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Editorial: Mr. Obama's school-day address

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Comments (26)

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

(Updated 3:00 am)

It is a parent's prerogative to say so if he or she deems certain material in a public school curriculum inappropriate or objectionable. In fact, it is an obligation.

But the mounting furor over a planned speech today by the president of the United States seems hardly a cause for such alarm.

Even so, some critics have treated the speech, which will be broadcast by satellite to public schools nationwide, as some sort of manifesto against mom and apple pie. "This speech is clearly political in nature and has no place in the classroom," North Carolina Republican Chairman Tom Fetzer said in a statement last week.

His was one of the milder pronouncements. Mark Steyn, a Canadian author and political commentator, charged on Rush Limbaugh's radio show last week that the president is attempting to create a cult of personality. Steyn went on to compare Obama with Iraqi despot Saddam Hussein and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il.

Florida Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer said he "was appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama's socialist ideology." The planned theme of the president's speech: working hard and staying in school.

Among presidents who have delivered similar talks in the past was George H.W. Bush, in October 1991. Democrats complained then that the speech was political even though Bush merely encouraged students to embrace education as "cool" and to stay away from drugs.

Meanwhile, Guilford County Schools has instructed its principals to show the satellite telecast, but parents may choose to have their children opt out by sending a note to their teachers.

Guilford County Republican Chairman Bill Wright offered an equally sensible reaction. "I think it's good any time the president can speak to kids directly" he told the News & Record's Mark Binker. If the president delivers an academic pep talk as advertised, Wright said, he has no problem.

What a perfectly reasonable response in the face of some perfectly unreasonable political noise.

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Interested

September 8, 2009 - 6:31 am EDT

This situation illuminates why some people in leadership positions have no business being where they are. Mr. Fetzer needs to slip away into the dark shadows that he would like the rest of us to live in and allow someone like Mr. Wright to lead. Fetzer's message is simply "don't listen to others;" this life lesson will be so useful to our children in the future. What they need to be taught is listen to others, do your own research, make up your own mind about whether or not you agree.

Get A Clue

September 8, 2009 - 7:46 am EDT

Gee, remember when--just a couple years ago--disagreeing with the President was tantamount to treason? Ah, how fickle the pronouncements of Republicans when a Democrat (and a non-white one, at that) is simply urging children to stay in school and to work hard. Me, I'm still trying to figure out how our President Obama manages to be fascist, communist and socialist all at the same time. Quite a neat trick!

Panacea

September 8, 2009 - 10:27 am EDT

There's a lesson to be learned in this. Don't just jump on every accusation throw out there by ultraconservatives and nay-sayers. They ain't all true.

People got all worked up about this speech . . . for nothing.

What it shows is how quickly people are to believe the first thing they are heard, especially if it is said in a way to be scary. What it should be teaching us is to slow down and think for ourselves, to investigate, and not believe something just because someone else says so.

Areid8016

September 8, 2009 - 12:01 pm EDT

I didn't send my kids to school.I didn't find out until the last minute that it would be optional.My problem is that he hasn't kept his word on anything so far.Someone who can't keep his word shouldn't be telling our children anything.He IS NOT a good role model.I hope that these people who voted him in are liking his"CHANGE" & "HOPE." And all of us who didn't vote him in need to "HOPE" that he and all of his cheaters that stand behind him get out before our country goes to HELL!

Interested

September 8, 2009 - 2:43 pm EDT

Lame excuse and gross over-generalization. Hasn't kept his word on ANYTHING? Please. He may not be the cure-all that some folks painted him out to be. But those who disliked him intensely to begin with, and clearly you can be counted among those, will see nothing but doom and gloom in anything he says or does. I wonder . . . what kind of scrutiny do you give to the rest of your children's classes, teachers, instructors, coaches, television viewing, etc. I would wager not nearly as much as one would expect given the fact that you would hold them out of school over a speech you had access to yesterday. You are using your children as political pawns.

Panacea

September 8, 2009 - 4:08 pm EDT

Actually, you would be wrong about President Obama not keeping his promises. He has kept or is in the process of keeping, the large majority of his promises. Of all his campaign promises, he has broken 7, and kept 41.

He has many more to go. Some are in progress. Some are stalled. Some he hasn't taken action on yet, but for a guy that's been in office 9 months I think he's setting a great track record on keeping promises.

The full list is on http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/

rmacz

September 8, 2009 - 4:48 pm EDT

Thats what I was afraid of, I was hoping Obama would fail. Lets hope he can't keep the rest of them.

Get A Clue

September 8, 2009 - 4:45 pm EDT

Areid, would you be so kind as to enlighten us with the full day of educational activities you planned for your children since you willingly kept them home all day, just so they wouldn't have to hear a speech of less than an hour? In addition, I assume you made sure someone collected their books and homework assignments so they could arrive tomorrow without having fallen behind. Right?
I'm serious. I'd like to know.

peiffer

September 8, 2009 - 12:21 pm EDT

Seems like the Republicans must be thinking of Dan Quayle speaking to the school children and instructing them how to spell “potatoe”. They think perhaps a Democrat will do better than that and they don’t want to be reminded. Much adoo about nothing…. HE IS THE PRESIDENT and can speak to school kids.... DUGH

DaveW

September 8, 2009 - 1:38 pm EDT

I saw the speech and it was very motivational to students.It is what teachers have been telling kids for years. There was nothing political about it. It was just trying to get kids to take responsibility for their education.

tonymo

September 8, 2009 - 1:50 pm EDT

Are you people on the left ignorant and stupid because you're liberals, or are you liberals because you're ignorant and stupid!

The speech was NEVER the issue. It was the SUGGESTED lesson plan to accompany the speech, with suggestions to having the Obama youth pledge allegiance to OBAMA, not the country or our flag, and to have them write letter telling how they could help OBAMA, not their country or the fellow students!

You fools on the left are going to wake up one day in a country that you don't recognize, and wonder how we got there. A Pravda online columnist already explained it to you, but you refuse to beleive it. You also think that, somehow, you will be exempted from the disastrous consequences of the actions of this radical community organizer!

Interested

September 8, 2009 - 2:48 pm EDT

The key word being "SUGGESTED." No school had to use the plans. Make any claim you like, but few believe the uproar is over the suggested lesson plan. It is partisan politics, nothing more. If this country wants to make headway against its problems, we need to ignore those who choose to widen the schisms and help those who would bridge our differences.

tonymo

September 8, 2009 - 3:46 pm EDT

Oh, please excuse, the Dept of Indoctrination only SUGGESTED that the little robots should praise the president, and tell how they can help HIM, the "Chosen One" who is, of course, not a partisan politician! How could a radical Marxist ever be a partisan!

Interested

September 8, 2009 - 8:56 pm EDT

Some comments are too foolish for responses, but what the heck, I'll respond anyway.

dcolin

September 8, 2009 - 9:52 pm EDT

radical Marxist? Redundant?
How about a non radical Marxists.

As I remember Groucho was the radical.
Harpo the non radical

And Chico the illegal

That just leaves Zeppo.
We won't discuss him

Get A Clue

September 8, 2009 - 3:42 pm EDT

tonymo, do you kiss your mother with that mouth?
Honestly. If you can't participate in a civil discussion with at least sense of humor to mask your vitriol, then please take whatever steps necessary to control your anger. I'll bet you're nowhere near as repugnant in person.
At least I hope not.

dcolin

September 8, 2009 - 9:41 pm EDT

Well said

Who will be delivering the conservative response for the Republicans?
The children eagerly await it.

dcolin

September 8, 2009 - 9:45 pm EDT

You are entitled to your opinion about the president.

However I'm damn tired of being told I'm an idiot.
What are your credentials and education?

dcolin

September 9, 2009 - 12:16 am EDT

I get it.
You just been having fun with us.
You are not for real.

zuker

September 8, 2009 - 4:10 pm EDT

The NYT's corrected the same mistatement, attributed to Mark Steyn, that the News & Record, oddly enough, employs in an attempt to show extremism. Will we see such a correction here?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/08/pageoneplus/corrections.html?_r=1&ref=...

"FRONT PAGE

An article on Friday about criticism of President Obama’s plan to address schoolchildren on Tuesday referred incorrectly to remarks by Mark Steyn, a Canadian author and political commentator, on the Rush Limbaugh show. (The Media Equation column in Business Day on Monday also included the incorrect reference.) Mr. Steyn made extensive reference to Saddam Hussein’s cult of personality in Iraqi schools, and said an attempt to create a “cult of personality at grade-school level” should have no place in the United States, but said he was not accusing the president of a “cult of personality on the kind of Kim Jong-il, Saddam Hussein scale." He did not explicitly compare the president to Saddam or the North Korean leader or say that Mr. Obama’s efforts were “analagous” to theirs.
"

Get A Clue

September 8, 2009 - 4:51 pm EDT

No, they never 'explicity compare,' do they? They just enjoy 'casually mentioning' these associations in the same sentence. A lot. Such as Charles Davenport, Jr.'s most recent bi-weekly tirade against Democrats in which he 'casually mentions' his personal belief that the Democratic agenda and the Socialists' agenda look exactly alike, except for outright hatred of certain minorities.
I'm sure he wasn't 'explicitly comparing' the two ideologies. I'm sure it was an honest mistake. I'm sure he meant for no inference to be drawn. And I'm sure the moon is made of green cheese.

zuker

September 8, 2009 - 5:06 pm EDT

They? I'm to understand that the perceived meanings and sins of others excuse the misstatement by an editor of our esteemed newspaper? Obviously a common misconception, as it was the exact same misstatement made by others too. How odd.

dcolin

September 8, 2009 - 9:55 pm EDT

Charles is another college drop out.

He claims college was boring but I think it was the leftest leanings that upset him.

Get A Clue

September 8, 2009 - 9:58 pm EDT

College drop-out?
If true, it would certainly explain a lot.

dcolin

September 9, 2009 - 12:13 am EDT

Ask him.
He will tell you.
Quite proud of it.

He was Bored

Get A Clue

September 9, 2009 - 7:35 pm EDT

Bored?
That's the excuse I always heard from students too lazy or simply unable to do what was expected of them. The nadir of immaturity.
Thanks for sharing.