Lessons of Obama's School Speech

Townhall.com ^ | September 10, 2009 | Steve Chapman

[Kaslin]

On Tuesday, as children in many places went back to school, the world's most prominent black leader undertook to expand a worshipful cult of personality as part of a systematic effort to achieve absolute power. You may have heard about it: Oprah Winfrey kicked off her 24th season on the air by taking over Chicago's Michigan Avenue for a live show in front of thousands of adoring fans.

Oh, there was also that business involving the president of the United States going on TV to urge students to work hard and stay in school. In the end, Barack Obama's televised speech didn't quite evoke the sight of Red Guards cheering Mao Zedong in Tiananmen Square. But the more inflamed reactions from the right do not excuse his presumption in commandeering the nation's classrooms for purposes that are beyond his rightful duties.

No, I don't mean an effort to "indoctrinate America's children to his socialist agenda," as the head of the Florida Republican Party fantasized. If Obama had a socialist agenda, he'd first have to indoctrinate his own economists, who are committed believers in capitalism. The president is certainly a liberal who favors more government control of our economic system, but not a radical who wants to remake it from the bottom.

His offense was to use his office to impose on a captive audience of youngsters in an appearance that inevitably carries the odor of politics. No one objects when he speaks to the nation or Congress on TV, because we can ignore him or jeer him as we choose. But some parents who distrust him feel aggrieved that he can force his message on defenseless children.

[Iron Munro]

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

If Obama had a socialist agenda, he'd first have to indoctrinate his own economists, who are committed believers in capitalism.

[humble and shy]

what a load of you-know-what. My kids did not go to school that day. I took an extended vacation in the Keys. Fresh air, sunshine, fishing...communing with God and nature, not listening to the false prophet.

I hope this pitiful excuse of a president is thrown out of office, and he can take all of congress and the MSM with him. My dogs could do a better job.

[Mygirlsmom]

My girls wanted to go to school either way because they had an athletic activity after school and could not participate if they did not attend. They were well prepared for any and all possibilities. I had sent an email to the principal asking about how the day would proceed, and he did not answer me until the day of, but I was not displeased with his reply:

"There were no formalized activities or playing of the president’s address today. We had other pressing issues to attend to related to academic achievement. If teachers are going to be showing the presidential address they will be recording it and showing it at a later time. This will be done only if the address connects with their curriculum and they have my approval. As of now I have only received one inquiry about showing parts of the speech"

[humble and shy]

You’re lucky. I couldn’t get a straight answer from the school district or my sons’ high school. My boys did tell me on Friday that all their teachers were adamant about showing it. My sons said their teachers did not mention an “out” if they didn’t want to watch it so I made that decision for them.

I still think what Obama did was wrong. Besides, the kids this speech was aimed toward aren’t the ones who would be in school watching it anyway. And from what I read of the speech, what kindergarten - 5th grader would sit and listen, much less retain, what this man said? It all just burns me up. I don’t care if he said to the students “God is awesome, listen to your parents or America is the greatest planet on the face of the earth.” He has no right to address my kids in class and bypass my husband and me, and all the other parents out there.