who have such an issue with this.

katiewhompus

I don't care either way. It does make me upset though how parents are talking about pulling their kids out of school so they wont be "brainwashed".Omg...kids listening the the President of their country speaking..the horrors!!!

lillianchameleon

I think its kind of ridiculous.  Presidents have gone to schools in the past.  I don't know what all the commotion is about.  I doubt he will be preaching health care reform to children anyway.

lyndausvi

I know I'm embrassed for them.  Really there are a hell of a lot more 'brainwashing' going on in the school yard then the President.

ggmae

I've caught parts of the story on the news here and there, but I'm not 100% sure what's going on, so I don't have any thoughts at the moment.

october010bride

As a teacher I think the backlash is a bit foolish. Individual schools have the option to broadcast it and teachers have the final decision if they want to show it to their class. If a parent has a problem with if they should just bring it up with the individual teacher. Since I teach HS History I am interested to see what he has to say in regards to education. Some of my most conservative/Repbulican students are also interested in hearing him. Even though one might not agree with his politics this should not be and seems like it won't be a political speech. Students get almost not attention from politicans accept during elections... this could be a very powerful message that he is sending to America's students.

sarah0725

I think it's pretty ridiculous. Back in the day, kids were taught to look up to the President and aspic to become President someday. Stupid people suck.

october010bride

Basically this is fear mongering at its best. Ignorant people shouldn't be allowed to reproduce. period.

ggmae

I'm pretty sure that had this happened when DH was in school, MIL would have been one of those people taking their kids out of school for the day.

tlv204

I don't have a strong opinion either way, but my mom works at a school that has been getting phone calls from parents for weeks about this.  It's crazy.

lyndausvi

I grew up in a Republican household.  Yet we still watching what the other party had to say.  It started dicusions in our family.    I think it was very healthy for us to hear both sides. All that said, the President is not talking about health care or the war.  He is talking about education.  Outside of the evolution debate (which I doubt he would even mention). How controversal could his speech be about education?  

tlv204

I mean chances are all he's going to say is that education needs to be improved, just in a more long winded eloquent way. I honestly doubt he'll even advocate any controversial plans, or any plans at all, just say it needs to get better.  How can anyone argue with that? Even if he said we need to burn all of the paperwork that makes NCLB legal I'd be the happiest camper around.  Even most conservatives find issue with that act.

berryholly

I think it's ridiculous.  Presidents have made addresses to school kids in the past, and I doubt anyone had an issue with it.  All this Obama "fear" is nuts.  All he is going to be doing is speaking to kids about the value of education and staying in school, and all that good stuff.  The nerve of that man!!My mom works for a school district - one of the parents in the school was quoted in the paper as saying "I don't believe in Obama.  I think he's the Antichrist and I don't want him brainwashing my kids."  Yeah - way to make yourself look crazy.

vitamint

I think its great. He will talk about the importance of education, studying and staying in school- kids need to hear that! It will not be political, but even it it was people need to learn to listen to different opinions. Besides disent and debate is one of the most patriotic things. We owe it to ourselves, soldiers and future generations to discuss, debate and possibly even sometimes change our minds. Um, I may be showing my age but I am also pretty sure Reagan spoke to kids about taxes and tax cuts....

AmoroAgain

Sadly, I think it represents a fundamental shift in behavior of the American public.  It's good to question your leader, but to disrespect him/her in such a way is not.  My father is a blatant racist, and even he wouldn't think it wrong for Obama to speak to children.  All I can say to people who are upset by it, Get a grip.

chosen175

It's completely embarassing to see parents who say "My kid isn't going to school that day" or something like that. What ever happened to teaching your kids to listen to BOTH sides of something, even if they don't necessarily agree with one of the sides? The only thing these parents are teaching their kids is to bury their heads in the sand and ignore things they don't like or don't agree with. Shameful! I know if dd were older, I'd welcome the opportunity to show her all sorts of points of view. That way, she could make informed decisions on her own, instead of forcing her to make decisions just because her parents believe one way or the other. I mean, it's not like he'll be talking about abortions and war and whatnot. I will admit, Obama DOES have some very talented speech writers on his team and he definitely has the ability to speak in a positive manner. I say why not?

ThePinkSuperhero

The whole hullabaloo is ridiculous.  This isn't going to be a stump speech- he's gonna say stuff like, stay in school, be a good student, work hard.  How offensive is that?  Some people are just idiots.  A friend of mine on another site put it best- "If the president spoke out against drug use, these assholes would join an opium den. I love that the GOP's response is that children should 'be skeptical of authority.' Really? That's your position? Since when?"

Gabs71109

I am a high school teacher. We received the following e-mail,"Due to the short timeframe between now and the broadcast of the speech, and accommodating those parents and students who do not wish to view the speech, the Superintendent has recommended that the speech not be watched “live”, but be taped for future viewing.   The WHS library will tape this speech for future use in the classroom and/or optional student viewing.  If you wish to use the taped speech as a future lesson, parent permission must be obtained prior to showing the speech."I was saddened. So now we have to treat the President's speech the same way we treat Rated R movies?

ThePinkSuperhero

Ugh, why is everyone giving these idiots so much power?????

meganjane86

When I was in first grade President Clinton came and signed a bill at my school, and shaking his hand is still one of the coolest things I've done.I just don't understand what the big deal is?? How would he brainwash them in an afternoon?

tlv204

Gabs that is ricockulous.  Ricockulous I say. Did the superintendent actually "recommend" it or actually not allow you at all to show it?

Amenone5

I teach 8th grade US History in a very conservative district.  We had Back to School night on Thursday, and I got corned by a father with an agenda. . . he wanted to make his opinion known that Obama was going to 'brainwash' his child and that, if students were to listen to this, they should be with their parents so that the parents can tell them the "real" truth.  I told him that the President's speech was to encourage the students to study hard, set goals, and stay in school, and offered to show him the materials that I had printed off that were explanations of the intent of the speech, as well as lesson plans to coordinate with the speech.  His response was flat out "no, I don't want to see them."  He made the point that he didn't want his daughter singled out or embarassed by this and I assured him that she wouldn't be.  He then said that he would COME TO SCHOOL ON TUESDAY AND SIT BESIDE HER DURING THE SPEECH.  Right, sir. . . that will certainly NOT embarass her or single her out!  What are people thinking???  He went straight from me to my Principal...who also thought he was a little off the deep end.  In my class, we will watch, and I have activities on goal setting to do afterwards, but students who wish not to watch will go to the library where our wonderful librarian is showing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I have a Dream" speech.  I love her.

sarabellam

Ronald Reagan did this. George H.W. Bush did this. Was there mass hysteria? Hardly. Get a grip, folks. Telling children to stay in school, stay off drugs, and live up to their potential is not going to turn them into bleeding-heart liberals (of which I consider myself one).That said, as a high school teacher, I have no intention of showing it in my classes. I've got to work on teaching piecewise functions and shifted absolute value functions before next Friday.

Lilleybug

I have had one parent who called and stated she does not want her son to watch it. Those not watching will be sent to the office or MP room. I think its silly whatever he is going to say will obviously be positive. Children need to be motivated.

ricksang

The whole thing is stupid. Children can't vote anyway so who cares if he WAS going push his political agenda. I dislike our new pres but I have no problem with him speaking to school children.

lyndausvi

I would love to hear how he plans on 'telling her the truth' in regards to education. Obama - 'stay in school' Parent - 'Don't listen that man, he is brainwashing you' 

Amenone5

lyndausvi--he doesn't believe that the 'study hard, set goals, and stay in school' theme is what President Obama is actually going to talk about.  He told me that he didn't want to see my materials because he "couldn't believe them because He is a liar."  He thinks that he's going to talk about the health care plan that he's proposing on Wednesday.  I can guarantee you that, if that WAS the topic, not a single one of my teens would even listen.  But, I realized early in the conversation that it didn't matter what I said.  I am so hoping, though, that he doesn't show up on Tuesday.  Poor girl.

Mrs.B6302007

Even if they don't agree with the man, parents should be teaching (and modeling) their children to respect the office.

lyndausvi

::shakes head:: WTF is wrong with people.  

[Deleted User]

this is one example of why i voted #1 in that sigh-inducing poll the other day. these parents are so fucking stupid.  all he's really gonna talk about is the importance of studying and doing well in school and staying in school.  this is an important message, and on top of that obama is such a charismatic speaker.  this is a good thing - anyone who doesn't think so is a frickin moron who should have been sterilized before they had the opportunity to foist their spawn on the world.

tiffgriffin7

This is yet another example of conservative media leading people to believe that the "evil liberals" are trying to take over. It is the same stuff they have been doing with the health care reform debate and ignorant people buy into it. It makes me so angry, frustrated and embarrassed that so many people in this country are so incredibly ignorant and believe anything they hear.I have to say it is really nice to know that there are some conservative/republicans that still respect a healthy debate between parties and are able to see both sides of things, it really gives me a little hope considering how deeply divided our country is becoming.