Obama's address to students Across America 9/8???

[fedupinwaukegan]

Does anyone know if this is something our schools are going to be doing?? I suppose I can call or ask my childrens' teachers -but just wondered. Bruce?


Obama’s next effort: a Children’s Crusade?
posted at 2:21 pm on September 1, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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Drudge featured the breaking news story that Barack Obama would hold a nationwide speech for elementary-school children a week from today, touching off a flurry of e-mails wondering what Obama had in mind. Will this be just an opportunity to learn more about government? Or will Obama try pitching ObamaCare to the Sesame Street set?

The teaching guidelines don’t really give much of a hint:

President Obama’s Address to Students Across America September 8, 2009 -

One does leap out: “Write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the President.” Is that an elective or a prerequisite for mathematics?

Presidents often visit classrooms and talk to students. It usually makes a good photo op to put the President with children who obviously enjoy the attention, and there’s no harm in it. It can be a good teaching moment for civics instruction, which this nation does poorly at delivering. The timing can even be explained as the first week in which all children will return to school, and since for many of them it will be their first day, it won’t interrupt their normal curriculum.

Still, the nationwide speech aspect of this is unprecedented, and a little odd. Coming as it does on the heels of a disastrous summer, it’s not surprising that people are suspicious, including the boss:

Will Obama be able to resist issuing a call to youth arms to marshal help in passing his legislative agenda?

The thing is: He won’t need to make the call explicit.

Obama zealot teachers like this one across the country will do all the extra-curricular bullying and haranguing for him.

They probably don’t need Obama pushing them to do that, anyway, although it will certainly give them more energy to do so.

If Obama sticks to education and personal achievement in his speech, there should be no controversy. Parents should prepare their children for the difference between political speeches and actual facts in any case, which will be a most useful education regardless of what Obama has to say in his speech.



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Here is a link to the teacher's notes and guidelines. Some of the comments mention that they are going to be keeping their children home that day.

[fedupinwaukegan]

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51kAw4OTlA0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51kAw4OTlA0</a><!-- m -->

Here is another video that is getting attention.

Not all of us like celebrities to tell us what to pledge... I read this video is being played for students in classes.

"I pledge to be a servant to our president and all mankind..."

Now that's a bit spooky hock:

[fedupinwaukegan]

THE BRIEFING ROOM



THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
_______________________________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 2, 2009

MEDIA ADVISORY: President Obama to Speak Directly to Students in National Address on Educational Success

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As children across America go back to school, President Obama will deliver a national address directly to students on the importance of taking responsibility for their success in school on Tuesday, September 8th at 12:00 PM EDT at Wakefield High School in Arlington. In advance of this address, the Department of Education is providing resources developed by and for teachers to help engage students and stimulate discussion about persisting and succeeding in school. The speech will be broadcast live on <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.WhiteHouse.gov">www.WhiteHouse.gov</a><!-- w --> and C-SPAN. The speech is open to pre-credentialed media. The deadline to request credentials is 6:00PM EDT tomorrow, Thursday, September 3rd.

September 8, 2009

PRESIDENT OBAMA DELIVERS NATIONAL ADDRESS TO AMERICA’S SCHOOCHILDREN
Wakefield High School
4901 S. Chesterfield Rd.
Arlington, VA 22206

Media Pre-set: 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM (All equipment must be dropped at the site by 7:00 AM; media will not have access to their equipment from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM.)
Media Access: 10:00 AM

Throw: 60 ft.
Cable run: 600 ft.
Live truck parking: Trucks should enter the entrance off Dinwiddie Street and will be directed on site. All live trucks must RSVP with vehicle information. Trucks must plan to park by 7:00 AM. Live truck operators must bring cable ramps.

Media entrance: Entrance number 2, off Dinwiddie St.

Media Coverage: This event is open to pre-credentialed media. To request credentials, please RSVP online at: <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/the_press_office/MediaRSVP-EducationAddress-9-8-09/">www.WhiteHouse.gov/the_press_office/Med ... ss-9-8-09/</a><!-- w -->. The deadline to RSVP is 6:00PM EDT tomorrow, Thursday, September 3rd.

All names submitted for credentials must be accurate and reflect the identification media presents at check points for entrance. RSVPs do not guarantee access. You will receive a confirmation e-mail if you will receive a credential to cover the event.

Contact for logistical and planning purposes only: Johanna Maska at <!-- e --><a href="mailto:jmaska@who.eop.gov">jmaska@who.eop.gov</a><!-- e -->.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/MEDIA-ADVISORY-President-Obama-to-Speak-Directly-to-Students-in-National-Address-on-Educational-Success/">http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_off ... l-Success/</a><!-- m -->

[fedupinwaukegan]

This is in the Daily Herald this morning. The comments are very interesting... hock:


Obama back-to-school address a matter of debate for local districts
By Eric Peterson | Daily Herald Staff


President Barack Obama

Some suburban school districts were kept busy Wednesday clarifying their positions on a controversial back-to-school Webcast next Tuesday by President Barack Obama.

Barrington Unit District 220 spokesman Jeff Arnett said administrators received about three dozen inquiries from parents concerned that Obama's address will contain political overtones that their children will be mandated to watch.

In fact, the district will leave the decision of whether to view Obama's address to the discretion of teachers, parents and students, Arnett said.

Individual teachers will decide whether to screen the speech at all, but students will then be able to excuse themselves if they or their parents so choose.

Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54 officials heard similar concerns about the speech and set similar guidelines, allowing teachers to show it but not make its viewing mandatory.

District 54 spokeswoman Terri McHugh said she spoke directly to some parents who said they were concerned about the speech but none elaborated on their objections.

Obama's address, which will air live from a high school in Virginia, is scheduled for 11 a.m. local time Tuesday and will be shown on both whitehouse.gov and C-SPAN. The White House Web site says the president will talk about the importance of children taking responsibility for their education and setting goals.

Andrew Palomo, the parent of a student at District 220's Barrington Middle School-Prairie Campus, believes the speech will be both political and unnecessary.

"I don't recall ever having a sitting president addressing schoolchildren," Palomo said. "For major events, maybe, but not the first day of school. The whole thing makes me angry as an American."

While Palomo said he found District 220 administrators to be very responsive to his concerns, he also felt the e-mail sent from the school principal somewhat condescending in its promise that children could be removed from the Webcast viewing in a "respectful and discreet manner."

Palomo said he felt this language implied there was something shameful about choosing to not participate.

Britta Wasem, the parent of children at Barrington High School and Lines Elementary in District 220, said the first she heard about the controversy was when she was told that viewing the speech would not be required.

But Wasem believes her freshman daughter is old enough to make up her own opinion, and that the speech would not be inappropriate even for her younger child.

"My honest opinion is he is the president and he should be shown some respect," Wasem said. "It'll probably make for an interesting dinner conversation. I have the tendency to think about things before I react."


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[Penguin40]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51kAw4OTlA0

"I pledge to be a servant to our president and all mankind..."

Now that's a bit spooky hock:

WHAT?!? A servant to HIM??? I thought the Prez worked for US!! :evil:

[fedupinwaukegan]

That line got to me too, penguin. I read an article once where people pledged to be a servant to King George and his will. Bloggers are having a field day with this issue. Any word about our school district?

Anyway, here is an update. Much controversy and discussion has come about due to this issue. The White House has withdrawn the proposal that students write what they can do for the president. Partisan politics aside, the articles mentions the Dept. of Education cannot dictate curriculum to the states.



White House Withdraws Call for Students to 'Help' Obama
President Obama's plan to speak to the nation's schoolchildren in a video address next week erupted into controversy as critics claimed he was trying to indoctrinate America's kids.

FOXNews.com

Thursday, September 03, 2009


The Obama administration is rethinking its course recommendations for students ahead of President Obama's address to the the nation's schoolchildren next week, rewriting its suggestions to teachers for student assignments on how to "help the president."

White House aides said the language was supposed to be an inspirational, pro-education message to America's youths, but its unintended consequences were evident.

Among the activities initially suggested for pre-K to 6th grade students was to "write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president."

Another assignment for students after hearing the speech was to discuss what "the president wants us to do."

The suggestion about writing letters has since been changed to: "Write letters to themselves about how they can achieve their short-term and long-term education goals. These would be collected and redistributed at an appropriate later date by the teacher to make students accountable to their goals."

White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said the changes to the language are intended to make the lesson plans clearer. He added that the speech is not a policy speech, but is intended to encourage kids to work hard and commit to school.

The speech is "about the value of education and the importance of staying in school as part of his effort to dramatically cut the dropout rate," Vietor said.

The Washington Times was first to report Thursday that the plan was being reconsidered. Presidential aides also acknowledged to the newspaper that they helped the U.S. Education Department write the suggested assignments, which stirred criticism by many who say Obama is trying to indoctrinate the education system.

Christina Erland Culver, former deputy assistant secretary for education, said presidents have traditionally addressed classrooms on the first day of school, but the problem with the event was the accompanying materials from the Department of Education.

"That's where they kind of got into a slippery spot. Federal statute denies any authority to the Department of Education to provide any kind of curriculum or anything that can be passed down to the state, and that's part of the statute forming the Department of Education. So they kinda got themselves into this mess because they didn't really understand some of the key legal roles or the dos and don'ts at the federal Department of Ed," she said.

A White House blog posted Thursday, accompanied by two Web videos on the importance of education, said Obama would use his address to "urge students to take personal responsibility for their own education."

[sunny]

With all the institute days, meetings, testing, & other events that disrupt school day during the school year do we really need another? It is the beginning of the school year and teacher need to be foused on getting into the routine. I don't see how this message is going to do anything other than take away from teaching time. It seems like a waste of time. Why not show the video in the evenings when parents can watch it with the kids while doing homework?

[veryconcerned]

First, I'm surprised the district website has not addressed this speech and whether or not it will be played in classrooms. My son's district has a huge letter from the superintendant on its website saying they will not be watching it.

Second, maybe teachers can make this a homework assignment for the students to watch it in the evening with a parent or guardian, so if a parent does feel in disagreement, they can talk to their kids about it. Make it a writing assignment.

I know I'm going to watch it Tuesday evening with my son.