09-02-2009, 05:21 PM
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?
Obamaâs next effort: a Childrenâs 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 donât really give much of a hint:
President Obamaâs Address to Students Across America September 8, 2009 -
One does leap out: âWrite letters to themselves about what they can do to help the President.â 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 thereâs 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 wonât 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, itâs 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 wonât 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 donât 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.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.docstoc.com/docs/10582301/President-Obama%E2%80%99s-Address-to-Students-Across-America-September-8-2009">http://www.docstoc.com/docs/10582301/Pr ... ber-8-2009</a><!-- m -->
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.
Obamaâs next effort: a Childrenâs Crusade?
posted at 2:21 pm on September 1, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Share on Facebook | regular view
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 donât really give much of a hint:
President Obamaâs Address to Students Across America September 8, 2009 -
One does leap out: âWrite letters to themselves about what they can do to help the President.â 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 thereâs 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 wonât 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, itâs 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 wonât 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 donât 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.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.docstoc.com/docs/10582301/President-Obama%E2%80%99s-Address-to-Students-Across-America-September-8-2009">http://www.docstoc.com/docs/10582301/Pr ... ber-8-2009</a><!-- m -->
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.