National PTA Weighs in on Obama's Speech (We Have Not Heard Any Concerns)

Sun Sentinel ^ | 9/4/09 | Akilah Johnson

[nickcarraway]

SNIP

Here is a list of "talking points" the national office e-mailed to state and local chapters:

Q: How does National PTA feel about the President giving this speech on the first day of school and about parents "opting-out" of their kids watching it? A: Anytime a president gives a speech about the importance of education; a speech that inspires kids to do well in school; a speech that speaks directly to them; we feel those are positive messages for children to hear. National PTA supports making children feel good about being in school. Finally, any time we can encourage additional student-teacher dialogue on setting academic goals, it's a positive step.

We also recognize that parents have a choice and if they choose to "opt-out" of having their child watch the speech, that is certainly their right. However, it should not be a detriment to the child's learning experience. In other words, the child should only be re-directed to a different activity during the time of the speech and not miss the entire day of school.

Q: Does PTA support those lesson plans and if any guidance is being given by the National PTA to its affiliated schools?

A: The lesson plans were developed by teachers (the Teaching Ambassador Fellows at the US Department of Education) for teachers.

National PTA works on legislative and policy issues; not curriculum. You may want to contact the NEA...

SNIP

Q: Have any parents or PTA officials voiced concerns about their ability to have student "opt-out" of the speech when it airs at noon EST? If so, how are we handling those concerns from the national level all the way to the local level?

A: We have not heard any concerns.

[Dick Bachert]

And this is a surprise because...?

[SES1066]

I see that someone pressed the button for the usual liberal-oriented ‘canned response’. I wonder if there was ANY human involvement here.

[madinmadtown]

Ah yes, the National PTA, (send us your money,please) would be the first call that any concerned parent would make in this issue.

[RicocheT]

I sent an email to the Pres & VP of my local school board saying I thought Omama’s speech was like Soviet Russia’s first day of school communist party celebrations or worship of N. Korea’s Dear Leader, so don’t watch the speech in school.

The VP responded by saying Omama’s talking points seemed education related and which points did I disagree with - in other words “shove it”.

[ninergold3]

They haven’t heard any concerns because the phones are unplugged and the fax machine is out of paper.

[Dem Guard]

The National PTA?? Say What? Are they still around?
If they still sell pizzas for band trips have them call me.

[Sig Sauer P220]

La la la la!!!

[Bluebird Singing]

Teaching Ambassador Fellowships - the ones who wrote the praise obama lesson plans

Apparently a relatively new division of the education department

here’s how you get to be one if you are a teacher

http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2008/02/02082008a.html

The TAF includes two kinds of opportunities for teachers across the U.S. Up to 20 Classroom Fellows will be chosen who remain at their local schools under their regular teaching contracts, and will provide their experience and perspectives to the Department through various assignments and projects part-time. Up to five Washington Fellows will become full-time federal employees in Washington, D.C., working on education programs and participating in policy discussions. Teaching Ambassador Fellows will be named by early summer for the 2008-09 school year.