On Tuesday, President Obama gives what has now become a controversial speech. He is scheduled to talk directly to students and encourage them to stay in school. But critics say it is just a way for the President to push his political views on a captive audience of students. Supports say plenty of other presidents, like FDR, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush did it. So what is the big deal?
Do you want your students watching the speech? Would you rather have your school administrators watch it first and then decide whether to show it to students? Or should schools skip the speech completely?
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I am tired of people politicizing everything Obama tries to do or say. Every president for as long as I can remember has had things to say to students and children at school time, and other times. They were not accused from what I remember doing that to "push an agenda" or indotrinate children or others into accepting their political philosophies or current projects. People need to stop being so suspicious and paranoid. The parents are the people responsible and with the most influence over their children's beliefs and what they learn as facts,next to the schools. To try and put that blame or accuse others of having that influence is passing the buck, not taking responsibility for what you teach your kids and giving them credit for thinking on their own.
I guess I don't have any problems with the principal watching it first. But I do think this is getting blown out of proportion.
I will let my children watch it and I encourage others to do the same. I don't see what the big deal is with him addressing students about the importance of staying in school. Other Presidents have done the same with no objections at all. What are the parents who object afraid of? And as far as brainwashing as I have heard some say he is attempting, sure brainwash my children to stay in school, study harder, and strive for more as other countries do. In this day and age of high drop out rates, low education standards, and the acceptance of a G.E.D. as equal to getting a high school diploma someone other than parents, and teachers need to talk to students about the importance of a good education, studying hard, and finishing what you start. And as for the addressing and brainwashing, our children what is he hoping to accomplish remember, you must be 18 to vote so what is the objection about. Is that it or perhaps something deeper and more sinister. There has never been a President more scrutinized and criticised than this one and it not even year one of office amid huge issues going in.
Of course he should be allowed to speak to anyone he wants to address, anywhere and any time. This is America where we have freedom of speech for everyone - even the president.
Any person, especially the President of the United States, who thinks they can motivate students ages 6-17 with the same (key word...same )15 - 20 minute speech, does not understand children. If he truly wanted to reach students, he might prepare two or three levels that were appropo for elementary, middle school and high school.
I think the president can speak to anyone he wants to. I don't understand what's wrong with you people. Why is everyone making such a big deal about nothing?
Let him speak to our kids and give them some good advice.
Students should be able to choose whether they watch, not the principal. They should be able to watch it if they want to because it's their education not the principal's. It is our president, so why not.
Jesse, age 14
Student at Lincoln South
Why do people believe the comments of our President should be censored and hidden from our children? Do they thing his message will be vulgar or x-rated?
I would hope people would have enough respect for the President of the United States to let him speak. I thought the Nazi's and Communists were the ones that censored what students were allowed to hear. And what is controversial about encouraging students to stay in school!?!
this is just pure propaganda and cult of personality that his trying to impose on children..and what is the end result of "peep talk" like they like to call it.
If we are allowing students to take away 'academic' time to spend listening to a political agenda, we should allow equal time for prayer. We talk about freedom of speech but when it comes to saying a prayer in school we have double standards. This president is NOT to be trusted -- everything he says and does is towards a specific personal goal and it's not America or the American people.
Anonymous
The big outcry over this speech shows everything that is wrong with the two party system. But what is even more amazing is that some of the people who are opposed to this are teachers and school administrators who are state employees and make their entire paychecks from the taxpayers and then they are complaining about a speech by the president that they say is pushing a socialist agenda? It doesn't get much more socialistic than the public school system. Good grief.
I feel that everyone should have watched President Obama's speech. Especially the government, teachers and parents! It is these three areas that first and foremost the reason for student achievement or failure. If the government doesn't care why should teachers, and if teachers don't care why should parents and if the parents don't care why should the students. The speech also teaches everyone a lesson that you should continue (or start in some cases) to work hard for yourself and your country.
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