Obama Speaks to School Kids

[2112]

Originally Posted by Martha

Nevermind.

I think I figured it out on my own...while I was busy patting myself on the back for shuttin' up the Bird , 2112 was looking at the opt-out letter that comes standard fare at the beginning of the year. I don't believe they (egusd) knew of the plans for 9/8 when that was printed and distributed district-wide and, most likely, could have never imagined so many people ACROSS THE COUNTRY are flipping out about something that NOBODY has seemed to be able to offer the content of. For all y'all know, he may be gonna talk about the merits of cherry tomatoes over cantaloupe. And ya got all atwitter.

(seriously, and I mean that in all seriousness, you need to pay close attention to what is going on in our local government, ie: RMA...THOSE people will impact your daily life in (potentially worse) ways than anything Obama might say on t.v. Ever. EVER!)

Just sayin'.

The opt out letter was dated 9-3-09 and specifically referenced the President's speech.

[pingtheduck]

Originally Posted by 2112

President's have been in front of school children before. This is nothing new.

The 'new' part is attempting to communicate to all kids who attend school while completely bypassing the people who are raising the kids and compelling the education system to deliver a lesson from the leader of the country.

What if this becomes a series - like fireside chats? Maybe the President would like to tackle: How to be a good American, Your duty as an American citizen...

The Soviet Union and China both decided that they can do a better job raising good citizens than the parents can.

Here's what would work and I would applaud the effort -
Do the same thing but at night so the kids could watch with their parents or
Make it autobiographical - what he and Michelle do at home to help their kids be successful in school.

Good teachers know that the best way to help kids learn is to form a partnership with parents.

Here's what is telling - President Obama and his staff are reportedly blindsided by the negative response. That's because this is a natural behavior for them. Big, bigger, biggest government. All encompassing government. We can provide health care, sell you cars, lend you money and raise your kids. All better than you can.

[RanchHQ]

"And who better to dictate the lesson plan than the president's secretary of education, Arne Duncan, a man who left Chicago's school district with a meager 40 percent dropout rate?" - David Harsayni



September 4, 2009
How Can I Help, Mr. President?

By David Harsanyi

Why would anyone want to deprive impressionable school-age children of hearing the inspiring wisdom of the president? Barack Obama is determined to impart his knowledge upon our pliable offspring via webcast across the country next week, and we should not stand in his way.

This is, as they say, a teachable moment. There is nothing to fear.

Naturally, teachers and parents, incapable of handling the sheer concentrated intellectual force of such a historic event, have been forwarded a detailed lesson plan by the Department of Education (sic) so that no child will be blinded inadvertently by the dazzling light of hope.

Initially, part of the strategy was to guide our kiddies tenderly through this event by asking them to "write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president," which then would be collected so that teachers could hold students "accountable" at an appropriate later date.

Example: Dear Madison, How can I help President Obama save the world from global warming when my daddy is a meanie who hates poor babies and thinks a Prius is emasculating?

My initial reaction to the news, naturally, was to visualize the violent Java-induced (organic and fair-trade only!) pitchforked insurrection that would have exploded in my well-heeled, crunchy, peace-loving neighborhood had George W. Bush lectured local kids on anything. And predictably, Obama's speech has generated a similar reaction from some demonstrably unpatriotic parents across the country -- and it seems gratuitous.

To begin with, even if the president delivered an openly politicized speech, which he won't, your kids would survive the unpleasant experience. Most of our children have not been transformed into complete idiots yet by public education.

Moreover, if your child is incapable of handling a 20-minute haranguing from a self-important public servant, he will be tragically unprepared for the new world. (Whom do you think he will be dealing with when he needs that hip replacement in 60 years?)

Even if you oppose the president on a political level, it is empirically evident that the more one hears his homilies the less inclined one is to trust him. And Obama's penchants to lecture us endlessly, to be the center of attention endlessly and to saturate the airwaves and national conversation are clear indications that he believes government is the answer to every societal, religious, economic and cultural question we face. Why should your kids be immune?

Was it not the president's calm hand that guided a rattled nation through the shocking racial unrest in Cambridge, Mass., recently? Was it not this man whose decency enabled us to lift our collective head after the dark days of capitalist tyranny? And was it not this president who apologized to a slighted and misunderstood Muslim world (twice) for our sins?

Why should we deny that he can elevate our schoolchildren from the abyss so they finally, after decades of neglect, can learn again? And who better to dictate the lesson plan than the president's secretary of education, Arne Duncan, a man who left Chicago's school district with a meager 40 percent dropout rate?

Honestly, if I'm going to be badgered and browbeaten by the president every day, kids should suffer a bit, as well. The president has been treating the American people like schoolchildren for more than seven months -- with another "major address" on health care coming right after he talks to the kids.

When my own brood comes home next week, I'll explain that in this remarkable nation, anyone can become president -- though I hope they'll choose something more constructive -- and that daddies often hope the president fails. I even may help them with their homework:

Q: "What do you think the president wants us to do?" Nationalize health care?

Q: "Does the speech make you want to do anything?" Write a column.

Q: "Are we able to do what President Obama is asking of us?" God, I hope not.


Reach columnist David Harsanyi at dharsanyi@denverpost.com.

[RanchHQ]

Barack Obama’s effort to reach out to the nation’s students got big play on the Department of Education website. Unfortunately, it looks like the Department of Education needs a remedial course in spelling:




Delivers a national address to whom?



The nation’s schoochildren. Schoochildren? Does the White House need a Spelling Czar? (h/t HA reader Monica S)
Update: Reader Brennan points out that this misspelling originated with the White House:






LINK: Hot Air Blog Archive Obamateurism of the Day

[2112]

Originally Posted by pingtheduck

The 'new' part is attempting to communicate to all kids who attend school while completely bypassing the people who are raising the kids and compelling the education system to deliver a lesson from the leader of the country.

What if this becomes a series - like fireside chats? Maybe the President would like to tackle: How to be a good American, Your duty as an American citizen...

The Soviet Union and China both decided that they can do a better job raising good citizens than the parents can.

Here's what would work and I would applaud the effort -
Do the same thing but at night so the kids could watch with their parents or
Make it autobiographical - what he and Michelle do at home to help their kids be successful in school.

Good teachers know that the best way to help kids learn is to form a partnership with parents.

Here's what is telling - President Obama and his staff are reportedly blindsided by the negative response. That's because this is a natural behavior for them. Big, bigger, biggest government. All encompassing government. We can provide health care, sell you cars, lend you money and raise your kids. All better than you can.

Good thing we didn't have mass communication available to George Washington. I'd hate to see what he would have told the youth of our young country.

[2112]

Originally Posted by RanchHQ

Barack Obama’s effort to reach out to the nation’s students got big play on the Department of Education website. Unfortunately, it looks like the Department of Education needs a remedial course in spelling:




Delivers a national address to whom?



The nation’s schoochildren. Schoochildren? Does the White House need a Spelling Czar? (h/t HA reader Monica S)
Update: Reader Brennan points out that this misspelling originated with the White House:






LINK: Hot Air Blog Archive Obamateurism of the Day

I am enraged. How could this happen? Misspelled words. When will this nightmare end? Misspelling is the final step to a complete fascist take-over of the country. Time to impeach Obama. He and his administration obviously cannot spell. And you know what that means, fascist.

How do you spell potato(e)?

[Birdieman]

Originally Posted by 2112

Good thing we didn't have mass communication available to George Washington. I'd hate to see what he would have told the youth of our young country.

He wouldn't have said anything, because he wouldn't have been so dumb as to try this crap. This is nothing more than your typical liberal crap, help us guide our children because liberals think we're too dumb to do it on our own. Down size the government, keep us safe, grow the economy, but leave the molding of my children to me.

[Birdieman]

Originally Posted by 2112

I am enraged. How could this happen? Misspelled words. When will this nightmare end? Misspelling is the final step to a complete fascist take-over of the country. Time to impeach Obama. He and his administration obviously cannot spell. And you know what that means, fascist.

How do you spell potato(e)?

It has to suck when the party you believe in religiously sucks. They're as easy to make fun of as Cheesebrojim and Wilbur.

[pingtheduck]

Originally Posted by 2112

Good thing we didn't have mass communication available to George Washington. I'd hate to see what he would have told the youth of our young country.

We're on the same side on this 2112. If it was President Bush you'd be worried he'd close with God Bless America. Right now it's the precedent I'm concerned with, not the content. Just heard the White House will release the speech the day before so we can check it out. That's good. I also heard that Castro started exactly the same way. That's bad.

[2112]

Originally Posted by Birdieman

He wouldn't have said anything, because he wouldn't have been so dumb as to try this crap. This is nothing more than your typical liberal crap, help us guide our children because liberals think we're too dumb to do it on our own. Down size the government, keep us safe, grow the economy, but leave the molding of my children to me.

I'm selling WWWD bracelets. Want one Birdie?