by Juan J Martinez
Member since:
November 9, 2006

GOP Afraid President Will Encourage Kids To Reach For Excellence

September 04, 2009 12:28 PM EDT
views: 41 | rating: 8.5/10 (6 votes) | comments: 19

The Republican Party and their pundits are now engaged in all out effort to prevent the President from addressing the children of America. The mere thought of a symbol of what hard work and perseverance can achieve sends shivers down the spines of those that which to keep the status quo as it is. By encouraging children to excel in school and in life is now being akin to liberalism. By the all an out war against President Obama addressing our children the Republican Party once again has us a peek into their true agenda of trying to make sure their grip in Washington remains and one way to aid them in their efforts is to make sure that our children do not get any ideas that they can reach their goals and dreams and that President Obama is a shining example of that. I know for sure if Elena’s little boy has the opportunity to hear the President I will make sure I do everything possible to see that he does and no GOP puppets will deprive him of that chance.

link to this page
Bookmark this post:
Facebook
Twitter
Delicious
Buzz
More

Comments: 19

Peter Joseph Swanson Sep 4, 2009, 12:41pm EDT
The Prez wants to tell the kids his ideas and all, scandalous.

ha ha
Karl Leuba Sep 4, 2009, 3:38pm EDT
Peter, it is indeed, and here is why. The actual DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS SUGGESTING SOME ACTIVITIES TO GO ALONG WITH THE SPEECH. Included is a national contest for students over age 13 to present VIDEOS on You Tube to be judged by the PUBLIC. Seriously, THERE IS GOING TO BE A CONTEST WITH WINNERS AND LOSERS, SPONSORED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
David K. Sep 4, 2009, 12:42pm EDT
I would think it would be a no-brainer (pun intended) to encourage kids to learn. And if we really can inspire them, they will also learn how to think.
Spencer T. Sep 4, 2009, 12:47pm EDT
Oh my goodness, no.

"And if we really can inspire them, they will also learn how to think."

We can't allow them to learn to think. They might ignore such teachings from CATO and other right wing conservative think tanks and make decisions independent of their propaganda. Oh horror.
David K. Sep 4, 2009, 1:04pm EDT
Exactly Spencer. Then how could we sell the idea that the President is really a radical Muslim Christian that was born in Africa (not that there is anything wrong with that)?

We need kids to learn how to think. Clearly there are many adults who don't.
Johnice R. Sep 4, 2009, 2:58pm EDT
I think that the visits are to be held from Maryland to Fla. possibly those areas grow little in the way of Nobelauriates.
Shing Wedzi Sep 4, 2009, 12:48pm EDT
The president of the country is encouraging our nation's students to take their education seriously. And given that he is an excellent orator, perhaps he will even inspire some of them.
The wackos up in arms over that only reveal how loony they truly are.
Johnice R. Sep 4, 2009, 2:54pm EDT
Here Yee! Here Yee! They just know not which way to turn hate POTUS 44 or Education--what a conundrum!
APE 131313 Sep 4, 2009, 10:36pm EDT
Guess it is just so much better to have our children shackled to the curriculum sold to our schools by the Bush family. Force teachers to teach to the tests with no impetus to teach them to have personal goals, to think or to excell..............just conform. Interesting!
Poliwonk USA Sep 4, 2009, 12:50pm EDT
The problem is not with the speach, it is with the Dept. of Educations "Suggested" lesson plans that indoctrinate kids. The only letter my kids would write to themselves to "Help the President" would be to write a second letter encouraging the President himself to resign.
David K. Sep 4, 2009, 1:02pm EDT
But Poliwonk, are you suggesting that rather than teach your kids to think for themselves and take responsibility for their decisions, you should just indoctrinate them into hating the President?
Johnice R. Sep 4, 2009, 2:52pm EDT
So, Poliwonk, you like the President and hate the DOE?
Karl Leuba Sep 4, 2009, 3:22pm EDT
Polywonk, in 1991, while you were in fourth grade, did you suggest that President G H W Bush resign? Did you suggest Eisenhower resign when he was in the scholastic newsreels condemning Communism during his Administration? Where were you when Nixon Addressed School Children, or the day GW Bush did the same. HAVE YOU ANY IDEA HOW MANY PRESIDENTS HAVE ADDRESSED PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN OVER THE PAST 60 YEARS?
Karl Leuba Sep 4, 2009, 3:31pm EDT
POLYWONK, you are right, Presidents SHOULD NOT POLITICIZE STUDENTS. Here is an article by a Retired Rear Admiral, on that very subject. It's short, and it was published in a newspaper so the vocabulary and construction should be easy enough to comprehend.
Johnice R. Sep 4, 2009, 3:52pm EDT
The detractors do not care about FACTS only HATE and propaganda.
Nora J A. Sep 5, 2009, 9:45am EDT
I agree, "Presidents SHOULD NOT POLITICIZE STUDENTS. "

If they'd come out that his speech focused on "staty in school, become a good reader, learn all the math you can", "stay away from drugs/alcohol, I'd have absoultely no problems with any president speaking to the children

Unfortunately, from the info on N.E.A. web site, that is not his objective.
When Bush Sr did the same thing in 1991 there was vocal Democratic opposition. I think it's a tempest in a teapot. Everything the president does gets viewed through a partisan lens. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. :)
J. McDole - Gather's Anti-Beck Sep 4, 2009, 2:36pm EDT
I would have loved to see a President in my childhood.
Nora J A. Sep 5, 2009, 9:48am EDT
FYI

"Chicago Annenberg Challenge" Chicaog Tribune

The CAC’s agenda flowed from Mr. Ayers’s educational philosophy, which called for infusing students and their parents with a radical political commitment, and which downplayed achievement tests in favor of activism. In the mid-1960s, Mr. Ayers taught at a radical alternative school, and served as a community organizer in Cleveland’s ghetto.
In works like “City Kids, City Teachers” and “Teaching the Personal and the Political,” Mr. Ayers wrote that teachers should be community organizers dedicated to provoking"

President Obama has said himself, "make decisions based on the advice of those around me".

Join the Conversation
Chime in! Become a Gather member to comment.
Already a member? Sign in
top
 
Gather | Friends | Groups | Share
About Gather | Engagement Marketing | Make New Friends | Gather Points | Advertise on Gather | Gather Press | Privacy | Terms of Service | Community Guidelines
Books | Celebs | Entertainment | Family | Food | Health | Moms | Money | News | Politics | Spirituality | Sports | Travel | Writing
Version 16836, "Oz"; Copyright © 2009 Gather Inc. All rights reserved.