President Obama Speaking in Schools

I don't know what he's going to be speaking on, but I doubt it's going to be anything to keep your child home because of. I am a republican as well, so I am not an Obama fan, but you know it is really important that our children learn to think for themselves and form their own opinions. That's something my child has been struggling with only not with us, with her friends. She tends to just go along with whatever her friends say, but we've really been trying to stress with her the importance of thinking for herself and taking what her friends say and processing it on her own as to whether what they're saying sounds right or wrong. And kids need to be able to do that with adults as well, especially the president since they will be able to vote someday. So, I would just talk with your child and tell her that you know that her daddy doesn't like Obama, but it's still important to hear what he has to say because he's our country's leader. Stress that she doesn't have to like him, but that she just needs to listen and form her own opinions about him and whatever it is he's talking about.

This is ridiculous and frightening! That anyone actually thinks the president of the US will say something inappropriate in a public school address! What could he possibly say about EDUCATION to stir such crazy fears?!?!

Good Grief, this is a bunch of scary paranoia and so terribly divisive and hateful. I never agreed with GW Bush, but I wouldn't keep my child home from school rather than hear him speak!

To do so is teaching hate and anger - that you do not have to respect others (the president, especially) and if you disagree with someone then they have absolutely NO VALID thing to say on any subject whatsoever, that any differing point of view is scary and dangerous.

Sad, very, very sad. What if your child had the opportunity to listen to a Jewish holocaust survivor? Would you keep her home because you are Christian and don't share the same beliefs?! Do you read over every text book before your child reads it? Do you have their teachers write out exactly what they will say the next day so you can review it?

During the election, my daughter knew who I was voting for and when she saw a pic of McCain, she said "you don't like him, right? He's bad." I told her that he's a good man, he's smart, he's a dad, he was a soldier, etc. I explained that we vote for the person that we think is best for the job but that doesn't mean that the other candidate is a "bad guy." It's called respect and tolerance!

Closed minds are far more dangerous and hurtful than one speech about the importance of school given by a fellow human being - a husband, a father, a son.

One thing to think about is your lesson if you keep her home. That our president isn't worth listening to. That his ideas are too dangerous for her. That when you disagree with someone you should just not listen to them. That you don't trust her teachers to deal with this right. That you don't trust yourself to deal with what she sees. If you don't like the speech and/or you don't like what the teacher does, what a great teaching moment when she comes home from school.

And frankly, if your daughter decides that she likes him and has a little hero worship for a while for our president, how bad is that, really? Hope and optimism are not bad things.

I disagree somewhat that young children can process and reason out what a sophisticated elected official is telling them via a highly produced and publicized video. Their natures will have them believing whatever they are told and they will most likely be impressed with the clout that his office receives, no matter what is said. I am concerned too that very impressionable children are being directly targeted, and even their curriculum for the day is being dictated by the white house and centered around his speech and the things he wants them to do (visit the dept. of ed. website to see their suggested outlined curriculum). I think it's wise of you to want to know what it is they will be hearing beforehand - what's so wrong with that? Especially if the opinions the president espouses are not in line with what your family believes or deems important, or you are concerned with where this could lead. Ask if the video will be streamed live or if it will be recorded for a later viewing at the school. If it is later, you have a chance to view it first via C-SPAN or the internet. If they are showing it live, you should be given the option of choosing whether or not she sees it. She could always see it later after you've had a chance to preview it. It's smart to do this with anything our children see. We do it with movies, why not with a message from a man you may not trust?

Hi C.,
Fear comes from a lack of information. To become informed parents before teaching your children life lessons, read the speech yourself and then make a decision. Even if you don't agree with it, it can still be a lesson for your children if you talk with them about it yourself. An Associated Press article that was out today said the White House plans to release the speech on the Internet on Monday, so you can read it ahead of children, but there were no details on where to find it specifically.
Good Luck!

I think it is unfortunate that your 6 your old has that negative of an impression. There must be some pretty hateful things said about the president to make a 6 year old not want to go to school for this - sounds very extreme!

His message is that students have a responsible role in their education and their future contribution to society as productive citizens. He shares his personal experiences to let them know he understands it isn't always easy to stay focused but that they can do it. I didn't read anything that suggested students should affiliate themselves with any particular party.

I think we all need to be concerned about messages that teach children to hate, to disrespect, and that understate the democratic process by which everyone has a voice.

Go to www.ed.gov for more information. I heard that you could preview his speech on this website, but I was just on there and didn't find the speech. It is supposed to be live, so I am not sure what there would be to preview anyway. There was a lot of other information in regards to the speech, that I found to be very helpful and informative. I hope this helps!

Hi C.,
Below is the information that I received from my childs school. I think that it is sad that your husbands political views have already at such a young age influenced how your daughter feels about going to school because Obama is giving a speech. After all he is the President of the United States and what he has to say is important. Now whether one agrees with it or not, is entirely up to the individual. But it should not bother a child to the extent where they do not want to go to school because of it. That is just too much weight on a little childs soul. Just my opinion.

*****Information from Higley Unified school District in AZ***********
President Obama’s Speech to Public School Students
On September 8th at 9:00 AM, public schools in the United States have been asked to
have President Obama address students on the importance of education. The speech
speaks to challenging students to work hard, set educational goals and take
responsibility for their education. A summary of the speech is available at
http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/academic/bts.html. A similar speech was delivered
before by President George W. Bush on October 2, 1991.
In order to manage our technology bandwidth across 10 schools and 500 classrooms,
we will video record the speech and provide it to classroom teachers to use at a later
time. The video recording will be posted on our HUSD website so that community
members will also have an opportunity to review the speech. As a district, we will
respect the Office of the President and present the speech appropriate to our learning
levels and curriculum. Classroom teachers will notify parents about when the video
recording will be shown. Parents will have the opportunity to determine if their student
will view the speech.

It is pure propaganda. We called the school and there is an opt out session which our daughters will be attending.

Our school is recording it and showing it later in the day, as the last thing of the day. We do have the option of asking for them to not see it, though we're supposed to make that decision before Tuesday. My thought is that, because he is the president and leader of our country (I'm not an Obama fan either, btw) that I'm going to go ahead and plan to let them see; however, I plan on watching Tuesday morning and if I change my mind, I'll just go pick them up early.

I'd skip the class and read her something about the founding documents of this country - say "The 5000 Year Leap" by Skousen. Easy to read and a great resource.

I totally disagree with Obama's policies and views and would have my concerns as well (what if he tries to push his agenda on impressionable children), but what if all he does is try to encourage and motivate them to do their best and contribute to the world? My children already receive these pep talks from me and I don't need any help raising my kids from the government, but some children with little parental involvement may benefit from guidance from someone they may view as a role model. Just like famous people can be a bad influence, they can also be a good influence on young people.

Have confidence that what you teach your children will be more influential than one broadcast. I don't want to make my decisions based on fear or be reactionary and closed-minded, so I would either show up and watch it with my children or find a recording/transcript of the broadcast and discuss it as a family in the evening. I would point out anything he said that we disagree with and explain why I disagree to my children. To be prepared for the real world, children need to understand what they believe and why, and be willing to discuss that in a civilized manner. They need to be taught to think and not just simply regurgitate what they've been told. And they need not be afraid of being exposed to people and views that differ from their own.

By the same token, I am happy to see people questioning and concerned, not just willing to accept and categorically support everything the president/government does. It is very healthy for the citizens to remind the government who works for who. I am NOT comparing Obama and his ideals to Hitler, but if the Germans had questioned and resisted Hitler more things probably would have turned out differently.

I think this a personal issue only you as a parent can decide & don't let anyone change your views. I do refuse to let my daughter watch it (not because of my belief) but becasue I do not know what is being said. I feel parents should have the opportunity to know first what there child is gonna hear... I think this was done all wrong in the way it was set up. My daughter's school is at least having a room for kids to go actually learn if not watching it but to all the schools that say all kids have to watch or don't come to school are a bunch of MORONS!!! Who gives them the right to decide that YOUR kids have to watch it instead of giving them the educational day they are there for..

I teach Civics to middle schoolers and we are definitely going to watch it. As educators and parents, we complain constantly about the lack of interest and motivation that our kids have in our community. Then, at one of the first opportunities that these kids have to listen to a political figure specifically address them, we're complaining? I teach my students to love America and respect the office of the president. No matter who the man (or woman), it's important that kids listen to this and critically discuss and reflect on what was being said. It's also a great opportunity for you, the parent, to have a meaningful discussion with your child about her place and contribution in our country.

One of the hallmarks of good citizenship is being informed. If every time we turned off the TV or closed our minds and ears to someone we disagreed with, would we not be just as ignorant as the people we criticize?