President Obama’s Address to Students Across America (high school, grades, profession)

[Katiana]

I think if the president had given such a speech when I was a young student in school, the parents would have encouraged their kids to watch it and listen to the pres. After all, he will be telling them the same things parents do, and everyone knows kids give more crediblity to others than they do to their parents, particularly after about age 10. I think the furor over this is nuts!

[flyers29]

Originally Posted by Katiana

I think if the president had given such a speech when I was a young student in school, the parents would have encouraged their kids to watch it and listen to the pres. After all, he will be telling them the same things parents do, and everyone knows kids give more crediblity to others than they do to their parents, particularly after about age 10. I think the furor over this is nuts!

I have to agree with this. Clinton was President when I was in elementary school--even as a political conservative who doesn't really care for him, I sure don't remember my civics lessons being dominated by "CLINTON IS GOD!!" but rather general lessons on American history, institutions, and values. God knows I heard enough snide remarks from my conservative parents that would sure balance any "liberal indoctrination" I may have received in school. I yearn for the days when kids are allowed to watch the President without parents freaking out about "indoctrination" and claims of socialism blah blah.

[miamiman]

Oh no, this is the beginning of the Maobama era.

[Aconite]

Given the reluctance of some parents to actually search out for themselves information about the speech, I'm guessing they're terrified little Jason will actually learn something. Personal responsibility and goal setting? Oh, heaven forfend! Can't have that.

[golfgal]

Oh the HORRORS of a very successful man, who is now our President, talking to our school children about the importance of getting a good education-better keep the kids at home because you know, they might actually follow his advice .

It sounds a lot like another Presidential speech "ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country".

[wyolady]

Originally Posted by Katiana

I think if the president had given such a speech when I was a young student in school, the parents would have encouraged their kids to watch it and listen to the pres. After all, he will be telling them the same things parents do, and everyone knows kids give more crediblity to others than they do to their parents, particularly after about age 10. I think the furor over this is nuts!

Some parents - certainly not all parents. That's why I think this speech is important. I'm not happy with everything the Obama Admin. is doing right now - lots I completely disagree with. But I am taking a positive attitude with my students and my own children because this is our President, national leader and like him or not (I'm more on the NOT at the moment) I want our children to respect him and the message he has. Just like I am teaching them to respect other adults and leaders in their lives.

I agree - what's the big deal?

[Charles Wallace]

Originally Posted by flyers29

I have to agree with this. Clinton was President when I was in elementary school--even as a political conservative who doesn't really care for him, I sure don't remember my civics lessons being dominated by "CLINTON IS GOD!!" but rather general lessons on American history, institutions, and values. God knows I heard enough snide remarks from my conservative parents that would sure balance any "liberal indoctrination" I may have received in school. I yearn for the days when kids are allowed to watch the President without parents freaking out about "indoctrination" and claims of socialism blah blah.

Yes. And I am fairly sure that if GWB had, during his tenure as president, addressed the children of this nation on television, I strongly doubt that I would have felt that his address would consist of "Nazi propaganda" which was "taken from Chairman Mao's little red book," both of which were said about Obama's upcoming speech on the AM radio talk show I heard yesterday.

I did not like Bush nor did I like his policies, yet I am about as sure as I can be that he would be expected to say roughly the same thing that Obama's going to say: do well in school, succeed in life. When Bush visited the classroom on 9/11 to read The Pet Goat with the class, I'm fairly sure he said something exactly to that effect. Why wouldn't he? Seriously.

[Charles Wallace]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Oh the HORRORS of a very successful man, who is now our President, talking to our school children about the importance of getting a good education-better keep the kids at home because you know, they might actually follow his advice .

It sounds a lot like another Presidential speech "ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country".

I regret if this sounds like the height of snark, Golfgal, but I am afraid that if Obama were to say precisely that, it would be taken as a call to form a community army of brownshirts. I sincerely and in all seriousness hope I am mistaken and am overstating the case. If so, I extend an apology for being unfair.

[Charles Wallace]

Originally Posted by wyolady

Some parents - certainly not all parents. That's why I think this speech is important. I'm not happy with everything the Obama Admin. is doing right now - lots I completely disagree with. But I am taking a positive attitude with my students and my own children because this is our President, national leader and like him or not (I'm more on the NOT at the moment) I want our children to respect him and the message he has. Just like I am teaching them to respect other adults and leaders in their lives.

I agree - what's the big deal?

Thank you very much for a completely reasonable, appropriate, rational disagreement. I wish more people thought and acted as you do.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by Charles Wallace

I regret if this sounds like the height of snark, Golfgal, but I am afraid that if Obama were to say precisely that, it would be taken as a call to form a community army of brownshirts. I sincerely and in all seriousness hope I am mistaken and am overstating the case. If so, I extend an apology for being unfair.

Are you saying the Obama is asking for this or that because he is black people will do this on their own because of the color of his skin?