Posted by:
Sentinel Staff
9/4/2009 11:02:01 AM
Some parents in other parts of the country have made news by threatening to pull their children from school for the day on Tuesday if the schools broadcast a speech by President Barack Obama.
White House officials have advertised the speech as promoting the importance of education, while opponents say its a chance to spread partisan propaganda in an improper setting.
What do you think?
9/25/2009 7:27:33 AM
Evidently, the fallout from Obama's school address went like this:
1st - He's not the first nor will be the last (hopefully) President to talk to our kids.
2nd - GOP leaders & media protested his addressing kids then when it was pointed out that others had preceded him including George HW Bush in 1991, there was a scurry to point out in return that although there were some complaints and protests aimed at Obama, Dems actually investigated GHWBush
3rd - The investigation was based on the following objections:
timing -It was the september of an election year when Bush was already using his considerable resources to purchase air time and campaigning for all he was worth (as opposed to Obama, where the nearest election has passed)
money - He spent $26,750 of Department of Ed money on his address after having repeatedly slashed the DoE budget beyond what it could already bear.
content - he talked about how even with all the "bad news" about schools and education (US test scores in decline and large scale budget cuts were prevalent at the time) kids would be expected to get quality educations anyway (see http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu/research/public_papers.php?id=3450&year=1991&month=10 for details)
In the end, the right claim he was cleared and the left claim that Dems chose to let it go as there were more pressing issues like the election and Iraq etc.
hope this puts a contextual light on some of the exaggerations flying around
9/24/2009 8:22:46 PM
Okay Obamanites... Here IS Part of the Problem. These are the lyrics to two songs Now being taught to elementary students in N.J. You Have to be an IDIOT to be Okay with this! Mao Tse Tung couldn't have done any better. The National salute is on the way folks!
Song 1:
Mm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama
He said that all must lend a hand
To make this country strong again
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama
He said we must be fair today
Equal work means equal pay
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama
He said that we must take a stand
To make sure everyone gets a chance
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama
He said red, yellow, black or white
All are equal in his sight
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama
Yes!
Mmm, mmm, mm
Barack Hussein Obama
Song 2:
Hello, Mr. President we honor you today!
For all your great accomplishments, we all doth say "hooray!"
Hooray, Mr. President! You're number one!
The first black American to lead this great nation!
Hooray, Mr. President we honor your great plans
To make this country's economy number one again!
Hooray Mr. President, we're really proud of you!
And we stand for all Americans under the great Red, White, and Blue!
So continue ---- Mr. President we know you'll do the trick
So here's a hearty hip-hooray ----
Hip, hip hooray!
Hip, hip hooray!
Hip, hip hooray!
9/23/2009 8:11:18 PM
Good for the President. He sees the hope that is in our young people and we should to. What is wrong with you so called grownups? This is our President. A little respect please.
9/11/2009 12:04:26 PM
The burning question in my mind is where the heck do y'all find the ~time~ to micro-manage your legislators and politicians?
9/9/2009 6:02:33 PM
Too Funny.... It was All Over the news that Obama's Speech was "Toned Down" from it's origanal form. Whole sections Had to be Omitted or Altered. What was heard was Nothing like what the socialist party wanted to deliver. Yet... LMAO... We who knew all this are the Sheep. Stop it already, my sides are hurting from the laughter!! Oh, By the way, Bush Sr. in 91 gave Almost the same Exact Speech... Dems actually had a congressional / criminal investigation on Him for that! What about Obama? Shall we investigate Him for Criminal Activity for a speech?
9/9/2009 1:31:23 PM
Woulda: Bush I did it , W was in school reading to the children when the Twin Towers came down, Reagan did it,and Newt and Laura Bush just praised the move. Only the right wing racists are against it-guess we know where you are
9/9/2009 12:09:27 PM
Democrats would have torn their hair out if Bush gave the exact same speech
9/9/2009 11:43:18 AM
How dare he encourage our kids to set goals and work hard to acheive them. How could our schools let the President tell the children of America that with hard work they can actually accomplish their goals? How could he tell them that no matter what obstacles are in their way they can still determine their own destiny. The nerve. What kind of country to we live in where people boycott this and try to stop it? If the president of our country takes the time to try and motivate the next generation to succeed why would anyone have a problem with it?
9/8/2009 9:15:17 PM
Interesting the critics of Obama's speech have no clue about it's content - guess they should have read it (or at least listened to it) before making themselves look like idiots! It was a simple speech encouraging ALL of our children to do well in school - no political agenda. A controversial topic? Come on!!!! It is time we all realize our president's intent is to make our country a better place for all of us, regardless of political affiliation. We can disagree with his proposals on things such as healthcare reform etc. etc. - but his intent to make our lives better is perfectly clear and should not be the focus of critics' attacks. The intent of his speech to school children was plainly and simply just that.
Sentinel Staff
9/8/2009 2:48:00 PM
Did anyone else watch the speech, or read it on-line? What did you think?
To read a report of how the speech was received by a public speaking class at Keene High School, check out Wednesday's Sentinel.
9/8/2009 1:50:22 PM
Reply to President's Speech
Kids:
Don't do your homework
Don't listen to your parents
Don't respect your teachers
Sit in front of your tv or xbox as much as possible
Don't be responsible for your own actions
Blame everyone except yourself
Don't discover what you are good at
You don't need an education to succeed
Drop out of school
When going gets tough, quit
Don't volunteer for anything
Don't pay attention in class
Don't read a book
Bully those weaker than you
Don't wash your hands
Come to school when you are sick
Make sure you don't succeed
And above all don't respect your President or your country
9/8/2009 12:30:34 PM
I am sure the same people that did not want the President to talk would have no problem with Glenn Beck,Rush, or Howie Carr giving a speech at the schools. Now I know why the Civil War started. Seems like we are almost at that point again in our history.
9/8/2009 12:23:07 PM
This just goes to show how much power the right wing media has over their sheep. Yes, sheep. They didn't even read the speech, just determined that because it wasn't THEIR President, they should boycott it. I read it. I hope your readers read it and then write in to this blog and say what they found objectionable.
9/7/2009 9:40:03 PM
Asa long as it's just a speech about education and it's importance there is no problem with the speech and it's a good thing for Obama to take time to do. If it is about an agenda at all, it is out of line. Why don't parents trust this to be O.K., maybe because they already get blasted with the kids hearing only one side of many issues at school. Global warming, cutting trees, eating meat, anti war and military. etc.. If this is considered great public education, no wonder we are so far behind in the world.
9/7/2009 12:06:48 PM
It's Not about the President speaking on education that We disagree on... On it's own, that's a good thing. What We Don't agree with is Obama preaching His Socilism agenda! Making the kids write a report on how they will Help Him meet His goals & then Teachers holding them to it!
The Hitler Youth Program wasn't started it the homes, it was started in the Schools! Democrates Love to bragg that They are the party of Education, well, Look at the Garbage they are teaching! (Sorry, I got a little off course.)
Why does a President need the help of 5 year olds? What advise will they give? Sing a song? Do a little dance?
This is just about altering how young people think, regardless how they were taught by their Parents!
In short: President speaking on the importance of education, perfect! Nothing wrong with that. President speaking on His own agenda with Self Loveing spin... Not so good.
9/5/2009 1:46:05 PM
Just asking....
Why are people saying he'll promote his political agenda? Is there any solid reason to believe this will happen? I know his opponents say it will, but we would expect them to, right? I haven't read or heard anything, I've been nose-to-the-grindstone at work for the past few weeks.
So in reality, is there precedence, a "leak" from the White House, something, anything, beyond the predictions of the critics?
9/4/2009 9:56:29 PM
Sounds about the same as the Hitler Youth Movement to me. I say go for it! Then we can teach the kids how to march & take pride is socialistic values, communism & much much more. Yup, nothing wrong here!
9/4/2009 9:35:20 PM
A Presidential speech exhorting hard work and academic excellence, even accompanied by an excercise asking students to write a letter declaring how they will help the President...is not cause for pressuring or disrupting the schools.
I believe, in the abscence of hours of hysterical propaganda pumped out by Right-Wing radio, even the most conservative parents would not have noticed this event. However, when Glenn Beck tells his listeners Obama is surrounded by Communists and staging a Socialist takeover, and then compares the President to Lenin, Stalin, and Mao (citing the millions of their own citizens they slaughtered): it's no surprise parents call to stop their kids from being indoctrinated into Obama's Movement.
Rush Limbaugh has declared he must defeat Obama. Right-Wing radio shares his goal. As part of that campaign Right-Wing radio has put pressure on area schools this week.
If you don't agree with their goal, you should listen to local Right-Wing radio to see how they might be trying to affect your life in the future.
9/4/2009 5:54:49 PM
I'm with Katherine. I think every American president should speak to school kids and encourage them to work hard and be engaged. I'm not sure what "political agenda" people are talking about. Last I heard, education was viewed by both major political parties as vital to democracy.
9/4/2009 2:30:48 PM
Your headine indicating Anti Obama Nastiness tells it all.How about "Obama stirs controversy with his upcoming speech" Your reference that other Presidents have spoken to school children is true. The part that was left out was Obama is trying to promote his political agenda. All other Presidents spoke to the children about setting goals and staying in school. I am not upset that he is speaking to our children. I am upset that he is promoting himself and his radical agenda.
9/4/2009 12:53:19 PM
If Mr. Obama's speech is what it is purported to be - an encouragement to students to study and work hard to be the best they can be, I think it's a wonderful idea. If, as I've also heard, it does contain anything AT ALL political, I think it should not be allowed. Unless parents are given an "advance copy" or preview, I understand the reluctance of many to just go with the flow and not question the content.
9/4/2009 12:47:52 PM
If the President of the United States of America cannot give a speech on the importance of education and have it listened to by students, we are in very sorry times. What in the world are the nay-sayers afraid of? It puts me in mind of people who will not allow their children to hear about any religion but their own. In other words -- don't allow our children to think for themselves and then wonder why they are so vulnerable when they become teenagers and have a little freedom. Teachers can lead a discussion about the speech and have students point out pros and cons. Come on people, loosen up!