Backlash over Obama's address to Metro Atlanta Schools (Sparks: home, high school)

[equinox63]

Some Metro Atlanta Schools Won't Show Obama Education Speech - News Story - WSB Atlanta

Obama will talk, but not all students will listen*| ajc.com

Obama Speech to Students Sparks Controversy | FOX 5 Atlanta | myfoxatlanta.com

Any opinions and/or commentary?

[BobKovacs]

I think it's ridiculous. One of the comments in one of the articles was that is was a scheduling issue- so you can find time to have a BMX rider demonstration for the whole school, but you can't find 20 minutes for this? Sure it's at noon, so a lot of kids will be at lunch- here's a crazy idea- move a TV into the cafeteria, or tape the speech and show it when they get back into class.

[RainyRainyDay]

Thanks for the note of sanity, Bob.

Reagan and Bush 41 made similar speeches, and seemingly the country did not fall apart. No need to tape the speech, by the way. According to an announcement to parents from Cobb County schools, the speech will be available for viewing online, afterwards.

[DoveDiva]

I think the backlash is a bunch of MESS.

My school is showing it on Tuesday. We sent home the notification letters, and the students whose parents choose to opt out will participate in an alternative activity. Simple as that.

[Merin]

Thank you Bob. If anyone takes issue with POTUS asking kids to stay in school and telling them to get good grades, you are nuts.

[wxjay]

Like any other address by a President, I think there is nothing wrong here. However, the lesson plan proposed by the US Dept. of Education stretched the issue a little too far, and that is where the controversy should be.

However, to be fair, if parents do not want their kids watching it, then they should have the choice not to have them participate. No one, young or old, should be forced to watch any speech by any politician or such.

[Mattie]

We got an email from our high school principal, telling us "academics are too important to take time away from", so the speech will not be shown. Bogus! I sent a reply letting him know what I thought of his excuse, especially in light of those sacred Friday afternoon pep rallies held during instruction hours. He caved to the conservative parents.

My son will be going in to school on Tues with a note excusing him in time to return home and watch it. He would be in lunch anyway.

It seems to me the people so against any government tampering with their 2nd amendment rights, would be more careful with the 1st amendment. Schools are censoring, plain and simple.

[Mattie]

Originally Posted by wxjay

Like any other address by a President, I think there is nothing wrong here. However, the lesson plan proposed by the US Dept. of Education stretched the issue a little too far, and that is where the controversy should be.

However, to be fair, if parents do not want their kids watching it, then they should have the choice not to have them participate. No one, young or old, should be forced to watch any speech by any politician or such.

This is the lesson plan everyone is so worried about. It is for grades 7-12, but a similar plan is posted for the younger kids;

http://www.ed.gov/teachers/how/lessons/7-12.pdf

This is not a political speech, it is a message from our president.

[ambersmom722]

I teach in Gwinnett and my spineless principal has YET to speak on this. Im sure it will not be shown as he doesn't want to offend the massive group that were pro-mccain/palin. We had a big uproar last yr over a mural in our school because a white child was not depicted. The painter (non black/hispanic) painted what he saw in our school....children that came in ALL shades of brown with many different types of hair textures and native tongues. The next day, there was a blond haired, blue eyed girl paint to appease the group that were offended.

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by ambersmom722

We had a big uproar last yr over a mural in our school because a white child was not depicted

I know nothing about the situation, but generically, I wonder what would have been said had the mural only depicted "blonde haired, blue eyed" white kids? That would have been subjected to scrutiny, and probably rightly so, although in both cases political correctness rears its ugly head.

As for Obama's address, I have no problems with it, provided it's not political. The President of the US should be able to address students about important topics such as staying in school and taking responsibility for their own education. I just hope he can keep the politics at bay.