Comments on: Has Any Previous President Ever Addressed Schoolchildren . . .

By: Lisa Paul

Lisa Paul — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:47:03 +0000

I don’t think I’m hallucinating, but I seem to remember a message from the president (JOhnson or Kennedy) played at my school that said if we worked hard and studied math and science, we might be able to be part of the space program when we grew up. We loved it. It was very energizing and powerful to a lot of kids. Especially kids who weren’t necessarily being given high expectations at home.

By: The Livewire

The Livewire — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:51:06 +0000

So you agree then arjay that is is a ‘political advertising used to counter claims that he was ignoring domestic issues?’

By: arjay

arjay — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:13:13 +0000

Hard for me to see how this is a big deal. Why is it any different when Obama does it than when Bush did it?

By: Rachael

Rachael — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:31:02 +0000

Umm…no! This sounds like he is trying to brainwash our children. Why does he need to speak to our innocent, young minded children? Cause he cares? Really? Yeah, not so much! I say, BACK OFF OBAMA! This is a pretty scary, chilling thing and I think with anyone with at least a half a brain should analyze this and head the warnings coming. I didn’t vote for this person, so don’t blame me!

By: Sean A

Sean A — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:06:35 +0000

#17: “I find it admirable that President Obama would take the time to speak to our children to impress upon them the importance of education and success, therein.”

Of course you do, John Wisdom. But then again, Obama supporters would find it admirable if the President’s presentation to these kids consisted of biting the heads off of live kittens. YES, you are missing something. If this man gave a crap about the future of these children he wouldn’t be saddling them with a mountain of debt that can ONLY be paid with crushing taxes on their future incomes. If he cared at all, he wouldn’t be on a crusade to crush the businesses that might someday hire them with insane regulations like the cap and trade bill. He’s also doing everything in his power to ensure that they will have to deal with a pathetic, ineffective healthcare system. And what Obama doesn’t seem to get is that it is a fool’s errand to try and get a generation of kids all jazzed up about “civic responsibility” and “public service” while simultaneously taking away EVERYTHING that might have given these kids a sense that they had an obligation to “give something back to the community.” THAT is what you and this imbecile of a President are “missing.” This generation of children is going to grow up believing that they have been STOLEN FROM. And yet you and THE ONE think that they are going to want to “give something back”?!?! Dream on.

By: Jillian O'Grady

Jillian O'Grady — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 07:19:17 +0000

This was all I found…and I don’t have the time (nor do I wish to spend time doing so) to confirm it. Maybe someone else can see if this is true or not. Scroll down, just a bit, and read the “Flashback” segment: http://ky3.blogspot.com/2009/09/video-obama-school-speech-debate.html

By: North Dallas Thirty

North Dallas Thirty — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 07:02:21 +0000

The hilarity of your argument, John Wisdom, is that you don’t realize the reason that our schools are slipping is because liberals like yourself are taking children to lesbian weddings and making them watch political indoctrination speeches instead of actually having them work on things like math and science.

By: John Wisdom

John Wisdom — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 04:55:02 +0000

Seriously, folks.

“Proper gay leftist doctrine”? Are you for real?

Our children, here in the Bible Belt anyway, are constantly berated into attending and participating in the endless christian doctrine-stuffed Christmas holiday functions, plays and “celebrations” that occur year in and year out in our public schools.

Seriously. What political propaganda? I find it admirable that President Obama would take the time to speak to our children to impress upon them the importance of education and success, therein. I can’t think of anybody more important to take the time to talk to than our own children. Have I just totally missed something here? Am I NOT reading … Read Moresomething into the Press Release, that others are? If anybody has insight into what exactly the President might say to the children of the United States that “may” be considered “propaganda”, then please feel free to fill us all in.

“(AP) The United States is losing ground in education, as peers across the globe zoom by with bigger gains in student achievement and school graduations, a study shows.

Among adults age 25 to 34, the U.S. is ninth among industrialized nations in… the share of its population that has at least a high school degree.”

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/09/13/national/main838207.shtml

By: Swampfox

Swampfox — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:44:06 +0000

This reminds me a bit like the Hitler Youth ……………..

By: North Dallas Thirty

North Dallas Thirty — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:19:23 +0000

As is the case with all field trips, parents had to give their permission and could choose to opt out of the trip.

Which somehow makes up for the fact that public school children were pulled out of the classroom for a topic that is totally irrelevant to a first-grade educational curriculum.

But of course, rusty doesn’t care, because what’s important here is that children are being indoctrinated into proper gay leftist doctrine. Does rusty also support children being pulled out of school with the full support of their teachers and administrators to attend Yes on 8 rallies as long as their parents agree to it?

By: rusty

rusty — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:33:26 +0000

sf chronicle: As is the case with all field trips, parents had to give their permission and could choose to opt out of the trip. Two families did. Those children spent the duration of the 90-minute field trip back at school with another first-grade class, the interim director said.

The event was orchestrated by parents of children in the class.
SFChron–A parent came up with the idea for the field trip – a surprise for the teacher on her wedding day.

The teacher who got married was not involved in the planning or executing the field trip.

Thanks so much for your support SS.

By: southernsue

southernsue — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:23:41 +0000

as parents and relatives of children, the children should be warned against this propoganda. in these times only the informed and the strongest of fortidude will win the day. keep alert and tell others. if you are a believer as i am, PRAY TO OUR GOD for our country. imho

By: rusty

rusty — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:02:18 +0000

here is a new take on the Pledge. . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRY5waZ4IbE

By: Juju

Juju — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:25:33 +0000

Thank goodness my child’s school year does not start until the next day (Sept 9).

By: Julie Kelleher

Julie Kelleher — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:01:25 +0000

“Get them while they’re young, Evita. Get them while they’re young.”

By: Sonicfrog

Sonicfrog — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:51:33 +0000

I don’t know if I’ll be teaching that day, but if I do, and if I’m able to, I will point out any overbroad statements made by the Prez. My rebuttal won’t be of a political nature, more in line with my skeptical POV. But again, it depends on what he says.

I live in a pretty conservative region, so I’m not sure how this will play anyway.

By: thestraightaussie

thestraightaussie — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:07:32 +0000

@Sonic,

if there is room for a little leading of your own, maybe you can encourage the children to actually criticize what is being said……….

By: Skip

Skip — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 05:49:45 +0000

His own secretary of ed says: “This is the first time an American president has spoken directly to the nation’s school children about persisting and succeeding in school.” on his letter to school principals. http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/academic/bts.html

By: Sonicfrog

Sonicfrog — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 05:15:03 +0000

This is really going to piss me off. I’m a history and government teacher. This could be a VERY useful presentation to kids, getting them to think about the job, duties, and responsibilities of the president. But you just know it’s going to be a propaganda piece, something along the lines of “your mommy’s and daddy’s aren’t helping me pass my health care so we can fix you when you’re sick, or the global warming bill, so you don’t die in the future. Tell them to stop being bad people and support me”. I pray that it won’t be that, but I know it will. I do not get political when I sub, but if I am sub’ing, and I’m right, man, it will be all I can do not to go off.

By: ILoveCapitalism

ILoveCapitalism — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:58:53 +0000

The President of Germany used to address schoolchildren and have aides guide the discussion... starting, oh, around 1934 to be precise.