Korean Job Discussion Forums

dmbfan · Joined: 09 Mar 2006

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local-beat/Schools-Ponder-Showing-Obamas-Education-Speech-56742732.html

Interesting.

RufusW · Joined: 14 Jun 2008 Location: Busan

Oh, Texas.

They're the guys that reckon creationism is on a par with evolution, right?

Sergio Stefanuto · Joined: 14 May 2009 Location: UK

dmbfan · Joined: 09 Mar 2006

Pluto · Joined: 19 Dec 2006

http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/2009/09/02/i-pledge-to-be-of-service-to-barack-obama/

Yeah, the DoEd. went overboard on this issue. The DoEd. shouldn't be mandating this sort of stuff, as in having every school child across America watch and write about BO's speech. If individual schools and individual teachers want to assign their students this sort of project, that's fine. Although, students should be allowed to speak their mind. If they feel that this charade is a stupid waste of time, students should say so.

Re: the video

I pledge not to get lost in meaningless feel-good platitudes.

RufusW · Joined: 14 Jun 2008 Location: Busan

Yea, damn the president, I mean what has he ever achieved? He ain't worth nothin'. I don't want me president addressing no kids in their school - what they gonna learn, like education 'n' stuff? Pathetic! If I ever saw Bush, Clinton, Bush, Reagan, Carter, Ford do it?..... it's disgusting.

Pluto · Joined: 19 Dec 2006

Absolutely, our children should be learning to be Obama sycophants. To hell with English, mathematics and science.

mises · Joined: 05 Nov 2007 Location: retired

RufusW · Joined: 14 Jun 2008 Location: Busan

[edited out another silly comment]

Obama represents the people, he was voted into office by the American population. Parents should have the ability to opt their kids out of watching this, but there's nothing inherently wrong in a president addressing a certain segment of the population.

Kuros · Joined: 27 Apr 2004

There's very little controversial here, as long as Obama sticks to inspiring students and doesn't play politics. The students are allowed to take up alternate activities instead of watching this video. Its all good.

Fox · Joined: 04 Mar 2009

Gopher · Joined: 04 Jun 2005

Fox · Joined: 04 Mar 2009

Fox News: Fair and Balanced

benji · Joined: 21 Jul 2009

Why is there even a Dept of Education at the national level? What do they do that state and local education boards cant? As the US becomes broker, the abolishment of the DoE should be at the forefront.

DIsbell · Joined: 15 Oct 2008

There was never a mandate for all students in America to watch this, and the lesson plans sent out were purely optional. The content of the lesson plans is largely unremarkable as far as partisanship is concerned, barring one thing (which was subsequently removed) where students were asked to write a letter about how they could help the President.

Keep in mind that the removed portion is not much different in concept than when JFK said "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."

But to highlight the sheer bitterness and partisanship of the (faux) outrage over this, consider the following quotes from a former President directly addressing students:

"And that is a vision that goes beyond economics and politics, it's also a moral vision, grounded in the reverence and faith of those who believe that with God's help, they could create a free and democratic nation ...

Because you see, the taxes can be such a penalty on people that there's no incentive for them to prosper and to earn more and so forth because they have to give so much to the government" -President Ronald Reagan

Now that quote is overtly political in nature and was given directly toward students. We have no indication that Obama's speech will be about anything but encouraging students to work hard and take responsibility for their learning. If you need to see the lesson plans, they are publicly available here:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/academic/bts.html

Now, here's an Anderson Cooper segment highlighting some of the absurdity that the bellyaching about this involves:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqwfAjrgcn4

So yes, Ronald Reagan and both Bushs directly addressed students AND made obvious political commentary. However I don't seem to recall major outcries from the left about indoctrination.... oh right, because it's the damn President of not just their country but one of the most important ones in the world and civics/current events are an important part of education.