President to speak to the nation's kids

[Skibo]

btw- both pappa bush and reagan spoke to schools....

Did they do a big closed circuit broadcast with a lesson plan?...I don't remember...or did they just visit schools and talk to kids? Obviously GWB visited at least one school (9/11?) Rea;;u though. Unemployment is still pretty high, the party in power really wants to run healthcare through, there is violence in China again, Africa is still a complete mess, North Korea is still saber rattling as is Iran, we are escalating in Afghanistan and the national debt continues to grow. Hey talking to kids might be fun, but there are a lot of issues that should be worked on. I don't see much value in doing this type of event considering the controversy that comes with it. Personally, I would have loved to see him do his original speech with the original lesson plan distributed by his office.

[ejr]

If Obama, or any politician no matter what side of the aisle they're on, was serious about improving the education system in this country, the best thing he could have done was send his daughters to public school. Nothing would, or at least should, light a fire under the school administrator's dead ass faster than having the big guy's kids sitting in a classroom.

Actually if the residents in the school district they live in were serious about improving the education system of the community they lived in, they would get involved and stop looking to the federal and state government to fix things for them. Education is a local issue not a national or even state issue. Parents need to be involved in the education of their children, not the president.

I don't see what he is doing as trying to be involved in the education, but rather to let kids know that education is important--he is supporting what, hopefully, the parents, the school and the community are doing. He is not saying this is what you should study and this isn't--he is saying It is important to study.

There also are reports that in african-american communities especially, the message of Stay in School and study, coming from Obama is an especially important, meaningful and effective message.

And go back and find the films or written record of speeches previous presidents have made to the schoolchildren of America and you will find comments from both sides of the aisle that are exactly in line with what this President has indicated he will say.

[citcat]

Politics in this country has become so polarized, we won't even listen to the other side any more. How can anything worthwhile get done? Why is it considered a failure if the other side succeeds at anything? What happened to "The Common Good?"
"United we stand, divided we fall" is probably true. We appear to be headed toward the latter.

Or common sense. Good gosh I've never seen such hatred, rumor-mongering, vicious untruths being spread in politics. So much partisan-infused frenzy. The Fox network has gone over the line so many times....what is the deal ? What is happening ? It's getting kinda scary.

[Skibo]

Politics in this country has become so polarized, we won't even listen to the other side any more. How can anything worthwhile get done? Why is it considered a failure if the other side succeeds at anything? What happened to "The Common Good?"
"United we stand, divided we fall" is probably true. We appear to be headed toward the latter.

Or common sense. Good gosh I've never seen such hatred, rumor-mongering, vicious untruths being spread in politics. So much partisan-infused frenzy. The Fox network has gone over the line so many times....what is the deal ? What is happening ? It's getting kinda scary.

LOL both sides go over the line when the other is in power. That's politics. MSNBC and Radio america did the same thing when Bush was president. Of course when there are only 28 people watching the network it isn't heard by as many. I think Radio Airhead is out of business because their ratings were horrible. I am sure we all remember Dan Rather's career ending report on GWB? The difference is that the Republicans never wanted to shut down MSMBC or radio Airhead. The democrats have threatened the fairness doctrine and other measures to restrict the broadcasts of the right. As far as The Faux network going over the line...are you referring to their reporting of the news or the opinions expressed by their pundits? I don't remember them reporting any untruths in their news reports. I do believe that some of the opinionists, have jumped to some odd conclusions but facts are facts I haven't seen a good unsubstantiated story since Dan Rather retired.

[The Lost Manatee]

A couple of points, first, I think people are overestimating the impact that the President can have in a short speech. Kids aren't stupid, they can pick up BS faster than many parents think. Even grade school kids know a snow job when they see it and hear it.

Second, Ronald Reagan did stray in policy and politics when he talked about his vision using supply side economics to have a rising tide lift all boats. George H Bush talked about his vision and the dangers of taxes. George W. Bush, at least on 9-11 didn't stray into politics, he continue to read a story to the school kids. Both RR and GHB had their talks broadcast via CSPAN and several educational networks. I don't recall any uproar where parents were pulling their kids out of school about any of those. No one got to preview the speeches and then make a decision, they were shown and the kids got to watch them.

Third, I think this would make a great civics lesson for the kids. My daughter's school is showing it and she says that the majority of kids don't care and those that do are excited to hear the President talk to them. If he strays into policy, he will lose his audience.

Fourth, if you are worried that your child might be exposed to new ideas, take the time to talk to him or her the day before and the evening after. When JFK addressed school children, my father, a ultra conservative made certain that all of his children listened and then we had long discussions about what was said and it's implications. Mind you, I was really young then, like 4 and I was expected to participate to some degree. Use this as a chance to talk to your children and to explain your views and values.

Fifth, Yahoo News needs a proof reader or at least a decent grammar and spell checker.

[MammaBear]

A quote from President Obama: "I'm going to be making a big speech to young people all across the country about the importance of education; about the importance of staying in school; how we want to improve our education system and why it’s so important for the country. So I hope everybody tunes in."

I'm all for points one and two and dead set against points three and four. Improvement of our education system isn't, IMO, a topic for kids. It's something to talk to parents and educators about.

Seriously? Improvement of our educational system shouldn't be a topic to discuss with the very people it affects most?

As someone who is married to a teacher, I so agree with you. SOMEONE needs to be talking about improving education ... these days, parents turn their kids over to the independent school districts and expect the teachers to raise them ... to teach them the difference between right and wrong ... to coddle them rather than challenge them ... and God forbid, don't scold them because hell hath no fury like a guilty mama who should have been on the job for the first 6-17 years of their lives.
<<<<<<< Stepping down from the soapbox and going to the concert thread. This one makes my head hurt and my feet stink, but I still love Jeeeeez-us.

Please do not lump all parents into one statement. I do not and have never expected teachers to raise my son. . My son has had good teachers and not so good teachers. What may be good for a teacher is not necessarily good for the students. As an example, my son has an aptitude for math. In second grade the teacher sent a note home saying "I've told him numererous times that, when he finishes his work quickly, to turn around and help another child understand the math". My comment back to her was .... "will he get part of your salary for that? That is your job...not his...your job is to challenge him". I am an adult who can deal with another professional adult on an equal level....Many teachers with which I have dealt attempt to deal with parents as if they are the kids and that is not welcome. As much as teachers claim to want to have the parents involved in the education process, they want it on their terms not on the terms of the people paying the taxes.....just my humble opinion...I believe we just see different sides of the same situation.

I disagree with the President making the speech to the kids....there are so many other things that NEED to be addressed in DC that this is a waste of time, energy and money. The kids are there because their parents pay the taxes that fund the schools that pay the salaries....more and more of those parents are out of work. I have no idea what his agenda is on this, but, yes, I do believe it is more that "stay in school"...and I do believe there is a policital agenda. I'm sorry...I simply do not trust him. It is not a demo or republican thingee...I simply do not trust someone who promises the world during a campaign. The parents are responsible for the "stay in school" message, not the President of the US.

So...drop the speech, focus on getting people back to work so they can afford the taxes to keep the schools open and let the teachers/school districts do their jobs.

[Mr Play]

The full text of the speech is available here;
http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResource ... olRemarks/

Due to calls from parents, live viewing isn't an option at our school either. Teachers can show a recorded version later but they have to get permission from the parents or find something else for the student to do.

[Skibo]

Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.

OMG OMG OMG!!1!!! Religion in school. Now not only are the republicans afraid of the speech because they don't want their kids indoctrinated into the Obama youth corps, but the Jebus hating liberals will be against it because he mentions God. Speech is too long for the 15 second attention span of todays yutes. This whole thing is silly.

[tattedgator]

Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.

OMG OMG OMG!!1!!! Religion in school. Now not only are the republicans afraid of the speech because they don't want their kids indoctrinated into the Obama youth corps, but the Jebus hating liberals will be against it because he mentions God. Speech is too long for the 15 second attention span of todays yutes. This whole thing is silly.

But was he speaking of the Christian God or the Muslim God

[tattedgator]

I have to comment real quick on the comment about parents expecting teachers to raise their children. This really is a self perpetuating cycle and it's a "which came first, the chicken or the egg" situation.

Did the government, somewhere down the line, decide to begin "indoctrinating" the children with their government education? All in the name of diversity of course and to teach things to the children that the one-sided parents wouldn't. Tolerance to non-Bible thumpers for exampler or those of another race. Were the parents just doing a bad job as deemed by the government or was their more sinister motives at work? Is it a ploy to remove the thought of the individual so the government can gain more control over the thoughts and actions of the citizens?

Or did the people just start sucking on their own? We do know that every generation of Americans becomes more socialist as a whole. We know that the concept of personal responsibility is completely lost among the majority of society. People are getting lazy, they want things handed to them. Is this something caused within our society as a people or is it because the government LETS them be that way be rewarding them with programs to ease their pain through wealth redistribution. Wait, I'm getting side tracked. So was it just a digressing mentality of individuals that made the government feel they need to pick up the slack?

As a Libertarian, I'd like the government to stay the hell out of it and let, force, parents to do their job. The strong survive and the weak fail. There will be casualties, but it's better for the long term prospects of the nation. Still, with a strong sense of common sense and personal responsibility, I know I'm in the minority of wanting to think, learn, and teach for myself without government interference. I want the schools to teach accurate and honest history (not this crap in history books today). Teach science, math, and proper English. As for most of the rest, stay out of it. We had some pretty bright fellas in our Nation's history and America turned out just fine before government education and this nonsense known as the Dept of Education (and yes, it is nonsense. My mother has been a math teacher for 20+ years and my grandmother taught for 50+).

Rant off

[popcornjack]

I'M REALLY F-ING SORRY I ENCOURAGED ANTI-PARTISIANSHIP, AND I KNOW SOME OF THE RESPONDERS HAVE KIDS AND HAVE A SLIGHTLY MORE RELEVANT OPINION ABOUT IT ALL, BUT ALL I REALLY WANTED WAS A "HOLY s*** THIS DUMBASS HAS NO SPELL CHECK". I'M SORRY PEOPLE HAD SO MUCH TIME TO READ SO DEEPLY INTO IT EVEN AFTER I MADE MY DESCRIPTION OF WHY I WAS POSTING THIS PRETTY CLEARLY FOR FUN.

[Elrod]

Holy s***! This dumbass has no spell-check!

I really expect better than that in a story about EDUCATION!

(Sorry Jack, I bought a new ice cream maker and I've been a little busy. I got here as fast as I could.)

[popcornjack]

Holy s***! This dumbass has no spell-check!

I really expect better than that in a story about EDUCATION!

(Sorry Jack, I bought a new ice cream maker and I've been a little busy. I got here as fast as I could.)

I saw a bumper sticker the other day that made me think of you. (Please don't hate me...)


Not as lean,
Not as mean, but
Still a Marine.

[Elrod]

Holy s***! This dumbass has no spell-check!

I really expect better than that in a story about EDUCATION!

(Sorry Jack, I bought a new ice cream maker and I've been a little busy. I got here as fast as I could.)

I saw a bumper sticker the other day that made me think of you. (Please don't hate me...)


Not as lean,
Not as mean, but
Still a Marine.

I think I've got a t-shirt around here that says the same thing.

[popcornjack]

looked like this...

http://images.cafepress.com/image/21259594_400x400.jpg

[UAHparrothead]

The strong survive and the weak fail. There will be casualties, but it's better for the long term prospects of the nation.

Unless of course it is you or one of yours that is a casualty.
The problem is not Republican or Democrat or liberal or conservative, it is this individual ideology. This "as long as me and mine are ok then to hell with everyone else" way of thinking.

Mamabear I could talk about so many things that find contemptible and pitiful with your statement, but you won't hear it anyway so I won't waste my time or yours.

[popcornjack]

The strong survive and the weak fail. There will be casualties, but it's better for the long term prospects of the nation.

Unless of course it is you or one of yours that is a casualty.
The problem is not Republican or Democrat or liberal or conservative, it is this individual ideology. This "as long as me and mine are ok then to hell with everyone else" way of thinking.

Mamabear I could talk about so many things that find contemptible and pitiful with your statement, but you won't hear it anyway so I won't waste my time or yours.

Really? Could you?? Or could you pay attention to the reason I posted the link in the first place, the hilarity about an article about education that contained so many errors? Or, even, as a minister, you could try to learn and grow positive conversation? Oh, but you're right, no one will hear anyway so why waste your time...

[Brown Eyed Girl]

Hey Jack, how do I get all these red pen marks off my laptop screen?

[popcornjack]

Hey Jack, how do I get all these red pen marks off my laptop screen?

treat it like an etch a sketch: shake the hell out of it and hope for the best.

[UAHparrothead]

The strong survive and the weak fail. There will be casualties, but it's better for the long term prospects of the nation.

Unless of course it is you or one of yours that is a casualty.
The problem is not Republican or Democrat or liberal or conservative, it is this individual ideology. This "as long as me and mine are ok then to hell with everyone else" way of thinking.

Mamabear I could talk about so many things that find contemptible and pitiful with your statement, but you won't hear it anyway so I won't waste my time or yours.

Really? Could you?? Or could you pay attention to the reason I posted the link in the first place, the hilarity about an article about education that contained so many errors? Or, even, as a minister, you could try to learn and grow positive conversation? Oh, but you're right, no one will hear anyway so why waste your time...

I don't think anyone really believes that you didn't have to slightest notion that people would not discuss the issue at hand. Let's be real here. I am offering a positive conversation, sometimes you have to afflict the comfortable as well as comfort the afflicted. And you really don't know me and just because I am a pastor does not mean that I do not have the right to speak my opinion on political or other matters. I am coming from what I know and that is all. When I see something that I disagree with I will speak out against it, honestly and respectfully. Perhaps you should take a little bit of your own advice and "LIGHTEN THE f**** UP!!!!!!!!"