Link to Obama's Speech

[Julie in Austin]

Full text here.

[LibraryLover]

I like it. No references to Stalin or Pol Pot or Marx or anything. ;)

[Julie in Austin]

I like it. No references to Stalin or Pol Pot or Marx or anything. ;)

 

LOL!

 

The irony of all of this kerfluffle over his speech is that this speech is a conservative's dream: take responsibility for yourself no matter what!

[rowan25]

My problem was never that the Pres. was going to speak to the children. My problem was that the text of the speech wasn't posted until now and the lesson plans provided by the DOE.

[Orthodox6]

I just finished reading the text. In its present form, the text is innocuous. I like the mention of specific students from around the country. The inclusion of pop culture figures does not move me, but this probably is culturally useful. Unless the text is altered during actual delivery, with content that will upset parents, this seems closer to a "non-event."

 

As I thought before, why waste time from a school day, watching a broadcast of (1) something which can be read/understood in 1.5 minutes or fewer, (2) someone whom some people do not consider a role model with any "persuasive authority" over young people*, and of (3) a speech which provides neither new nor brilliant insights into the topic of education . . . ?

 

* No matter how I word it, somebody probably will twist my words into calling me racist. [sigh. . .] My point is that just because somebody is the President of the United States, that does not mean that a young person will consider him or her to hold any persuasive authority over him. I would not expect that former Pres. Bush's talk in a school bowled over all the students, for example. Sadly, many young people do not honor even their parents, never mind teachers, never mind a national President (whose office bestows on him/her the right to receive courteous behaviour).

 

Just provide the text of the speech to students for classroom discussion.

 

Anyone who ever has spent time in a school knows how much time will be spent for this activity -- obtaining the televisions and hook-ups, setting aside the room(s) for viewing, marshalling the inmates (oops, students) into lines to travel to the auditorium, seating everybody, commanding everybody to be quiet, . . . watching the brief presentation . . . attempting an orderly retreat to the classroom, struggling to accomplish anything for the remainder of the class period (or day). . .

[calandalsmom]

Anyone who has ever spent time in school will know that so what, that happens all the time anyway and this is no less useful than anything else that goes on there.

[calandalsmom]

My problem was never that the Pres. was going to speak to the children. My problem was that the text of the speech wasn't posted until now and the lesson plans provided by the DOE.

 

Typically speech texts arent provided a full 24 hrs before the address.

 

Be sincere. The problem is the speaker not the text and never was anything else.

[elizabeth]

Much ado about nothing. It is a conservatives dream. No excuses, no pandering to those born in less than ideal circumstances, nothing except a mantra of personal responsiblity and accountability. As expected. I wonder ,when those who readily believe the fear mongers each time they speak ,will begin to realize that x did not come to pass and y did not come to pass and just maybe ...at the end of the day it is smoke and mirrors. And making themselves a tidy bit of money scaring the bejeepers out of the "folks" they purport to serve.

[calandalsmom]

Much ado about nothing. It is a conservatives dream. No excuses, no pandering to those born in less than ideal circumstances, nothing except a mantra of personal responsiblity and accountability. As expected. I wonder ,when those who readily believe the fear mongers each time they speak ,will begin to realize that x did not come to pass and y did not come to pass and just maybe ...at the end of the day it is smoke and mirrors. And making themselves a tidy bit of money scaring the bejeepers out of the "folks" they purport to serve.

 

well said.

[Robin M]

Excellent speech, very well done. Growing up, we were taught to respect the president no matter what. I don't remember much complaining when other presidents over the years gave educational speeches.

 

I don't want to bring politics into this but suffix it to say I'm a conservative. I liked his speech because he is speaking to the kids and letting them know we can provide you things but it is what you do with it that counts.

 

Remember the chinese proverb

 

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

[nmoira]

But wait!! You know he was going to try all sorts of brainwashing techniques and turn our tots into liberal, marxist, socialists; thank heavens some were able to thwart him beforehand and change the content of the speech.

Dunno... there's still possibility of the evil eye or direct mind-to-mind transmission. Or perhaps the text is really some kind of code? What happens if you play it backwards? :lol:

 

Seriously though, it's a good speech. I hope all this foolishness stops now.

[sunshine]

Anyone who has ever spent time in school will know that so what, that happens all the time anyway and this is no less useful than anything else that goes on there.

 

 

:lol::lol::lol::lol::iagree: That is why I homeschool (as I listen to the chitter chatter of little children discussing their faith in a non combative atmosphere a.k.a. as the playroom)

[Word Nerd]

nt

Edited September 7, 2009 by WordGirl
double post

[Word Nerd]

I agree that it's much ado about nothing, but I'm afraid I can't go as far as to call it a "great" speech. Trite, perhaps.

[NoPlaceLikeHome]

LOL!

 

The irony of all of this kerfluffle over his speech is that this speech is a conservative's dream: take responsibility for yourself no matter what!

 

:iagree::iagree:

[MamaSheep]

I wish his political philosophies and practices lined up with this speech.

 

I am disturbed by the level of distrust among the general public for this president. I do not think it bodes well for the country. I don't think it's entirely undeserved, either, which probably bodes even worse. I really wish we could have a president of either party that could draw at least some level of trust and respect from the majority of the country, even if we didn't agree with everything he did or said. And I really wish that both "sides" of the mess would quit handing out ridiculous false dichotomies and demanding that we choose between one dangerous extreme "position" and another instead of having a rational discussion about reasonable solutions to real problems. It makes me tired.

[Lilymax]

I wish his political philosophies and practices lined up with this speech.

 

I am disturbed by the level of distrust among the general public for this president. I do not think it bodes well for the country. I don't think it's entirely undeserved, either, which probably bodes even worse. I really wish we could have a president of either party that could draw at least some level of trust and respect from the majority of the country, even if we didn't agree with everything he did or said. And I really wish that both "sides" of the mess would quit handing out ridiculous false dichotomies and demanding that we choose between one dangerous extreme "position" and another instead of having a rational discussion about reasonable solutions to real problems. It makes me tired.

 

:iagree: Spot on with your first sentence, particularly. Exactly what I was thinking.

[Lisa in Jax]

*If* he was going to say something more problematic before the "kerfluffle," I'm sure they changed it to make it less controversial so that they could say, "See? All that fuss over nothing!"

 

My problem with the whole thing was with the lesson plans, not the speech. Bush spoke to school kids on tv and other presidents have done so, as well. But none, to my knowledge, have included DOE-written lesson plans. Curriculum writing is not a job of the DOE. *That* part smacks of the gov't overstepping its responsibilities to me.

 

Lisa

who sincerely believes that a federal DOE is a waste of taxpayer money, and wishes it didn't exist.

[Audrey]

I like it. No references to Stalin or Pol Pot or Marx or anything. ;)

 

 

As a Marxist, I'm a little disappointed. After all the hoopla, I thought he was going to bring 'em all over to our side. :D

[LynneMcCormick]

LOL!

 

The irony of all of this kerfluffle over his speech is that this speech is a conservative's dream: take responsibility for yourself no matter what!

 

The BIG problem was the old lesson plans after the speech. Now that they changed the lesson plans to be more student focus, most people don't have a problem with it any more.

[teamturner]

*If* he was going to say something more problematic before the "kerfluffle," I'm sure they changed it to make it less controversial so that they could say, "See? All that fuss over nothing!"

 

My problem with the whole thing was with the lesson plans, not the speech. Bush spoke to school kids on tv and other presidents have done so, as well. But none, to my knowledge, have included DOE-written lesson plans. Curriculum writing is not a job of the DOE. *That* part smacks of the gov't overstepping its responsibilities to me.

 

Lisa

who sincerely believes that a federal DOE is a waste of taxpayer money, and wishes it didn't exist.

 

:iagree: :iagree:

 

I don't believe for a second that this speech is exactly as it was before the outcry. The original assignment was supposed to be for the kids to write down ways they could help the president accomplish his goals. There is no mention of his goals in this speech, so what were the children to base their assignment on??

 

Aside from that, I like his speech as it is now and I'm all for any president giving such an address to school kids. Hopefully this time a larger section of students will take this pep talk to heart and feel like they CAN change their circumstances if they work hard. That is a message that is worth class time in many schools where students don't have family support and face difficult obstacles.

[nmoira]

*If* he was going to say something more problematic before the "kerfluffle," I'm sure they changed it to make it less controversial so that they could say, "See? All that fuss over nothing!"

Of course, there's a flipside to proactive kerfuffling... Let x= "an unknown quantity": "Our vigilance forced them to change x to a more acceptable form." I've already seen this presented as fact. This type of kerfuffling is a hammer, a rhetorical tool and nothing more. What I crave is reasoned debate about the many serious issues we're facing, rather than soundbites, dissembling, outright lies, diversions, and shenanigans.

[OnTheBrink]

*If* he was going to say something more problematic before the "kerfluffle," I'm sure they changed it to make it less controversial so that they could say, "See? All that fuss over nothing!"

 

My problem with the whole thing was with the lesson plans, not the speech. Bush spoke to school kids on tv and other presidents have done so, as well. But none, to my knowledge, have included DOE-written lesson plans. Curriculum writing is not a job of the DOE. *That* part smacks of the gov't overstepping its responsibilities to me.

 

Lisa

who sincerely believes that a federal DOE is a waste of taxpayer money, and wishes it didn't exist.

 

:iagree:

[cougarmom4]

:iagree: :iagree:

 

I don't believe for a second that this speech is exactly as it was before the outcry.

 

 

:iagree:

[briansmama]

After reading the speech, I'm left wondering how children are supposed to fail and try again in a system that flunks its' students who fail to perform well on tests the first time?

 

I think it's a well-written speech for an education with an alternative format (homeschooling, for example), but doesn't apply to these kids who are actually in institutionalized schools.

 

I'm also wondering how many teachers are going to be available to answer all of these extra questions that Obama is encouraging these students to ask? I know that around here, the younger grades are no longer enjoying a 1:20 classroom ratio and will be maxed out this year.

[Vida Winter]

I read the speech this morning. Seemed fine - although this version has almost certainly been gone over with a fine tooth comb in order to make sure nothing could be misconstrued. I'm not at all convinced that the originally planned version was like this at all. And the lesson plans were out of line.

 

These are two things I know:

 

1. I do not trust this President.

 

2. He responds to public pressure.

[Peek a Boo]

I wish his political philosophies and practices lined up with this speech.

 

 

no kidding.

 

this seems rather obvious, but it shows unabashedly that those who think this speech is a "conservative's dream" know NOTHING about conservatives.

 

conservatives expect you to walk the walk, not just deliver a "nice speech".

 

"exercise personal responsibility --now turn over your individual rights and care for everyone else at the point of a gun."

 

my, how he doth speaketh from both sides of his mouth.

 

typical politician.

[TXMary2]

I haven't had issue with the/a President making a speech to school kids. My issue is with the "suggested lesson plan" and how it suggests reading books about Presidents and/or Barack Obama. The lesson plan asks the kids to "help" the President. Anyone that thinks a teacher who is rah-rah for the President isn't going to be bringing up his pet causes and trying to influence her students towards her ideology just isn't thinking clearly. Teachers have captive audiences and overwhlemingly (according to statistics I have previously read) teachers vote Democratic. So, there are many things that could happen that would be inappropriate for the classroom. I think if the speech was put out on tv after school hours then parents really could CHOOSE if their kids watched it. Pushing it on the schools during precious teaching time is just ridiculous. I would say this about ANY President trying to do what this administration is currently doing with regards to this speech.

[JWSJ]

I think it's a well-written speech for an education with an alternative format (homeschooling, for example), but doesn't apply to these kids who are actually in institutionalized schools.

 

I had similar thoughts. I also see no mention of homeschooling in the speech. Aren't what homeschoolers (both parents and students) doing (taking responsibility) exactly what the President is talking about?

 

Why no mention of the people who are doing exactly what he is promoting?

[calandalsmom]

I had similar thoughts. I also see no mention of homeschooling in the speech. Aren't what homeschoolers (both parents and students) doing (taking responsibility) exactly what the President is talking about?

 

Why no mention of the people who are doing exactly what he is promoting?

 

I guess you missed the part where his mom basically did homeschool him because they couldnt afford the school most american kids attended.

 

Im not sure why you'd think homeschoolers deserve some special mention in the speech.

 

This speech in concert with this thread proves what I suspected all along: that this man could dress in drag and do the hula (to borrow from the Lion King movie) and some of you would complain that he wore too much eyeliner and not enough blush.

[funschooler5]

:

 

I don't believe for a second that this speech is exactly as it was before the outcry.

 

 

I would love to know what some of you thought was in the "original" speech.

 

I don't agree with many (most) of the president's policies, but I don't think he had any hidden motives with this speech. I think he's smart enough to know that many people don't agree with him...why would he risk angering a good portion of the public by putting something controversial in there? He knows that snippets of the speech will be played over and over again on "news" shows, while talking heads argue over his body language and speech patterns.

[JWSJ]

Ain't that the truth! I find it overwhelmingly funny how the twisted knickers just keep on getting more bunched up and uncomfortable...

 

You're right.

 

May I introduce you to the public...

[OnTheBrink]

I'm happy to see this discussion has no mean-spirited jabs.

[Heather in OK]

Eh. It's ok.

 

What rubs me the wrong way are the many references to dedication to our country, not letting the country down, etc.

 

 

It seems as if it's just all about what are you going to do for your country. Are you dedicated enough to work for the good of the country? And for goodness sake, don't let your country down.

 

If my kids were in PS and it was being shown, I would not have them watch it. Yes, dedication to your country and being a part of making that country great is important. But we (read: what our family believes) also work and do everything to the glory of God. That is our focus and our North, not directing our goals for the good of our country.

[Carol in Cal.]

Eh. It's ok.

 

What rubs me the wrong way are the many references to dedication to our country, not letting the country down, etc.

 

 

It seems as if it's just all about what are you going to do for your country. Are you dedicated enough to work for the good of the country? And for goodness sake, don't let your country down.

 

If my kids were in PS and it was being shown, I would not have them watch it. Yes, dedication to your country and being a part of making that country great is important. But we (read: what our family believes) also work and do everything to the glory of God. That is our focus and our North, not directing our goals for the good of our country.

 

I can easily imagine President Bush saying the exact same thing. Remember where he was when the planes hit the towers? In a classroom, reading to a bunch of elementary school students.

 

Stop and think, if he had said this, would you have the same reaction to it?

 

I like the fact that kids are here encouraged to envision reaching their goals and doing well in school as having a meaning and a value beyond just that to themselves.

 

I do agree that service to God trumps both, but I don't think that that would stop me from letting my DD listen to this.

[Heather in OK]

Um, yeah. Bush was reading a book to kids, not giving a speech to them about being loyal to their country.

 

I do not need to stop and think. If Bush had made a speech similar to the one Obama is tomorrow, yes, I would feel EXACTLY the same way. Please do not make assumptions simply because I do not agree with the hive regarding the speech Obama is giving. ;)

 

I will agree that parts of it are good. Sure kids need to be motivated and all that jazz. And yes, for a country and an economy to function well it requires people working and doing their part. But the underlying message and references to the country that I quoted in my previous post do bother me.

[Lisa in Jax]

I would love to know what some of you thought was in the "original" speech.

 

I don't agree with many (most) of the president's policies, but I don't think he had any hidden motives with this speech. I think he's smart enough to know that many people don't agree with him...why would he risk angering a good portion of the public by putting something controversial in there? He knows that snippets of the speech will be played over and over again on "news" shows, while talking heads argue over his body language and speech patterns.

 

I don't think he had *hidden* motives at all. I think that he (once again) assumed that "everyone" agrees with *his* perspective on the role of government in average citizens' lives. I imagine that he (along with his advisors) was shocked by the outcry when his speech was announced.

 

To me, it seems that Mr. Obama truly doesn't understand that a whole segment of the US population does not need (or want) the president to tell us to assume responsibility for our education/finances/lives. Many of us already do so, without a government employee or program telling us to do so.

 

Lisa

[calandalsmom]

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/07/laura-bush-defends-obama-school-speech/

 

Here's Laura Bush's opinion on this.

 

"Its really important to respect the president of the United States."

[Mrs Mungo]

:iagree: :iagree:

 

I don't believe for a second that this speech is exactly as it was before the outcry. The original assignment was supposed to be for the kids to write down ways they could help the president accomplish his goals. There is no mention of his goals in this speech, so what were the children to base their assignment on??

 

That isn't true. It suggested that teachers ask students to "write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president." There was NO mention of how the students could help the president accomplish HIS goals.

 

I totally agree with Carol. Presidents have addressed students before. Presidents have asked things of school children before. Presidents have appeared in schools. Presidential speeches have been watched in schools before.

 

Teachers have captive audiences and overwhlemingly (according to statistics I have previously read) teachers vote Democratic. So, there are many things that could happen that would be inappropriate for the classroom.

 

Did you go to public school? I did and I can tell you that in my schools teachers *often* brought politics into the classroom, on both sides of the aisle. I had an elementary school teacher who thought Reagan was going to take the country into war with Russia and I had a middle school teacher who thought Nixon was the best president the US has ever had. If you are choosing to put your children into other people's hands for the majority of their day, every day, you are taking that risk, regardless of a presidential speech or visit. We talked to my parents about politics, they talked to us. My mom was a one-issue Republican voter for a long time until she realized the Republicans had no real interest or drive to change that issue.

[Sebastian (a lady)]

Actually, this makes me think about how much public attitudes toward teaching kids about sensitive topics has changed. I grew up in the 70s and 80s. In this era, there were after school specials a couple of times a semester. Some were on topics like the death of a family member or the Holocaust. Others were dramatized works of fiction (I remember Bradbury stories as a couple of these). There were educational tie ins. But the actual viewing was done at home, after school. Or not.

 

In a similar vein, the health classes on puberty for 5th and 6th graders required a permission slip to participate, rather than being standard with an optional opt out.

 

There has been a shift in thinking that the schools have an obligation to provide guidance on a host of topics that were previously covered by the family or faith community. I would even go so far as to say that the education establishment sees itself as specially equipped to cover these topics because they are the professionals. And there is a faction within education that sees instruction on topics of social/evironmental/political nature as being more important than instruction in reading, writing and arithmetic.

 

There is so very much to cover in math, reading, writing and history. Not to mention basic economics, science, art and music. I do really resent the time that is given over to "good causes." Every half hour at the end of the school day for collecting quarters for the United Way (just as an example) is a half hour that isn't used for a read aloud, math review, or science experiment. Over ten years ago, I did classroom observations as part of my MS Ed. I was struck by how little time the kids spent on anything academic on some days.

[Melinda in VT]

I don't think he had *hidden* motives at all. I think that he (once again) assumed that "everyone" agrees with *his* perspective on the role of government in average citizens' lives. I imagine that he (along with his advisors) was shocked by the outcry when his speech was announced.

 

To me, it seems that Mr. Obama truly doesn't understand that a whole segment of the US population does not need (or want) the president to tell us to assume responsibility for our education/finances/lives. Many of us already do so, without a government employee or program telling us to do so.

 

Lisa

 

:001_huh:

 

I think Obama absolutely understands that many people are responsible without government telling them to be so.

 

What I think he didn't understand (and frankly, I don't understand it either) is that some people would be offended by the President delivering a speech about doing well in school to students at the beginning of the school year.

 

Let's face it. There are kids whose parents and neighbors do not encourage them to do well in school. Who, in fact, dismiss education as unnecessary or undesirable or unattainable. Is it inappropriate for their teachers and principals, and yes, the President of the United States, to try to show them a different way? To encourage them to make the most of their opportunities?

[teamturner]

That isn't true. It suggested that teachers ask students to "write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president." There was NO mention of how the students could help the president accomplish HIS goals.

 

I totally agree with Carol. Presidents have addressed students before. Presidents have asked things of school children before. Presidents have appeared in schools. Presidential speeches have been watched in schools before.

 

 

 

Did you go to public school? I did and I can tell you that in my schools teachers *often* brought politics into the classroom, on both sides of the aisle. I had an elementary school teacher who thought Reagan was going to take the country into war with Russia and I had a middle school teacher who thought Nixon was the best president the US has ever had. If you are choosing to put your children into other people's hands for the majority of their day, every day, you are taking that risk, regardless of a presidential speech or visit. We talked to my parents about politics, they talked to us. My mom was a one-issue Republican voter for a long time until she realized the Republicans had no real interest or drive to change that issue.

 

I thought the outcry was because he was going to mention his goals. What goals were they then? In what way were students supposed to help the president? That's all I'm saying about the speech possibly being changed. There is now no mention of any kind of goals other than children's own educational goals. Why then did the DOE change the assignment? What was wrong w/the first one?

 

Yes, I was in ps all my life. Yes, I saw obvious political bias in my schooling but I mostly remember teachers who did not like Reagan's policies. I know that biases existed in ps when I was there.

 

And like I said before, I think it is fine for any president to discuss doing well in school and setting personal goals for your life, etc. Where I think many people drew the line was him "possibly" discussing his policies in the speech. We'll probably never know if this was in the speech and then removed, I personally think so. But that's just my opinion.

[NoPlaceLikeHome]

OMG, he changed his speech. It must be an evil plot on the part of President Obama:tongue_smilie:

[calandalsmom]

 

And like I said before, I think it is fine for any president to discuss doing well in school and setting personal goals for your life, etc. Where I think many people drew the line was him "possibly" discussing his policies in the speech. We'll probably never know if this was in the speech and then removed, I personally think so. But that's just my opinion.

 

 

What evidence for this could you possibly offer?

[Peek a Boo]

I'm happy to see this discussion has no mean-spirited jabs.

 

yeah, me too. It's only "mean spirited" if it's coming from the right ;)

 

stuff like ......

references to Stalin or Pol Pot or Marx

fear mongers

smoke and mirrors

scaring the bejeepers out of

brainwashing techniques

turn our tots into liberal, marxist, socialists

to thwart him beforehand

so fun to be scared

Fear Rules!!

possibility of the evil eye

direct mind-to-mind transmission

text is really some kind of code

if you play it backwards?

foolishness

hoopla

must be an evil plot

 

.....are merely observations based on facts, not jabs. ;)

[OnTheBrink]

What evidence for this could you possibly offer?

 

Maybe how the teacher's notes don't really go with this speech?

[Jen500]

"exercise personal responsibility --now turn over your individual rights and care for everyone else at the point of a gun."

 

 

Don't forget this one, Peek!

[calandalsmom]

Maybe how the teacher's notes don't really go with this speech?

 

in what way?

[Peek a Boo]

Don't forget this one, Peek!

Originally Posted by Peek a Boo

"exercise personal responsibility --now turn over your individual rights and care for everyone else at the point of a gun."

 

 

 

That is a fact -- try not paying your taxes [or healthcare fees that are being pushed for mandatory inclusion or penalties] and resisting arrest.

 

go ahead. let me know how that works for you.

 

see?! like i said --if it's from the right, it's "mean spirited." LOL!

[Heather in OK]

"Its really important to respect the president of the United States."

I couldn't agree more.

 

And like I said before, I think it is fine for any president to discuss doing well in school and setting personal goals for your life, etc. Where I think many people drew the line was him "possibly" discussing his policies in the speech.

:iagree: And for me the line is drawn when I read the comments about having such a loyalty to the country.