Monday, September 7, 2009

President Obama's Address to Schools

I have been hearing about all the controversy over Pres. Obama's speech on Tuesday to the nation's school children. C'mon people!! Is it just because it is Obama? You know, Reagan and Bush both made speeches to school children and we didn't hear all this discord.
I keep hoping that the clear-headed, fair-minded opposition to Obama's policies will separate itself from the wide-eyed fury at everything he does, says, thinks, wears and eats. I wonder how many of the people who are so angry about Obama talking to their children are the same people who go on about other kids having bad parents. I would think good parents should have the confidence to let their children hear the speech, help them put it context, and urge them to think for themselves - just like they should with everything else they hear in school. There are many parents considering taking their children out of school on Tuesday rather than listen to the speech. What is that teaching them? That it is ok to skip school if something is coming up you don't like? Maybe the next spelling test would be another reason to skip? In refusing to let them listen to our President, we are not giving them a chance to hear things and think for themselves - rather they will end up mimic-ing what the parent believes.
My son and daughter-in-law are on the opposite side of the fence with this issue than I am. Although, to be fair, their main objection is that teachers at their schools are supposed to do lesson plans that day to incorporate the speech. You can read about her objections HERE and then form your own opinion. Everyone should be entitled to one (opinion), don't you think? That's what makes this world a great place!

3 comments:

Jackie said...

Exactly my thoughts! He is, after all, the President of the United States, and whatever one's personal feelings about him it doesn't set a good example for children to be kept home or exempted from listening to him.

Noreen said...

Wow, what a lot of controversy about a speech. Let the President speak, hear what he has to say and then discuss the topic with the children. By listening to what the President has to say shows children to respect their President. Parents keeping their children home on that day are taking the whole topic out of context and disrepecting the President. Do parents in America know the opinion of every teachers who teaches their child. I think not.

Gloria said...

Does it really matter what "other" Presidents have done? What matters is what is going on NOW, TODAY! Our "President" has ALOT of work to do to TRY and get this Nation back on it's feet, he should be busy doing THAT, and NOT worrying about addressing our children in school. He has "a lot bigger fish to fry, and THAT should be his focus"!! JMHO