Colorado Moms Voice Their Opinions About President Obama’s Speech to Schoolchildren
In case you have been living under a rock, President Obama will address the nation’s children at noon today from Wakefield High School in Arlington, Va. I first heard about the the debate that is swirling around his speech as I listened to NPR’s riveting social commentary in the car.
OK, so it was a call-in session on alternative rock station Alice 105.9. Don’t let that impact my street cred.
My first thought was that these opposing people were crazy. I incredulously posted on Facebook about how could anyone object to THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES trying to encourage our children to stay in school?
And then the plot thickened because I heard back from so many of you:
Gretchen White of LifeNut said:
I have no problem at all with the president giving a pep talk to kids about doing well in school. Other presidents have made similar addresses to students, and I think it’s harmless and important for kids to feel all levels of our elected representatives are friendly and accessible.
It is the after-speech curriculum/teaching plans that made the needle skip off my record.
I don’t understand why they must return to their classrooms to hear books read about Obama, brainstorm how they must help Obama, recall Obama’s historic moments and speeches, and think about what Obama should say in his next speech to them (interrupting an-already planned school day, again?) If Bush had done this? Uproar, and everyone knows it.
Jenna of Mom in Progress asserts:
For our children to be privileged to see their president on live television speaking to them in a personal way seems like something any parent should be glad for. Doing it in the evening is going to miss so many students, and perhaps the ones who would benefit most from hearing such a message. When did we become so cynical to think that the main reason for our president to address school-aged students is to bolster his own political agenda? Are we so jaded as to think that he would have no good intentions for the future of the country that he loves enough to serve in the highest position?
Chris of MaMa Bird’s Blog said:
The government’s only role in the educational system should be to make sure that every child has access to the best education possible. Just as we accept that there is separation of church and state, it is also accepted that there should be separation of classroom and state. So when parents were able to see some of the lesson plans that the Department of Education had prepared for school children that included asking the children “what they can do to help the president,” and “how might he inspire them?” as well as a brief history about President Obama, there became cause for concern that a line was being crossed.
These questions may seem rather innocuous, designed merely to get the students involved and excited about being addressed by the president and what he has to say to them, but, for parents who don’t support the president (read agenda) and openly discuss these issues at home with their children, might their kids be confused by the conflicting messages? The school seems to support the president and be saying that I should too, but my parents don’t. Please don’t confuse respect for the office with supporting the president. All Americans should respect the office, but support is a matter of free will, and should never be compelled.
And then there was Suzanne of Crunchy Green Mom:
Are we SOOO afraid that he is going to “sway” our children in the hour he is going to talk to them in a way that we can’t correct? What harm is it going to do?
“Support your country, each other and the president” – Yep… I checked.. so far I don’t have anything bad to think about that one.
“Study hard, you ARE our future” – Yes… also very true statements, so what would I complain?
He is going to talk to them! The president of the UNITED STATES cares enough about my football playing son, my artist daughter, my prima donna senior to speak with them. He is speaking to my second grader, my kindergartner and two toddlers. He is speaking to all of us and all of them. He is speaking to the teacher standing before those students, giving those children hopes that they can one day change the world.
Change a world that is showing hardships all around. I work in the school district and get phone calls from parents saying, “My kids and I are living in our car, how can the bus come pick them up in the morning?”
We need help…. help from our kids, help from each other and help from our president. Someone cares enough to talk to my kids and give them hope… LET THEM SHOUT! I want my kids to see that the president cares.
I will watch today with my oldest daughter who just started kindergarten. Of course, I’m sure much of the message will be lost on her.
“Hadley, the President of the United States is going to talk to YOU and all the children about the importance of staying in school!”
“Why wouldn’t we want to go to school? Recess and snacks and word games are fun!”
There’s your solution, Mr. President.
What is your opinion on President Obama speaking to the children? Will you let your children watch it? Post-mortem: let us know what you thought of his speech. To read a copy of it, go here.
Personally, I love that President Obama is speaking to the children. Were my daughter in school, I’d allow and encourage her to watch it. We’ll watch it at home, albeit after the fact, due to scheduling issues.
Although most of the message will not apply directly to where she is right now (preschool), and considering she already begs to go to school every day as it is, I still think we’ll have a fun time with it.
Who knows…maybe she’ll want to get a jump-start on some goals of her own.
Personally, I trust that he will not say anything damaging to our nations youth and I don’t understand what the uproar is all about.
I just included a link to the text of the speech as well!
SUGGESTION TO THE RIGHT WING:
Just sit back and relax, folks. Barack Obama is only performing a routine presidential duty that has been performed by presidents for generations. There’s nothing to be afraid of. He’s not trying to turn your babies into mini Marxists. This isn’t the Trotsky For Toddlers program. The president of the United States merely wants to have a heart to heart talk with the children of America about the importance of a good education, that’s all. I promise you, we Progressives do not believe in evil, subliminal messages. Chill out!
stneraP ruoY lliK – nerdlihC
Just kidding.
http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com
Tom Degan
Thanks Amber, FYI Red rocks Loop is at the mouth of Boulder Canyon.
I actually am excited to hear what my kids say about this Obama speech, it’s always interesting to hear what THEIR opinions are.
I do live under a rock, and EVEN I have heard about this.
Rosey
i think this opposition to it is so absolutely ridiculous, i won’t even start my rant on this. my son is four and it will probably be lost on him, and we have activities that i am not going to miss, but if he were school aged he would be watching…and if his school did not present it I would be keeping him home to watch.
presidents have addressed our children many times in the past, and most people have always been thrilled by that. Now we have a few people, which have turned into many that are paranoid and have no respect for the office of President.
Regardless of your thoughts on policy, Obama is a brilliant man who has worked his way up from nothing by accessing his right to an education. There is no one more qualified to talk with our children on the importance of education.
The people who are against this are the people who would rather have a president who can’t pronounce the word “nuclear” speak to our children.
My journalism teachers from the 80s would say, “Good job! Well-balanced.” Heart-felt, congenial debates are what this country is about! Your provided a great forum for that:)
LOL re: “nuclear” plug. I, too am excited to hear about everyone’s reactions, post-mortem. They interviewed a bunch of teens at a skate park last night on the news and it was awesome hearing their perspective–they were enthused President Obama was speaking to them. I think in this entire argument we’re missing the point for whom the message is intended.
I just got done watching President Obama speak, and I thought it was definitely appropriate for school students. I liked how he brought in current things that kids these days can relate to (Xbox, Twitter, Facebook, Google) and mixed it with things from our history as well. It will be interesting to see what students took from the message.
LOVED the speech, inspired by the speech and I’m not even a President Obama supporter. I loved how he gave real-world applications for the things they’re learning in school. I love that he showed them the roadmap of how his life was not always smooth but he overcame the odds.
Hi Amber. I had a long ole post to share… but I decided against sharing it. Just because I dont want to hear all the crap people will say about it. =)
I am NOT paranoid.
I support the office of the PRes. AND THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.
I DID NOT vote for Obama.
I do not believe he will change my kids into mini marxists in an hour…..
I do not support Obama, and will not until he proves he is legally in his position. ANd even then it will only be as far as the postition as head of the country I love.
With this pres. there has been so much crap.
Yes he has an awesome message of hope.
Yes he moves people with his speeches.
From what I have read about him though… he says one thing and then does another when it comes down to it. Because of this… I would not let my kids watch his speech at school. I would at home, together as a family so we could talk about it.
I opposed this because I do not feel it is being done properly. Why doesnt he address the NATION so the kids can be at home with their families to watch?
I do not approve of the lessons the teachers are preparing for before and afterwards. Its a little overkill in my opionion.. and as someone else posted.. what does that say to the kids who have parents who did not vote for Obama.
It has no place happening in the schools.. it should be done in the homes. A line has been crossed and if we the people dont say something about it.. then lines will continue to be crossed until there simply are no more.
I could go on and on… but I wont.. =) Just wanted to share that there are many educated, sane, real people out there who opposed this for reasons they believe in.. just as all the people who are for it believe in their own reasons.
I still remember the amount of time we wasted in class for various things. We had our assembly man come to speak in elementary school and we spent all week drawing him pictures and coming up with questions to ask him. That was what we were “taught.” In High School, teachers would often throw on a movie that most kids would sleep through.
Having a real time interaction with the President is inspiring. I think that most students looked forward to this. Regardless of political affiliation – the President of the United States is a Role Model and Obama behaved in a fashion that all other role models should take note of. He was frank. He was honest. He treated the children with respect and attempted to inspire them. Will it work? Not universally, but if he can touch a small percentage he’s supplying the teachers of america with a little more ammunition to make our education system work.
I think that there was a big to do about not much of anything. I actually went to the school to watch it with my kids this morning.
I loved that the president was encouraging the kids to take responsibility for their actions, to tell stories of others who also have it rough. He also gave the students ideas and encouragement.
I did notice that this was a speech for older students, say 5th and up! The younger they were the more that they didn’t understand and the more anxious that they got in their seats. .
I thought it was a great speech. How can messages like, ‘don’t give up’, ‘stay in school’, ‘take responsibility’ be so controversial? My son is 2, but if he were old enough I’d have made sure that he watched, whether his school allowed the speech to air or if I kept him home to watch live. I honestly don’t understand the fuss that I keep reading about. When I was in school, we spent a fair amount of time learning about Presidents Carter and Reagan, and I don’t remember anyone being pulled out of school by their parents because of it, nor do I recall my school wondering if it was appropriate to broadcast any messages from the President of the United States.
I wrote a HUGE piece on this.. I have talked to my senior in high school, talked to my friends..
I MISSED THE SPEECH!
How in the name of all that is good did I miss the blessed speech?
Curses on a twisted stick.. I’m going to lunch.. I blame work for this mishap…
~Crunchy Green Mom
I watched with my 2-year-old, while my older kids watched at school. One of my toddler’s first words was “Obama.” Campaign ’08, what can I say?
If I had expressed this kind of opposition to a similar speech made by our previous president, I, and others like me, would have been called unpatriotic, at best.
I, like so many others, see nothing wrong with a message that says “Do your best, be responsible, respectful, and don’t let people down.” What’s to complain? It sounds an awful lot like Cub Scouts.
I applaud President Obama (pretty sure that’s his legal title) for having the respect for our youth to talk to them directly, and express his expectations. It’s refreshing to have a President who actually does care about the youngest citizens in this country. And I applaud the example he sets, for children and adults alike. If we’re not already, we should all be as forthcoming with our expectations of our children.
What I really wish: Is that the polarization would stop, and that the ratings junkies would tone down the lies and the rhetoric, so that instead of diverting energy and resources to handling all the ridiculous flack that comes down over one simple speech to our kids, our President could actually do his job, and get done all the things we want him to do.
I thought it was a fine speech. As a parent with school age children I am glad I was able to see the speech prior to my child viewing it. It is a great message to stay in school, work hard etc. but in order to improve our schools the president really needs to send a message to parents. As a former educator in a low income area I saw a need to educate the parents on making their child’s education a priority. The majority of children want to do well but the key lies with making it a priority with their families.
I had a problem initially with both the fact that parents were cut out of the decision on whether or not to allow kids to watch/not watch, and the curriculum in my mind was very self serving and biased to Obama. They have since changed the curriculum requirements, and put the proposed speech material out for everyone to see and make a choice about. That is what should have happened in the first place.
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….
Amber, you have provided a lovely forum for thoughtful debate. Thank you!
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?
Great idea, Melissa. If anyone has written about this on your blogs, please include a link.
I read Obama’s speech last night and was very impressed! Told everyone I gave it an A+ and have received much flak about that. But, for all who are still saying that the “right-wing is over-reacting” and, “What’s the big deal, it’s just a speech, see there was nothing political about it,” and “other presidents have done the same thing,” please let me remind you that for the majority who were raising questions,
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 hadn’t heard about the uproar until I got an automated call from my son’s school district discussing the speech and offering parents an opt out option. I was upset that a twenty minute speech to students was suddenly a socialist agenda and political. I can’t get over how President Obama is being portrayed for wanting to speak to our children.
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.
I also read the speech anticipating that my daughter would be seeing it in school. It turns out the her teacher (not all the first grade teachers, mind you) told the class they were too young to understand it. I’m not judging this teacher whatsoever. She is not totally wrong.
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?
Exactly, Chris!
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.
You know, after the fact a lot of people are saying it was *only* about the course materials. But the materials were always optional. No, people were boycotting the speech itself. Yes, many of them were clearly upset about both but they were boycotting the speech itself, not asking teachers to please just skip the lesson plan.
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.
It seems to me that it is ok for white presidents to talk to the school children but not black presidents. I’m disgusted.
what carole said.