Barack Obama is up to his audaciously hopeful tricks again. First, he has the unmitigated gaul to seek affordable health care for all Americans. And now–get this–the guy wants to give the nation’s schoolchildren a televised pep talk. His plan to urge kids to stay in school, study hard and do their homework has gotten some right wing commentators and politicians crying foul, while some parents vow to keep their kids home to avoid being subjected to the speech.
Sanctioning hooky-playing, of course, undermines the purpose of such a speech. And the hysteria surrounding it is just that–hysterical. A Republican friend(admittedly a moderate) reminded me that the first Pres. Bush gave a similar speech in 1991 to encourage science education. At the time some Democrats decried it as political maneuvering, too, but there wasn’t much brouhaha from parents and the speech went off without much fanfare.
President Obama is under greater scrutiny, it seems, and greater suspicion. Fright wing commentators like Glenn Beck have been warning, ” He’s out to grab your children,” for days. This notion that Obama as Cult Leader-in-Chief is out to indoctrinate America’s children, claiming them for his socialist agenda is outrageous. One of my favorite explanations for the widespread panic came from former Gingrich staffer turned commentator/PR maven Tony Blankley who said on CNN last Friday, “Obama has to fight the image of ‘The One, the Chosen.’”
This stuff would be laughable if a lot of scared, ignorant people didn’t believe it. What are they afraid of exactly? Maybe Obama will use that old movie theatre technique and run subliminal messages. Instead of prompting people to buy popcorn and candy he can urge kids to ” support public health care,” “cash your social security check” and ‘ send letters through the U.S. Postal Service” while he speaks about the practical and intrinsic values of academic rigor.
I have no problem, by the way, with educators and parents reading a transcript or even screening the actual speech before airing it to classrooms. It will, apparently, be available for pre-screening online. And I know much of the controversy was caused by the teaching materials that were to coincide with the speech. One particular exercise which would have had students write ways in which they could help the President reach his goals for the nation got some folks looking through socialist-tinted glasses all clammy and bombastic with no place to turn for comfort but Fox News. The lesson has since been modified and now asks kids to write about their own personal and academic goals. This is certainly a safer, more politically correct route. However, there is nothing sinister about our top elected official nurturing civic pride in our nation’s students. Remember Pres. Kennedy’s famous quote: ” Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country?”
Whether you voted for him or not, President Obama is our President and as such he is afforded certain ceremonial privileges. As President he can host foreign dignitaries, throw out the first pitch at the All Star Game, pardon Thanksgiving turkeys and yes, speak to America’s schoolchildren about the importance of education, Given the flat-out outlandish reaction and a thirty percent drop out rate, it’s a shame more past presidents didn’t avail themselves of such an opportunity. If Obama –who through his own hard work and intellect made the most of his educational opportunities– can inspire even one flailing student to stay in school, all this nonsense about nothing will be worth it.
I read another blogger’s take on the subject with both amusement and dismay. “It’s probably okay if he talks about education. I guess that won’t be too dangerous,” he wrote. “But I’m still keeping my kids home that day because it just smells a little fishy.”
If something smells fishy, I suggest you check your kid’s lunchbox. You’ll probably find a soggy half eaten old tuna sandwich.
Related posts:
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
You’re right, Consti, both sides can be silly, and unfortunately obstructionist at times. I must confess I forgot that Pres. Bush was hauled into Congress ( and raked over the coals by the Wash. Post) for his school pep talk. The reaction was as absurd then as it is now. But please, let’s not drag Obama before Congress on this one. The guy’s plate is already full with health care, the economy, wars, etc.
I’d like to point out where you answered your own question. People were concerned about the speech due in large part to the lesson plan. Since it was released first there was a rightful justification for concern. Granted not the hysteria that erupted, and I would agree with you that those parents who kept their kids home went a little too far. You are also one of the only people to mention the speech Bush gave, however for that speech the White House was dragged before congressional hearings on the subject. So really both sides are just a silly in their reactions to a president supporting education. Which he should regardless of his party. Should we drag Obama in front of hearings as well? Just to be fare?
I think people that are so ‘scared’ to let their children hear the President of the United States state the importance of education have ‘lost’ it. I can’t believe that intelligent people would even think of keeping their children home so that they can not hear the President speak. Something is radically wrong with our country if this is looked on as a subliminal effort on the part of our President to indoctrinate our children into WHAT? Get a grip folks – support your President and our Country!
The level of paranoia being displayed in this country is astounding, apalling, and quite frightening. If it weren’t so darned dangerous and harmful, I’d laugh at it. They are looking at Obama as the “indoctrinator”, yet they don’t see how they themselves are being and have been indoctrinated and manipulated.
It’s all smoke and mirrors, boys, smoke and mirrors… and I for one am sick of it. Democrats were asked to throw our support behind a man who was not elected President by a majority of the people in this country because he was the President, yet when the shoe is on the other foot, the same people who asked for us to support Bush will not give Obama any support and have tried to thwart the man before he even took the office. Smoke and mirrors, boys, smoke and mirrors…
I am a teacher. I am also a mother to school-aged children. I think it is ridiculous to read so much evil into a benign gesture. Our president wants to encourage our children to do their very best; to view their education as important, to see the value in the acquisition of knowledge.
Ironically, if Obama wanted to give a speech to the children about scoring more touchdowns, or practicing harder with bats and soccer balls, probably the same ignorant people pulling their kids out of school for the day would be thrilled instead. Our priorities in this nation are sometimes screwed up. I am thankful my children have an intelligent, articulate person to look up to in our President (finally–after a drought on brain activity for so long).