"A suggested lesson plan that calls on school kids to write letters to themselves about what they can do to help President Obama is troubling some education experts, who say it establishes the president as a "superintendent in chief" and may indoctrinate children to support him politically.
But the White House says the speech is merely "designed to encourage kids to stay in school."
Obama will deliver a national address directly to students on Tuesday, which will be the first day of classes for many children across the country. The address, to be broadcast live on the White House's Web site, was announced in a letter to school principals last week by Education Secretary Arne Duncan.
Obama intends to "challenge students to work hard, set educational goals and take responsibility for their learning," Duncan wrote. Obama will also call for a "shared responsibility" among students, parents and educators to maximize learning potential.
"The goal of the speech and the lesson plans is to challenge students to work hard in school, to not drop out and to meet short-term goals like behaving in class, doing their homework and goals that parents and teachers alike can agree are noble," Tommy Vietor, a White House spokesman, told FOXNews.com. "This isn't a policy speech. This is a speech designed to encourage kids to stay in school."
But in advance of the address, the Department of Education has offered educators "classroom activities" to coincide with Obama's message.
Students in grades pre-K-6, for example, are encouraged to "write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president. These would be collected and redistributed at an appropriate later date by the teacher to make students accountable to their goals."
Teachers are also given guidance to tell students to "build background knowledge about the president of the United States by reading books about presidents and Barack Obama."
During the speech, "teachers can ask students to write down key ideas or phrases that are important or personally meaningful."
For grades 7-12, the Department of Education suggests teachers prepare by excerpting quotes from Obama's speeches on education for their students to contemplate -- and ask as questions such as "Why does President Obama want to speak with us today? How will he inspire us? How will he challenge us?"
Activities suggested for after the speech include asking students "what resonated with you from President Obama's speech? What lines/phrase do you remember?"
Obama's critics say the lesson plans and the president's calls for a "supportive community" are troubling on many levels.
"In general, I don't think there's a problem if the president uses the bully pulpit to tell kids to work hard, study hard and things like that. But there are some troubling hints in this, both educationally and politically," said Neal McCluskey, associate director of Cato Institute's Center for Educational Freedom.
Among the concerns, McCluskey said, is the notion that students who do not support Obama or his educational policies will begin the school year "behind the eight ball," or somehow academically trailing their peers.
"It essentially tries to force kids to say the president and the presidency is inspiring, and that's very problematic," McCluskey said. "It's very concerning that you would do that."
Parents of public school students would also have to pay for that indoctrination," regardless of their political background, he said.
"That's the fundamental problem. They could easily be funding the indoctrination of their children."
Meanwhile, Patti Kinney, a former teacher and middle school principal with 33 years of teaching experience, said she found nothing wrong with the lesson plans."
"I would have probably reworded that to say goals the president is suggesting," Kinney said. "But again, you call upon teacher expertise to do what's appropriate with their students ... I did not see anything that I saw as problematic."
Frederick Hess, director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, said the suggested lesson plans cross the line between instruction and advocacy.
"I don't think it's appropriate for teachers to ask students to help promote the president's preferred school reforms and policies," Hess said. "It very much starts to set up the president as a superintendent in chief."
"It shows exactly what the problem is," he said. "This is going to open the door to all kinds of concerns."
After reading the Department of Education lesson plans for the speech, McCluskey said he noticed several passages that should set off "alarm bells," including language that attempts to "glorify President Obama" in the minds of young students.
"It could be a blatantly political move," he said. "Nobody knows for sure, but it gives that impression."
McCluskey also noted that the lesson plans for young students contain suggestions to write letters to themselves on how they can help the president, but that suggestion is not in the lesson plan for middle and high schoolers -- perhaps due to the likelihood of increased political ties at that age.
"You don't want to see this coming from the president," McCluskey said. "You don't want to see this coming from the federal government."
WTF???????????????? I would definitely pull my kids out of the first day of school if this was going on. I have never seen such a blatant narcissist - this is scarey beyond belief.
WTF???????????????? I would definitely pull my kids out of the first day of school if this was going on. I have never seen such a blatant narcissist - this is scarey beyond belief.
I totally agree. This guy has such a sense of entitlement and is so impressed with his own "specialness", he redefines the term narcissist. If school kids need encouragement to study and stay in school, it needs to come from their parents, teachers, big brothers/sisters, mentors, pastors, and / or community.
Obama's philosophy of redistribution of wealth has already totally infiltrated college curricula. We do not need him to begin his brain washing at an even earlier, more pliable age.
-- Edited by freespirit on Wednesday 2nd of September 2009 10:03:49 PM
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It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union.... Men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less. ~Susan B. Anthony
We don't need no education We don't need no thought control No dark sarcasm in the classroom Teachers leave them kids alone Hey teacher leave them kids alone All in all it's just another brick in the wall All in all you're just another brick in the wall
[chorus at end by pupils from the Fourth Form Music Class Islington Green School, London]
We don't need no education We don't need no thought control No dark sarcasm in the classroom Teachers leave them kids alone Hey teacher leave us kids alone All in all you're just another brick in the wall All in all you're just another brick in the wall
"A suggested lesson plan that calls on school kids to write letters to themselves about what they can do to help President Obama is troubling some education experts, who say it establishes the president as a "superintendent in chief" and may indoctrinate children to support him politically.
But the White House says the speech is merely "designed to encourage kids to stay in school."
Obama will deliver a national address directly to students on Tuesday, which will be the first day of classes for many children across the country. The address, to be broadcast live on the White House's Web site, was announced in a letter to school principals last week by Education Secretary Arne Duncan.
Obama intends to "challenge students to work hard, set educational goals and take responsibility for their learning," Duncan wrote. Obama will also call for a "shared responsibility" among students, parents and educators to maximize learning potential.
"The goal of the speech and the lesson plans is to challenge students to work hard in school, to not drop out and to meet short-term goals like behaving in class, doing their homework and goals that parents and teachers alike can agree are noble," Tommy Vietor, a White House spokesman, told FOXNews.com. "This isn't a policy speech. This is a speech designed to encourage kids to stay in school."
But in advance of the address, the Department of Education has offered educators "classroom activities" to coincide with Obama's message.
Students in grades pre-K-6, for example, are encouraged to "write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president. These would be collected and redistributed at an appropriate later date by the teacher to make students accountable to their goals."
Teachers are also given guidance to tell students to "build background knowledge about the president of the United States by reading books about presidents and Barack Obama."
During the speech, "teachers can ask students to write down key ideas or phrases that are important or personally meaningful."
For grades 7-12, the Department of Education suggests teachers prepare by excerpting quotes from Obama's speeches on education for their students to contemplate -- and ask as questions such as "Why does President Obama want to speak with us today? How will he inspire us? How will he challenge us?"
Activities suggested for after the speech include asking students "what resonated with you from President Obama's speech? What lines/phrase do you remember?"
Obama's critics say the lesson plans and the president's calls for a "supportive community" are troubling on many levels.
"In general, I don't think there's a problem if the president uses the bully pulpit to tell kids to work hard, study hard and things like that. But there are some troubling hints in this, both educationally and politically," said Neal McCluskey, associate director of Cato Institute's Center for Educational Freedom.
Among the concerns, McCluskey said, is the notion that students who do not support Obama or his educational policies will begin the school year "behind the eight ball," or somehow academically trailing their peers.
"It essentially tries to force kids to say the president and the presidency is inspiring, and that's very problematic," McCluskey said. "It's very concerning that you would do that."
Parents of public school students would also have to pay for that indoctrination," regardless of their political background, he said.
"That's the fundamental problem. They could easily be funding the indoctrination of their children."
Frederick Hess, director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, said the suggested lesson plans cross the line between instruction and advocacy.
"I don't think it's appropriate for teachers to ask students to help promote the president's preferred school reforms and policies," Hess said. "It very much starts to set up the president as a superintendent in chief."
"It shows exactly what the problem is," he said. "This is going to open the door to all kinds of concerns."
After reading the Department of Education lesson plans for the speech, McCluskey said he noticed several passages that should set off "alarm bells," including language that attempts to "glorify President Obama" in the minds of young students.
"It could be a blatantly political move," he said. "Nobody knows for sure, but it gives that impression."
McCluskey also noted that the lesson plans for young students contain suggestions to write letters to themselves on how they can help the president, but that suggestion is not in the lesson plan for middle and high schoolers -- perhaps due to the likelihood of increased political ties at that age.
"You don't want to see this coming from the president," McCluskey said. "You don't want to see this coming from the federal government."
More deeply troubling stuff from this administration . . .
-- Edited by Calico on Wednesday 2nd of September 2009 06:50:52 PM Thanks for posting this, Calico!
Not only are all of their fears well-founded, but this man is not even the president! Obama is not a natural born citizen, therefore he's not Constitutionally eligible to BE president.
Again we're seeing the obots and the BO admin pulling stunts, like the Hawaiian resolution and the contest where the winner goes to "Barack Obama's birthplace," that are supposed to subliminally convince people that Barack Obama is a legitimate leader of the U. S. He is most assuredly not.
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Barack/Barry: If you're NOT LEGIT, then you MUST QUIT!!
FoxyLadi, how nice to see you! And you know, that's a great idea. We should spread that idea far and wide. Now we just have to come up with a catchy way to describe it...how about the "Red, White, and Blue Flu"?
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Barack/Barry: If you're NOT LEGIT, then you MUST QUIT!!
It has occurred to me that even though, in some areas it is now "optional" for students to see Obama, he will still "connect" to the target student audiance. The parents that will opt-out are not the ones that already "know" what Obama is about and will do what it takes to keep their children away. It is the ones that support him or are not "in the know" that he wants to "get to". And, he will accomplish what he set out to do, even with the opposition to it. Just a thought . . .
This guy's ego knows no bounds. We strongly support public education and feel politics should not be part of the classrom. Luckily our schools start with orientation on Wednesday.
I talked to the school and told them that if my child is forced to watch this crap then I will sue them. My daughter said she would write a letter to Obama and ask him for his long form birth cert. LOL and I am not a birther but she is lol. She is 14
I talked to the school and told them that if my child is forced to watch this crap then I will sue them. My daughter said she would write a letter to Obama and ask him for his long form birth cert. LOL and I am not a birther but she is lol. She is 14
Your daughter is amazing! Mine is definitely in the know about O-ineligible, but she's not at the level your daughter is. And you, with the sueing - you're both my heroes!
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Barack/Barry: If you're NOT LEGIT, then you MUST QUIT!!
This guy needs to remember he is just a man, and that 43 other presidents came before him,
With all due respect to everyone, I am not an Obama fan. I do not believe he fairly won the primary over Hillary. She should be President. He cheated ; he was the golden one with the DNC, and he was selected, not elected.
However, that being said, in all fairness, he is not the first to address school kids. 43 did come before him, and some of them also taped a message to kids. Reagan used kids to talk about tax policy. It seems like sometimes, no matter what he does, it is twisted into an evil plot against the American citizens. If other Presidents have taped messages to kids, why is it so evil that he is doing it? It seems like a lot of ado about nothing, to me. And I do not believe it sets a good example for our kids to teach them scorn for the American President, no matter who he is.
"With all due respect to everyone, I am not an Obama fan. I do not believe he fairly won the primary over Hillary. She should be President. He cheated ; he was the golden one with the DNC, and he was selected, not elected.
"However, that being said, in all fairness, he is not the first to address school kids. 43 did come before him, and some of them also taped a message to kids. Reagan used kids to talk about tax policy. It seems like sometimes, no matter what he does, it is twisted into an evil plot against the American citizens. If other Presidents have taped messages to kids, why is it so evil that he is doing it? It seems like a lot of ado about nothing, to me. And I do not believe it sets a good example for our kids to teach them scorn for the American President, no matter who he is."
____________
I'm going to assume, "HRC2012," that you did not read the article, and am reposting the pertinent parts - why people have a problem with Obama's approach - below:
"A suggested lesson plan that calls on school kids to write letters to themselves about what they can do to help President Obama is troubling some education experts, who say it establishes the president as a "superintendent in chief" and may indoctrinate children to support him politically.
But in advance of the address, the Department of Education has offered educators "classroom activities" to coincide with Obama's message.
Students in grades pre-K-6, for example, are encouraged to "write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president. These would be collected and redistributed at an appropriate later date by the teacher to make students accountable to their goals."
Teachers are also given guidance to tell students to "build background knowledge about the president of the United States by reading books about presidents and Barack Obama."
During the speech, "teachers can ask students to write down key ideas or phrases that are important or personally meaningful."
For grades 7-12, the Department of Education suggests teachers prepare by excerpting quotes from Obama's speeches on education for their students to contemplate -- and ask as questions such as "Why does President Obama want to speak with us today? How will he inspire us? How will he challenge us?"
Activities suggested for after the speech include asking students "what resonated with you from President Obama's speech? What lines/phrase do you remember?"
"In general, I don't think there's a problem if the president uses the bully pulpit to tell kids to work hard, study hard and things like that. But there are some troubling hints in this, both educationally and politically," said Neal McCluskey, associate director of Cato Institute's Center for Educational Freedom.
Among the concerns, McCluskey said, is the notion that students who do not support Obama or his educational policies will begin the school year "behind the eight ball," or somehow academically trailing their peers.
"It essentially tries to force kids to say the president and the presidency is inspiring, and that's very problematic," McCluskey said. "It's very concerning that you would do that."
Parents of public school students would also have to pay for that indoctrination," regardless of their political background, he said.
"That's the fundamental problem. They could easily be funding the indoctrination of their children."
Frederick Hess, director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, said the suggested lesson plans cross the line between instruction and advocacy.
"I don't think it's appropriate for teachers to ask students to help promote the president's preferred school reforms and policies," Hess said. "It very much starts to set up the president as a superintendent in chief."
"It shows exactly what the problem is," he said. "This is going to open the door to all kinds of concerns."
After reading the Department of Education lesson plans for the speech, McCluskey said he noticed several passages that should set off "alarm bells," including language that attempts to "glorify President Obama" in the minds of young students
"You don't want to see this coming from the president," McCluskey said. "You don't want to see this coming from the federal government."
-- Edited by Alex on Saturday 5th of September 2009 11:08:01 AM
__________________
Barack/Barry: If you're NOT LEGIT, then you MUST QUIT!!
This guy needs to remember he is just a man, and that 43 other presidents came before him,
With all due respect to everyone, I am not an Obama fan. I do not believe he fairly won the primary over Hillary. She should be President. He cheated ; he was the golden one with the DNC, and he was selected, not elected.
However, that being said, in all fairness, he is not the first to address school kids. 43 did come before him, and some of them also taped a message to kids. Reagan used kids to talk about tax policy. It seems like sometimes, no matter what he does, it is twisted into an evil plot against the American citizens. If other Presidents have taped messages to kids, why is it so evil that he is doing it? It seems like a lot of ado about nothing, to me. And I do not believe it sets a good example for our kids to teach them scorn for the American President, no matter who he is.
I also objected everytime a President did that. I am sorry but politics belong in civics class only. I didn't like it when Reagan did it nor did I like it when the others did it. The only time a President addressing school children was appropriate was Ronald Reagan after the Challenger and he addressed all of America after a National tradagy. My daughter doesn't want to be subjected to Barack Obama nor should she have to be. She honestly can't stand him and for a young black girl to be openly anti O she doesn't need to be put in that position because she can't just not tell people what a fraud he is. I am actually proud of her because she stands up for what she bleives in.
Obama has no business addressing students for the first day of school. We should be teaching our students to think independently, not following blindly behind anyone, let alone someone who has not revealed any of his educational records. George W. Bush was at least forthcoming when he said he was a solid C student at Yale.
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Hillarysworld -> National News -> (09-02-2009) "Critics Decry Obama's 'Indoctrination' Plan for Students" (www.foxnation.com)