Posted on 09/05/2009 3:40:54 AM PDT by Elle Bee
In the tradition of Ronald Reagan and George Bush, President Barack Obama on Tuesday will address thenation's schoolchildren, encouraging them to study hard and stay in school, the White House said.
His inspirational message, however, will not reach Monroe County students whose parents sign letters the school district sent home this week allowing their children to opt out of watching the presidential address and participating in the Department of Education's follow-up lesson plans available to teachers online.
Conservatives have created a national controversy over the address, catching school districts in the middle.
Florida Keys schools will air the speech on classroom televisions, but those who don't watch will be provided "alternative educational activities," Monroe County Interim Schools Superintendent Joseph Burke said in his letter.
Obama's speech "will challenge students to work and take responsibility for their learning and educational goals," wrote Burke, who did not return The Citizen's calls seeking comment late Friday. Deputy Schools Superintendent Mike Henriquez also could not be reached for comment.
At least one parent is upset that school district officials are giving weight to what she considers an "insulting reaction to a president's speech."
Joie Switzer, who has two children in Montessori Elementary Charter School in Key West, was flummoxed over the hoopla. When she called Henriquez to ask why the letter was sent, an administrative assistant told her that parents had called to complain that their children would hear the address, Switzer said.
"I can't believe that there are parents out there who would teach their children to disrespect the president of the United States," Switzer said. "Who are these parents who think they can tell other parents and schoolchildren what their educational boundaries are?"
Worse yet, Switzer said, is that the school district is taking the uproar to heart.
"I can't believe the school system would honor their worries," she said. "Why are they taking the time to do this, and when there's a shortage of paper?"
TV and Internet political observers blame extreme right-wing talking heads such as Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity for extending the so-called birther movement, tea-bag efforts and now raising false socialist conspiracy theories about Obama's speech.
The extreme rhetoric and anger at town hall meetings scare her children, Switzer said.
"My daughter asked me, 'Do you think they're going to kill Obama?' I was shocked," Switzer said. "I asked her, 'Why do you ask that?' and she said, 'It seems everyone hates him.' "
jguerra@keysnews.com
Like this school system and this stilted paper have nothing else to concern themselves with:
Meanwhile the County school superintendent and his wife have stolen at least $500K from the school and the mentally handicapped and they are out without bail
Click Here:
Smart kid!
It's remarkable how young a child can be and yet the socialist parents are still willing and able to turn her into an idiot. Conservatives don't kill people over political disagreements; that's what socialists do. This little girl (if the story isn't yet another invention) is right that all patriotic Americans hate or despise obama. What she's missing is that we want to stop him through the ballot box, through our rights to free speech, freedom of the press, and to peacably assemble, not through brute force.
Hitlers Germany being acted out in American schools in real time.
You can't make that stuff up. LOL!
The extreme rhetoric and anger at town hall meetings scare her children, Switzer said.
"My daughter asked me, 'Do you think they're going to kill Obama?' I was shocked," Switzer said. "I asked her, 'Why do you ask that?' and she said, 'It seems everyone hates him.
Right.../sarc
I think I heard Randy & Monique Acevado will be the warm up act for the Obama gig on Tuesday. Their son has filmed a great video to be beamed in to our kids, entitled “Honesty and Morality in America Today”.
Their house looks empty
Shades of Bum Farto
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The History channel had a program on called “Hitler's Body Guard -Kill The Chancellor”. If you haven't watched it check your the listings, it's pretty scary how history is repeating itself.
actually,i have not seen anyone say they don’t want other children to see the speech,only their own. nice how she tossed that lie in there.
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Puh-leeze!! What a laugher that is.
They will not be watching it in my classroom!
The History channel had a program on called “Hitler’s Body Guard -Kill The Chancellor”. If you haven’t watched it check your the listings, it’s pretty scary how history is repeating itself.
It’s not the Military channel.
needs to be an opt in option
Didn't Limbaugh go on vacation before this was even announced?
The man really has a lot of influence even from the golf course LOL
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