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White House Puts Parents In an Awkward Position
Fox News ^ | September 04, 2009 | John R. Lott, Jr.

Posted on 09/04/2009 7:43:13 AM PDT by richardb72

Six, seven, and eight-year-old kids shouldn't be put in a position where they have to say that a particular president is inspiring and such a wonderful person. Next Tuesday, the opening day for many schools across the country, President Obama will give a speech to elementary and secondary students across the country. There is a reason why no president has commanded the time of America's school children in the past to make them listen to the president as part of their school day.

Could you imagine the outrage if the president requested time to address adults during their work day even if it were simply to encourage them to work hard and be productive for the good of the nation? But why would they be upset? The very act of listening to a politician is a political act. It is no more appropriate than requiring that Americans to listen to a political ad. Some adults simply don't want to waste their time listening to a politician or they might simply dislike that person. Others might not be political and not care enough to watch such an address the politician. But this is less objectionable for adults than kids – kids are much more impressionable.

Among the questions the Department of Education is asking teachers to discuss with students from pre-kindergarten to sixth grade is: "Why is it important that we listen to the president and other elected officials... Why is what they say important?" "Are we able to do what President Obama is asking of us?" "What is the president asking me to do?" Older students from 7th to 12th grade are asked to discuss such questions as: "How will he inspire us?" "Is President Obama inspiring you to do anything?" . . . .

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: education; indoctrination; johnlott; obama; schools
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1 posted on 09/04/2009 7:43:14 AM PDT by richardb72
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To: richardb72

Most. divisive. president.


2 posted on 09/04/2009 7:47:01 AM PDT by Albion Wilde ("A cultural problem cannot be solved with a political solution." -- Selwyn Duke)
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To: richardb72
Of course the President is inspiring -- I mean......just look at his aura --

Why would any parent want to deprive their child of the opportunity to participate in this great President's great works?

/s

3 posted on 09/04/2009 7:48:43 AM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: richardb72

Yes, it is the “lessons” after the speech that are disturbing.


4 posted on 09/04/2009 7:49:05 AM PDT by BunnySlippers (I LOVE BULL MARKETS . . .)
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To: richardb72

Republicans should fight for refundable tax credits for private school tuition, so that every parent who wants to can send their kids to private schools.


5 posted on 09/04/2009 7:49:16 AM PDT by TheFourthMagi
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Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: richardb72

Never ‘fall in love’ with a leader.
Never ‘pledge allegence’ to a party.


7 posted on 09/04/2009 7:49:50 AM PDT by griswold3 (You think health care is expensive now? Just wait till it's FREE!)
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To: richardb72

Michelle Malkin nails it here:

“A cadre of like-minded educators and national service administrators across the country share the same core commitment to transforming themselves from imparters of knowledge to transformers of society. The “change” agenda trains students to think only about what they should do for Obama – and rarely to contemplate how his powers and ambitions should be limited and restrained.”


8 posted on 09/04/2009 7:50:47 AM PDT by Senator Goldwater
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To: BenLurkin

These people remind me more and more of the Nazi’s of the 30’s with every passing day.

Thier numbers are tanking BADLY, so now they are trying to resort to DEIFICATION??


9 posted on 09/04/2009 7:51:08 AM PDT by tcrlaf ("Hope" is the most Evil of all Evils"-Neitzsche)
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To: richardb72
"Awkward position" is an excellent term.

I would much rather discuss a number of subjects with my children's principal instead of what the over-reaching President wants to talk about without my permission.

Our school district isn't participating and parents can download/view the presentation on their own.

I think they were waiting to see what parents' reaction was going to be and acted accordingly.

10 posted on 09/04/2009 7:52:19 AM PDT by Bosco (Remember how you felt on September 11?)
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To: richardb72

Nothing awkward about it, really. Either you CHOOSE to have your children indoctrinated by government propaganda or you choose to keep them home.


11 posted on 09/04/2009 7:54:00 AM PDT by bboop (Tar and feathers -- good back then, good now)
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To: Albion Wilde
I wrote a e-mail to my kids principal yesterday. I said that 1) Propaganda has no place in school. 2) They have no business showing any unscreened material to the children. In the era of DVR and YouTube there is no reason they (the teachers & parents) cannot review the broadcast for educational merit before showing it to the children. 3) The reason i pay to send my kids to private school is to keep them away from this sort of blatant political propaganda and indoctrination. If they want to keep receiving my tuition check, stop showing propaganda films.
12 posted on 09/04/2009 7:54:16 AM PDT by GonzoGOP (There are millions of paranoid people in the world, and they are all out to get me.)
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To: richardb72

The White House is using totalitarian methods. Hello, David Axelrod.


13 posted on 09/04/2009 7:57:06 AM PDT by popdonnelly (Yes, we disagree - no, we won't shut up - no, we won't quit.)
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To: richardb72

What is it with this “AWKWARD”? Nothing awkward about doing the right thing, especially for your children!
That’s like “war puts our soldiers in an awkward position. What to do? Grab a snack at the local bazaar or battle with the enemy?
Get your treacherous hands off my kids, or you will be in a awkward position...


14 posted on 09/04/2009 7:57:11 AM PDT by WestwardHo (Whom the god would destroy, they first drive mad.)
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To: bboop

Or, maybe just get your children out of those EVIL goverment schools.


15 posted on 09/04/2009 7:57:48 AM PDT by Coldwater Creek ("When you strike one American, you strike us all" ( President George W. Bush))
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To: TheFourthMagi

Every parent that wants to can either home school or send their child to private school now. Tax credits would be nice, but they are just a lame excuse. The problem is that most people think more about their “I wants” than their “I needs” and put the kids education secondary to the new car, new home, big camper, bass boat, home entertainment system, etc. Since the goal of the public school system has been removing any parental induced religious superstition from little Johnnie’s mind since the 1920’s, we may be a bit late waking up if our goal is to save the leadership of tomorrow from a Marxist brainwashing.


16 posted on 09/04/2009 7:59:17 AM PDT by Big_Harry ( Thank God I am an "Infidel"!)
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To: richardb72
There was a story on the morning news about how this little stunt is meeting a lot of resistance.

The news chick said there would be a poll on their home page.

Naturally I wanted to see just how bad the poll questions were slanted, so I went to find it.

Curiously, it had either not been put up or had been pulled after it was bombarded with negative comments.

Did anyone else see anything similar on his local newcast?

17 posted on 09/04/2009 8:00:47 AM PDT by HIDEK6 (T.")
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To: richardb72

1. What stated, accepted and approved curriculum objectives that are part of the performance goals at this point of the year are addressed specifically by this speech in all grades across all subjects?
2. What prior notification of the speech and its suggested activities was sent through normal channels, e.g., letter or flyer, to parents—as opposed to through P-12 administrative channels?
3. What statements of the suggested activities—original or revised—reflect the Presidency (AKA “be of service to President Obama”)?

Actually, I like the idea of a President encouraging students to succeed. This should have been done on the 1st day of school though in order to set the stage for the year. A President has no business surrounding himself with people who think the office is to be served. These people are our servants. We are their bosses.

National PASS Day:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2330626/posts


18 posted on 09/04/2009 8:13:54 AM PDT by combat_boots (The Lion of Judah cometh. Hallelujah. Gloria Patri, Filio et Spirito Sancto.)
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To: combat_boots
These people are our servants. We are their bosses.

I'm sure y'all remember when michelle said that barack would require us to do this that and the other thing.

I recall being confused when I heard her say this. "Where does he get off requiring me to do anything?" I thought.

Well, I recently heard some commentary to the effect that he thinks we are subjects, not citizens.

That is the explanation, and we need to disabuse him of that notion.

19 posted on 09/04/2009 8:18:57 AM PDT by HIDEK6 (T.")
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To: griswold3
Never ‘fall in love’ with a leader

Exactamundo. I thought this "Leader worship" was the MO of 3rd and 2nd world banana/sand republics. This Obama worship has me sick. Thank GOD it is wearing off...

20 posted on 09/04/2009 10:15:04 AM PDT by Paradox (ObamaCare = Logan's Run ; There is no Sanctuary!)
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