And the hypocrisy! Several Dallas schools which refused to show the Obama video (because the President ought to stay out of the classroom!) are taking a full day fieldtrip this month to see George Bush speak about the value of education at Dallas Stadium. Uh-huh.

I stated it was never about the speech itself. It was about the accompanying curriculum and that has been my stance all along. It wasn’t necessary. It encroached on already-planned school days.

Democrats were in an uproar over Bush Sr.’s speech, even calling for hearings. http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/When-Bush-spoke-to-students-Democrats-investigated-held-hearings-57694347.html

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I haven’t seen any national-level, serious calls for investigations by anyone in the GOP.

And before someone labels me as a right-winger—I am an independent. I am skeptical of a large federal government. I think our nation is going to hell in a handbasket and it started years and years ago, during the Bush administration.

At any rate, if I thought she would actually sit and watch it with me (which she won’t), I would find the webcast and watch it together because I thought the speech was moving even in writing. It does make me curious how many other individual teachers just “opted out” of the viewing?

He has overcome huge obstacles in his life and he is the first Black President. I find it ironic and sad that people can’t see how bad this looks and seems.

President Bush and President Reagan both made speeches like this. I don’t remember a fuss about it then. Presidents talk all the time and regularly make speeches, what is the fuss really about? Just because it was shown during class time?

I would rather time be taken out of class for this, then the endless videos that are shown certain times of the year that I have no say in. Several states declined statewide to show his speech at all including Virginia and Texas.

I was so upset with my school district’s reaction that I wrote the principal asking what was next. My concern is that politics and touchy subjects are debated all the time in our schools. Our kids’ Social Studies classes discuss elections, politics, and controversial subjects. My concern is that these discussions might be off the table in the future for fear of offending someone.

I read the speech last night, I had plans this morning and wasn’t home to watch.

IT WAS NEVER ABOUT THE SPEECH!!!

It has always been about the course materials that the students were to complete before and after the speech, which I do believe is a first. If I am wrong, please correct me here, but I don’t think any previous presidents had a curriculum accompanying their speech. That was what was being objected to. Obviously, their point was well taken, or the White House would not have changed them.

I watched this with my kids today and I liked ths speech. I wrote a piece about what I think was an overreaction on the part of conservatives (and I can say that because I am one). I did not vote for Obama, nor do I agree with most of his policies. But the fanatical reaction to this does no good. And it would’ve been the same reaction if a conservative president was doing it.

I am tired of people loving the things of the political party they support and hating the things of the opposing political party. Is it possible that neither group is 100% good or evil?

Seriously, when did we become such lemmings?

I read the speech, missed it on TV today.

Yes, it was informative, and inspiring.

It was kind of heavy, particularly when it was recommended that it be shown to preschoolers. First, my preschooler doesn’t know there is a choice about going/not going to school. And if you let yourself down, you’re letting your country down? That’s kind of a lot of weight to be putting on a kids shoulders. So, if a kid is performing poorly in school, he/she is a not only a failure to school, but also letting the whole nation down? Seems like a hefty responsibility. I don’t know. Just my two cents.

And…if this is all he wanted to say, why the secrecy? Why not just say, I’m going to speak to the nations kids at 6 pm Monday night, here is the content of my speech…

Strange….