Parents and lawmakers speak out against Obama's speech to students

[AGDee]

It seems to me that the noon hour would be ideal for something like this because most of the kids are at lunch. Are cafeterias really not equipped for this type of thing? Isn't that where assemblies are always held? I've never been in a school where the cafeteria wasn't equipped for this. I have been in many that didn't have TVs in every classroom.

It is state law in Michigan that public schools cannot start school prior to Labor Day. Historically, the only reason that kids have summer off was to work on their farms, so it makes sense that the primary "growing season" would be different regionally. Additionally, most of our schools do not have air conditioning, so starting in August would just be ridiculous most years. We generally don't need air between September and mid-June, so schools weren't equipped with it. When schools started installing A/C, some of them then started school prior to Labor Day, which put a HUGE dent in our tourism industry. So, our previous governor proposed the law that schools cannot start until after Labor Day. It will be the first day of school for all the kids in Michigan. I see this as a pro for timing as well. They don't do anything the first day anyway.. they usually don't even get their books the first day. I imagine, as a teacher, I'd be happy that there was something to fill up the time on that first day because it only takes so long to go over a syllabus and classroom expectations.

I don't see how the President speaking directly, motivating and encouraging kids to stay in school, is all that different from the children watching Channel One every morning. As much as I disliked Bush, I never objected to news stories on Channel One about things that he said or did. I only jokingly objected when my son, in second grade, had to do an oral presentation on a President and happened to randomly be assigned W and was supposed to give the speech as though he WAS George W., like an autobiography.

One of my first thoughts was, I wonder if every child that Bush was reading to on the morning of 9/11 had permission from their parents to be in the room when the President was there. I can't even imagine. I know for sure I didn't have to get permission to see Mondale speak when he came to my high school.

This man IS the President of the United States. Agree or disagree with his policies, he is our President. I really disliked W strongly, to the point that I couldn't even look at him anymore by the end of his Presidency, but I would never object to my children hearing him speak in school. It *is* educational to learn about our government, to learn how to discuss politics in an intelligent way and to discuss our freedoms as citizens of the United States. I can't imagine wanting to squash that. We see some insane statistics about how many Americans can't name the Vice President or the Speaker of the House, etc... and we wonder why???

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by AGDee

It seems to me that the noon hour would be ideal for something like this because most of the kids are at lunch. Are cafeterias really not equipped for this type of thing? Isn't that where assemblies are always held? I've never been in a school where the cafeteria wasn't equipped for this. I have been in many that didn't have TVs in every classroom.

Every school I attended had an auditorium...it was usually an auditorium on its own, or a combination auditorium/gym.

Originally Posted by AGDee

One of my first thoughts was, I wonder if every child that Bush was reading to on the morning of 9/11 had permission from their parents to be in the room when the President was there. I can't even imagine. I know for sure I didn't have to get permission to see Mondale speak when he came to my high school.

I don't agree with the people who are objecting to President Obama's speech; I think people need to just calm down about the whole thing. I also don't get the idea of why they even need permission slips for this speech.

However, there's a difference between Bush's speech on 9/11 and this pre-planned speech. Plus they couldn't have gotten permission slips in the hour or two before the speech.

[AGDee]

I was referring to the kids he was reading to as the attacks were happening. He was in a school, reading a book to kids at the time, hence the delay in notifying him about the attacks on the WTC. That had to be pre-planned.

We have combo gym/auditorium/cafeteria in the elementary schools. While we have separate facilities in the middle schools/high schools, there are stages and multimedia equipment in the cafeterias as well. But, our schools now have air conditioning too...so we're considered a "rich" district now. (And we get the lowest funding of any district in the state)

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I was referring to the kids he was reading to as the attacks were happening. He was in a school, reading a book to kids at the time, hence the delay in notifying him about the attacks on the WTC. That had to be pre-planned.

Ah ok. I'm not sure if they required a permission slip. As I said, I think the whole idea of permission slips to listen to political leaders (the President and other elected officials) is pretty ridiculous.

[UGAalum94]

My guess is that the school informed parents that President Bush would be visiting. I would have expected they inform parents more to explain the heightened security at the school because parents might have gotten really worried in a post-Columbine world when they saw the school blocked off, etc.

Obama and Mrs. Obama have both made similar trips to schools in DC, I think. It may have been only Mrs. Obama. I think Presidents visiting schools is actually pretty common, but a TV broadcast to every school hasn't ever happened while anyone in school now was in school.

The cafeterias of the schools I've been in in recent memory wouldn't be conducive to having the kids watch the speech there, but they are all pretty big schools. I would even say that many high schools can't get the entire student body in the auditorium at the same time.

I also doubt that, if you really want the kids to watch, that putting them all together in a large room and then showing the speech is the way to do it. It might work someplace where the majority of kids love Obama and there's positive peer pressure to be quiet and listen, but many kids would much rather try to figure out a way to attract the attention of the hot member of the opposite sex three rows away than watch a televised speech from anyone. But of course I'm thinking about high school behavior. Little kids might be better.

AGDee, I'm sort of amazed that kids anyplace would be well-behaved and quiet enough at lunch that their watching anything on TV at lunch seems like a realistic possibility. When you've been at school for lunch, what was it like? Was there a special event going on? Our cafeteria is reasonably tame in that kids are just sitting around eating and talking, but it's kind of a dull roar. They probably wouldn't shut up and listen to the speech.

[AGDee]

That's a good point, but truly.. are most kids going to be really watching it anyway? Maybe the ones who are really into politics or whatever, but I would think most kids are going to be doodling, whispering with their friends, etc. anyway..lol. I was surprised that lunch was actually much calmer at the middle school than in elementary school, but I attribute that to the seating arrangements. In our middle school and high school, they sit 7 kids per table. In elementary, the whole class is at one big picnic table type table. It's definitely a dull roar.

I guess, I'm thinking.. you can put it on, but you're not going to force them to pay attention no matter what the setting. A pre-recorded thing is probably a better idea, or something broadcast on Channel One. Distributing that would probably be more costly though. I guess there's no good solution for all schools.

[UGAalum94]

Yeah, I'm not angry about it or anything, but I think the whole thing is kind of a pointless gesture.

But maybe he will be able to reach a few kids who identify more with his story than they did with previous administrations'. It's certainly not going to hurt.

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

Ah ok. I'm not sure if they required a permission slip. As I said, I think the whole idea of permission slips to listen to political leaders (the President and other elected officials) is pretty ridiculous.

I agree! I dont see its point.

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by AGDee

It seems to me that the noon hour would be ideal for something like this because most of the kids are at lunch. Are cafeterias really not equipped for this type of thing? Isn't that where assemblies are always held? I've never been in a school where the cafeteria wasn't equipped for this. I have been in many that didn't have TVs in every classroom.

It is state law in Michigan that public schools cannot start school prior to Labor Day. Historically, the only reason that kids have summer off was to work on their farms, so it makes sense that the primary "growing season" would be different regionally. Additionally, most of our schools do not have air conditioning, so starting in August would just be ridiculous most years. We generally don't need air between September and mid-June, so schools weren't equipped with it. When schools started installing A/C, some of them then started school prior to Labor Day, which put a HUGE dent in our tourism industry. So, our previous governor proposed the law that schools cannot start until after Labor Day. It will be the first day of school for all the kids in Michigan. I see this as a pro for timing as well. They don't do anything the first day anyway.. they usually don't even get their books the first day. I imagine, as a teacher, I'd be happy that there was something to fill up the time on that first day because it only takes so long to go over a syllabus and classroom expectations.

I don't see how the President speaking directly, motivating and encouraging kids to stay in school, is all that different from the children watching Channel One every morning. As much as I disliked Bush, I never objected to news stories on Channel One about things that he said or did. I only jokingly objected when my son, in second grade, had to do an oral presentation on a President and happened to randomly be assigned W and was supposed to give the speech as though he WAS George W., like an autobiography.

One of my first thoughts was, I wonder if every child that Bush was reading to on the morning of 9/11 had permission from their parents to be in the room when the President was there. I can't even imagine. I know for sure I didn't have to get permission to see Mondale speak when he came to my high school.

This man IS the President of the United States. Agree or disagree with his policies, he is our President. I really disliked W strongly, to the point that I couldn't even look at him anymore by the end of his Presidency, but I would never object to my children hearing him speak in school. It *is* educational to learn about our government, to learn how to discuss politics in an intelligent way and to discuss our freedoms as citizens of the United States. I can't imagine wanting to squash that. We see some insane statistics about how many Americans can't name the Vice President or the Speaker of the House, etc... and we wonder why???

WELL said. And I thought about Channel One as well when I first head this. We never had to get permission to watch Channel One and it definitely took up instructional time. However, the sentiment was that watching Channel One was educational. I fail to see why this would not also be perceived as being an educational moment that could take up some instructional time. it is only ONE day out of the entire school year.

[DrPhil]

Taking off Obama-talks-too-damn-much hat/

It's just bad timing. His approval ratings have declined and clueless people are fighting at townhall meetings over healthcare reform that they haven't researched.

People are afraid that we've elected a socialist (we may have, time will tell) and that he is going to send some George Orwell vibes to the kids. "Stay in school so that you can pay for the healthcare of nonfamily members...and then we'll put a number on the back of your head."

The fear does not have to be well-founded or accurate. Fear usually isn't. But, I liken it to Bush giving a speech to the kids after America transitioned from thanking Bush for conquering terrorists to being pissed about the Iraq war. Did he give a speech then? I wouldn't know.

ETA: After all of this muchtadoboutnuthin, I hope his speech goes well and is well received, as other POTUS' kiddie speeches have been.

/putting on Obama-talks-too-damn-much hat