What say you, Mr. President?

Can we be serious just for a moment??

 

President Obama wishes to address the nation’s school children on Tuesday, and the outcry has already begun. “Indoctrination” is the accusation of the day since teachers across the country are going to be challenged with lesson plans on how to make the most of the opportunity for the students.

Am I missing something? I am not an Obama supporter and am not happy with the way things are transpiring with the economy, the health care debate, the lack of attention to Social Security, etc. Name it, and I’m pretty much not happy with it. But accusing any term-limited president of attempting to “indoctrinate” school-age kids by challenging them to “work hard, set educational goals and take responsibility for their learning", as stated by US Education Secretary Arne Duncan, hardly sounds like an attempt at “indoctrination”.

I’ve said before and many times since that trust is a major issue among the electorate right now, and it really doesn’t matter whether we are talking about this president, that speaker, or some congressman. The Congress as a whole cannot seem to rise above its well-earned 30% approval rating, and this president’s approval numbers seem to be in steady decline, according to Rasmussen and others. So it may well be that anyone, particularly political adversaries, would view such a far-reaching event as suspect, given the intended audience.

The Department of Education is also offering suggested “classroom activities” to coincide with the president’s address, presumably to get the kids to more fully engage in what might otherwise be pretty much of a boring lecture. I just finished my first day as a substitute teacher in a local high school, and I can say from that one day that these kids may or may not choose to pay attention. It is questionable whether they will even be willing to actively listen. As a parent, I can also honestly say that young children do not tend to listen well especially if they are being called on to do more than they might be willing to do. 

Still, it is an important endeavor and it could be spun in a positive enough way that young people understand that they are not merely “incidental” to life in this country, that what they do matters not only in the present but also very much in the future. I recall listening to some very silly people who suggested that their personal problems would suddenly disappear under an Obama administration. With these few, a message of “personal responsibility” has not gone over well and could partly account for Mr. Obama’s sliding approval rating.

I think we can think of many other things to complain and be concerned about, but the president addressing the nation’s school children is not one of them. 

Reviews

[Adrian K. Smith]

The problem with this and much of what Obama has been doing involves two steps. The first step of most of his ideas are brilliant, good for the country, and could have him remembered in the annals of history as one of the best Presidents we have had. Unfortunately, he continues with the second step. In regards to what you have posted here, you have only addressed the first step. Nobody has a problem with the first step. However, you have not commented on the entire release from Duncan. As it continues is where people have taken issue. It is frustrating at times, trying to figure out why he continually takes ideas that this country needs and then takes that additional step to add in his socialist views. We need a leader with Obama's first steps, but the second steps will be the end of this nation.

[BrightEyes]

This is just part of what this speech will actually contain:

"Obama will deliver a national address directly to students on Tuesday, which will be the first day of classes for many children across the country. The address, to be broadcast live on the White House's Web site, was announced in a letter to school principals last week by Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

Obama intends to "challenge students to work hard, set educational goals and take responsibility for their learning," Duncan wrote. Obama will also call for a "shared responsibility" among students, parents and educators to maximize learning potential.

But in advance of the address, the Department of Education has offered educators "classroom activities" to coincide with Obama's message.

Students in grades pre-K-6, for example, are encouraged to "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."

He is asking elementary school children (and having their teachers aid in this) to SUPPORT him in a political fashion - he is calling for a "shared" responsibility - asking student A (and parents of student A) to be responsible for student B etc etc. A purely liberal socialist agenda. This is clearly a way to if not indoctrinate these children, to at least influence them, thereby trying to influence their parents. In a discussion of this speech with a friend earlier this evening no one would have any problem with him giving a speech telling kids to take responsibility for their OWN education, to work hard etc etc. That is not what his outline suggests however. One would think, given this IS still a free country, that he would at least offer a preview of the actual speech so that parents and teachers can make up their own mind.

I might add in regards to President Obama's slipping ratings, that he is trying to push through his Health Care Reform despite opposition from not just Republicans, but one that is clearly not supported by the majority of the American people. It is not that the American people do not believe that the issue of health care needs to be addressed, but they do not support the manner in which this bill chooses to reform it. Clearly, a government "by the people, for the people" means nothing to this President given that polls show that over 70% of the population does not support this bill. This President's idea that his agenda matters more than what the majority of the nation wants should sound warning bells off in anyone.

[JC]

As a conservative, I would have no problem with this, if that is actually what is going to be said. No public school system, principal, or teacher has seen the speech, just the teachers outline, or suggested outline.

President Obama went to a prep school paid for by his grandparents, not exactly a public school education. Although he did pay for college through student loans and aid, he paid off that debt with his book deal, which I am sure was a one in a million shot. Most people spend a good portion of their adult lives paying off student loans.

Not to say that we shouldn't encourage our students and children to do their best, I think this is just ill timed given the healthcare flap going on.

Our public school system went through the No Child Left Behind, which did some good, but more harm. In my state, everything is about passing the assessment test. We are raising generations of really good test takers.

Sorry to hijack your thread. Well written and something to think about.

JC