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Home > Blogs > Lakota Schools News and Issues > Archives > 2009 > September > 03 > Entry
Are parents pushing political views on children?
Tuesday President Obama will be addressing the children of the country on the topic of education. He apparently will speak about how important effort is on the part of children, teachers and parents to focus on studies.
The interesting thing about this is that local school districts, whether they formally are showing the speech or allowing teachers to make the decisions to show it, are getting phone calls from angry parents. Many of those parents say they are afraid Obama will get off topic and talk about health care reform or the environment. Others say they just don’t want their children listening to this president. Some have threatened to pull children out of school if the districts show the speech. In districts like Fairfield, officials say they are offering alternative options for parents who wish to remove their children from the room during the viewing.
It seems politics are so divisive in this country that a speech from the president causes parents extreme concern. In your opinion, is it a dislike of a political party, the political person giving the speech or the idea of a political speech given to children the reason some parents wish to pull their child from class or even from school on Tuesday?
Lakota has opted to tape the program and offer it to teachers who want to show it. Here is a link to their press release.
What are your thoughts on the matter? http://www.ed.gov/teachers/how/lessons/prek-6.doc">Here is a link to the supplemental materials to be used in the speech and if you keep reading, you will see an initial letter sent to some principals last week.
Letter sent to principals:
“In a recent interview with student reporter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP-695ATg-c , Damon Weaver, President Obama announced that on September 8 - the first day of school for many children across America - he will deliver a national address directly to students on the importance of education. The President will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning. He will also call for a shared responsibility and commitment on the part of students, parents and educators to ensure that every child in every school receives the best education possible so they can compete in the global economy for good jobs and live rewarding and productive lives as American citizens. Since taking office, the President has repeatedly focused on education, even as the country faces two wars, the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and major challenges on issues like energy and health care. The President believes that education is a critical part of building a new foundation for the American economy. Educated people are more active civically and better informed on issues affecting their lives, their families and their futures. This is the first time an American president has spoken directly to the nation’s school children about persisting and succeeding in school. We encourage you to use this historic moment to help your students get focused and begin the school year strong. I encourage you, your teachers, and students to join me in watching the President deliver this address on Tuesday, September 8, 2009. It will be broadcast live on the White House website www.whitehouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/ at 1:00 p.m. eastern standard time. In advance of this address, we would like to share the following resources: a menu of classroom activities for students in grades preK-6 http://www.ed.gov/teachers/how/lessons/prek-6.doc and for students in grades 7-12 http://www.ed.gov/teachers/how/lessons/7-12.doc . These are ideas developed by and for teachers to help engage students and stimulate discussion on the importance of education in their lives. We are also staging a student video contest on education. Details of the video contest will be available on our website www.ed.gov http://www.ed.gov/ in the coming weeks.
On behalf of all Americans, I want to thank our educators who do society’s most important work by preparing our children for work and for life. No other task is more critical to our economic future and our social progress. I look forward to working with you in the months and years ahead to continue improving the quality of public education we provide all of our children. Sincerely, Arne Duncan
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By JimBob
September 3, 2009 9:28 PM | Link to this
I have mixed feelings on this one. I don’t like a lot of what the President is doing right now, but I want my child to know who the President is, and know that his postition should be respected. I do not want to see too large of a government, so the phrase “How can I help the president.” sends red flags, but overall I think this is harmless. After all how bad is it that the president is telling us, our children, and our teachers to focus on our studies.
By Benpup
September 4, 2009 8:05 AM | Link to this
It appears that the Dear Leader is meeting some resistance to his indoctrination os the children. It there such a thing as political pedophila?
By Benpup
September 4, 2009 8:06 AM | Link to this
It appears that the Dear Leader is meeting some resistance to his indoctrination of the children. It there such a thing as political pedophila?
By Tess
September 4, 2009 8:36 AM | Link to this
I love the title of this article……” Are parents pushing political views on children?” They say it like it’s a BAD thing….oh wait, PARENTS aren’t to “teach” their kids anything….that’s the media and/or governments job. All that “takes a village” foolishness.
By cmarie
September 4, 2009 8:38 AM | Link to this
These are probably the same people running around in 2003-2004 saying if you didn’t support President Bush you were unpatriotic.
By V
September 4, 2009 9:41 AM | Link to this
Absolutely I am involved in my child’s teachings. When he is old enough to make his own decisions, he should do just that. Until then it is my responsibility as his parent to teach him. I am a parent who is very involved in every aspect of my child’s life. Shame on the writer who titled this story. I agree it sounds as though us parenting our children is a bad thing. You sure want us to be involved when kids are running the streets.
By Tess
September 4, 2009 10:03 AM | Link to this
Cmarie, but why is it OK for folks to say your un-american or a racist if they don’t support President Obama now? That’s what the LEADERSHIP of the Democratic party has gone on record with…Pelosi, Reid, Rangle. Freedom of speech flows both ways. Where’s the outcry over it now?
By Skeptic
September 4, 2009 10:22 AM | Link to this
It is absolutely SHAMEFUL that people are refusing to even just listen to what our President has to say on such an important topic. Our society is failing to teach people basic civic responsibility anymore. If a person only hears one side of the story, he or she is in no position to have a valid opinion. As the saying goes, we can disagree without being disagreeable. Grow up, people.
By Tess
September 4, 2009 11:04 AM | Link to this
I agree that adults should hear someone out before making a judgment but these are CHILDREN and we all know how easily they believe what they are told…..Easter Bunny? Santa? Tooth Fairy?? Parents have a right to screen what their kids are exposed to, plain and simple. Just because it’s the President does not make a bit of difference. And the questions that were going to be asked of these children were NOT about how THEY could be better STUDENTS…but how they could help HIM. Help him what? I think that bothered folks more than anything.
By Dan
September 4, 2009 3:50 PM | Link to this
I Pledge to Barack Obama. I solemnly and formally promise to Barack Obama. Have you seen the commercial for our children. Watch it and laugh. I pledge not to flush unless I go #2. I pledge to be called American, not African-American. I pledge to not flip someone off while I am driving. This is not the garbage I want my government feeding my children. I have no problem with a President encouraging children the way their parents should already be encouraging them. I DO have a problem with the Socialist agenda of the Obama and his radical administration of do as I say, not as I do. This is where the real concern and reaction is coming from. As an analogy, say there was a teacher who verbally abused your child every time they came to school. Would you say, go ahead son or daughter, go to that teacher’s house. It will be different since it will be AFTER school. That is not only naive on the part of the parent, it is also cruel to the child. Education is the primary responsibility of Parents, NOT the government.
By bugford
September 5, 2009 10:44 PM | Link to this
The headline is fascinating. As if the President should be on equal footing with parents in regards to their children. What parents teach their kids is up to the parent. What the President wants to teach their kids is also up to the parent. Presidents are in charge of the Executive Branch of government. Parents are in charge of their children.