Link here! Spread the word!
President Obama is planning to address all public school students, grades K through 12, on Tuesday, September 8, 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Can you say, “Big Brother”? If this doesn’t give each and every parent pause, take a look at the Menu of Classroom Activities for teachers to follow before, during and after the speech by Dear Leader. Creepy enough yet?
Spread the word! Participate in The Great American Kid-Out, Tuesday, September 8th, 2009. Keep your kids home from public school!
Send a clear message to President Obama to keep politics out of the public school class room. And, while we’re on the subject of public schools, this would be an excellent time to examine your choices and consider homeschooling. Our kids are worth it.
Following is from an article in the Topeka Examiner. It captures my sentiments:
“The companion “Menu of Classroom Activities” released to pre-kindergarten through sixth graders by the Education Department in advance of what they are billing as “President Obama’s Address to Students Across America” does nothing to assuage my paranoia.
- Before the speech, students are instructed to read books about Barack Obama. Teachers are asked to ask students “Why do you think he wants to speak to you?” referring to the President.
- During the speech, students should think about the following “What is the President asking me to do?” and “What specific job is he asking me to do?” among other things.
- After the speech, the questions that students should ponder include “Are we able to do what President Obama asks up to do?”
I’m sorry, but I don’t want the President of the United States asking or telling the kids of the United States to do anything. This isn’t 1950s China.
And what — exactly and precisely and specifically what — is the President going to be talking about during this address? The war? Healthcare reform? Voting issues?
Nobody knows, which is also scary. The White House needs to be completely transparent beforehand about what the President intends to tell the kids of America. Because if it’s anything other than “obey your parents and your teachers,” the President may well be out of line.
Parents should be aware and wary of mass indoctrination coming from any President and into the hearts and minds of impressionable little ones.”
For any of you who may be confused and wondering what on earth all the fuss is about, watch this video. If this doesn’t trip your creep-o-meter you’d better check for a pulse.
{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
I know, right?! It nearly makes me wish my girls were in public school JUST so I could keep them home that day. Nearly. But not quite.
It just keeps getting a little more unbelieveable everyday.
Um yes, a message from the Leader will not be part of our curriculum on Tuesday. Instead I think we’ll do something along the lines of what God’s Word says about leadership and discipleship.
Wow! Just…wow.
The end of the article you posted is right on – “Because if it’s anything other than “obey your parents and your teachers,” the President may well be out of line.”
I am (admittedly) a bit over-protective when it come to my kid. I want to know what she is being taught – regardless of who is doing the teaching. And, I find it more than a little scary that no one knows what will be said!?
I am so thankful to be able to homeschool – and praying that the freedom to do so continues!!!
From a Canadian? All I can is “Wow, in the U.S.? Scary!”
From what I can find on the subject, it appears that the President wants to tell kids to stay in school, study hard, etc. Here’s from the DOE website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/academic/bts.html
Specifically, this on the aforementioned link:
During this special address, the president will speak directly to the nation’s children and youth about persisting and succeeding in school. The president will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning.
I think the greater issue is that such a thing really just highlights to the world (and it ought to highlight to Capitol Hill) how much we just simply do not trust the man, and do not need his authority over and above the authority of parents to keep kids studying and in school. Methinks he might overestimate his influence in many circles, but in many other circles, he (sadly) hasn’t overestimated it at all.
Now, that just leaves the question as to whether or not, in saying all this, I have been faithful and obedient to the commands of our Lord in Romans 13.
Exactly, Susanne. If your creep-o-meter isn’t going off, it should be.
Taking his strategy directly from the Lenin and Marx socialist play book, Obama is simply trying to bring “HIS” important truths to the young and impressionable minds of our children via the public school video link.
Saul Alinsky must be proud and Bill Ayers is definately having a laugh over this…
Remember during the campaign….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54tjbgJmLFg
If it were not Obama and instead the person that you voted for / approved us, I have to wonder if you would be so outraged?
Yet another reason to homeschool.
As a Canadian living in the US – I have to agree with Suzanne!
I am really uncomfortable with this.
Never in a million years did I think I would see these things happening in our country. But with the rejection of God in our culture, sadly, it doesn’t surprise me. It is written that “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” So, when the Spirit of the Lord is kicked out…
Have you seen the “I Pledge” youtube video? It’s almost more than I can stand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqcPA1ysSbw&feature=player_embedded
I’ve seen things in the last year I never thought I’d see in my lifetime. So to this I say, “Even so come, Lord Jesus.”
If your creep-o-meter isn’t going off, it should be.
OK, now I’m worried. Because try as I might, I just…don’t…get it. Maybe I’m simply too distracted by family health issues, and am missing the obvious. Is it the pretense of the thing? The symbolism? Couldn’t this “historic event” be turned into a profitable discussion and learning opportunity at home that evening?
Look: I’m no fan whatsoever of Barack Obama (as you possibly know from our participation on other blogs), and I’ll keep my kids home in a hearbeat given the right circumstances. Would letting them participate really be that serious of a mistake?
You understand, I trust, that these are all sincere questions.
Yes, Amy. I would be.
threegirldad:
I think my friend Jeana’s daughter said it best:
“We told our kids that many schools are encouraging kids to watch Obama’s address to children next week. My daughter said, “Isn’t that a lot like in The Trapp Family Singers book, when the government schools were teaching the kids ideas and values the family didn’t agree with?”
Ever heard the phrase, “We’ve come for your children”?
My daughter’s statement makes more sense if you see the context of that book. It was Austria under Hitler’s rule. Hitler knew that the best way to indoctrinate the people of the country was to skip the parents and teach the children directly. The schools never openly criticized the parents beliefs, just taught the children that their parents were old-fashioned and didn’t understand the modern world. At the same time they taught the children beliefs and values that were “more consistent with the modern world”–to support the current leader, to work to help the country to become great…
I know a lot of people are offended at the comparison. No one is comparing Barack at present to Hitler toward the end. The point is, go back and look how it started. Recognize the warning signs because if you wait until it gets full-grown it’s difficult, if not impossible, to stop.
The point is, it is the PARENTS place to teach values to their children, not the president’s. Imagine if I told you to have your kids give me a call because I wanted to have a little talk with them. Wouldn’t you be a little creeped out? I don’t know your kids and they don’t know me. I don’t have the right to have a little talk with them. If I had some concern about or with your children I should go through you. It is the same with our President. If he has something to say to our kids he should address us and suggest that we share it to our kids, leaving it to our discernment because we have the final right to decide what our kids are and are not being taught. To go directly to our kids (or attempt to) is to sidestep our authority. He is dismissing our role in our children’s lives as inconsequential.
And yes, we will be watching with our kids and talking about it, but not in the way he intended. It will be an excellent exercise in discernment for them.
I agree with Amy’s comment: “If it were not Obama and instead the person that you voted for / approved us, I have to wonder if you would be so outraged?”. I think that if it was President Bush (or his wife Laura) speaking to all school children in public school’s the conservative right would have no problem with it.
Not everyone home schools…not every child has a parent “in their court” tutoring them one-0n-one…not every child comes from the advantage of a family that gives them the motivation to do well in school, etc. If President Obama speaks to the public school students and inspires even ONE child to continue to perservere in education and not giving up in school, then I say it’s worth it.
I actually think it’s a positive thing that our President wants to address students.
I would also like to comment on Karen Lewis’ comment regarding the “I Pledge” video (she linked it in her comment above).
Maybe it is “more than you can stand”…but I as someone who desires the return of Jesus, how could you be against some of the things stated as pledge examples in that video? Seems these things go along with the Christ -like walk & the teachings of God:
“I pledge to….
help end hunger in America….(Mt. 25, Prov. 28:27)
to volunteer more ofmy time to help children battling illnesses (Jesus said to “let the little children come unto me).
be the voice for those that have no voice (Prov.31:8)
find a service project I am passionate about” (Phil 2 – your attitude should be that of Jesus, who took on the form of a servant)
Lets not “throw the baby out with the bathwater”.
Yes, presidents have spoken to schools before. The difference here is the suggested lesson plans initially did not ask kid to commit to education. Instead they ask them to commit to Obama specifically. And YES, I would be very troubled if any other president were trying this brainwashing stuff! This has nothing to do with race and everything to do with opposing socialism and communism!
Lori:
I would echo Jeana’s comment above. It expresses my thoughts in a clear manner. And, no it has nothing to do with who is in office. It is not a matter of sour grapes.
As for your second comment, what about the “separation of church and state”?
Everyday Mommy:
Separation of Church and State:
Are you trying to say that Christians (church) should not have any involvement in the state? I would think you wouldn’t. So I’m assuming that you’re stating the state should not have involvement in the church. How does one living / voting what Jesus taught have to do with separation of church/ state? You were referring to my second statement, which was a comment on the “I pledge” video…many of the comments having direct “back up” in the teachings of Jesus. I’m simply stating that it’s not wrong for citizens of a country to live out the teachings of Christ in their country.
The “I Pledge” video says some wonderful things about helping people, but it ruins everything by suggesting that we pledge to do these things in order to “serve Barack Obama”.
I am a public school teacher and my school district has decided to allow the individual classroom teachers to make the decision. I have decided that there are more important things to think about and talk about on September 8th. I won’t be showing my class this video stream.
Actually, the point of “I pledge” is for people to get off thier bums and do something- anything. It is not to “serve Barack Obama”, it is to make the world a better place- however one sees fit.
It’s a call to arms for an apathetic country. And a recommittment to service- in all forms. The country is in a dangerous place (in many ways) and everyone needs to do “their part” (whatever that is, personal responsibility, service, whathaveyou).
The one dude from the Foo Fighters and Demi Moore pledge to serve the president (that’s their call- wasn’t this a campaign video?), but no one could, or would ever be expected to, pledge all the things in the video, so by “pledging” something, one would not be expected to even pledge something mentioned in the video.
Nor, by “pledging” something does that make one “sold out” for President Obama. It is, to an extent, to “serve America”, but, that can be however one chooses and even to a far extent, simply by socail contract, everyone is “pledging” something.
Why is everyone expecting the worst from this? I think it might be a very good idea to introduce children to the president. Is it really such a bad idea for the leader of our country to want to address the future of our country (our children)? Now I don’t know what he is going to say, but my guess is that his purpose is to combat the increase in American political ignorance by involving the youth, and making them ask how the government works.
That said, some things to think about.
Educate your children to self-control, to the habit of holding passion and prejudice and evil tendencies subject to an upright and reasoning will, and you have done much to abolish misery from their future and crimes from society.
-Benjamin Franklin-
“I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.”
-Thomas Jefferson-
Two things for sure have come of the public outcry.
1) We’ll never know if tuesdays’ speech is the original draft the classroom activities were originally geared around. (personally, I doubt it will be the original)
2) President Transparency has received America’s message loud and clear. “You, Mr. President, declared your children off limits. Kindly do the same with ours.”
That “I Pledge” video, in my opinion, was not some harmless video encouraging people to help. The beginning sounded all nice and good, but when you get to people actually pledging service to Obama, then we have a problem and that video never should have been released in schools.
We don’t serve any man. As a matter of fact, his job is to serve the people. Seems like the American left side has forgotten about that.
Sad…..and scary
For all those that feel this will corrupt your children. Do you read their text books, do you involve yourself in the TV they watch, do you approve of the video games they play, do you talk to them about role models they have in sports, do you allow them to dream about bettering themselves and their world? We as parents are responsible for encouraging our childrens goals and dreams. If you are concerned that 1 hour of listening to our president will corrupt your children then maybe you should invest more time in your children. It sounds like most of you are loving nurturing parents, your children will learn more with you talking to them about the event then ignoring it. I am going to go play with my kids now.
Hi!
Please, don’t tell your parent listeners to keep their kids out of school for the day.
Instead, please, please, please, tell all your readers to pull their kids out of their local school permanently. If they are motivated at all, then their child will probably have a better education at home, than they will get at their local school.
I encourage ALL parents who are upset/worried/feeling uneasy about the President of the United States talking to their children, to immediately pull your kids out of school.
It is legal all across the country, and in places like Wisconsin, where I live, VERY easy to pull your kids out and homeschool them
God Bless!
cliff
NBO
Thank you, Cliff. I agree. Read my post What If on Sept. 8th
I am also a public school teacher with a little guy in K. My school district will not be showing the video. Also, I would like to add that I work very hard at my job. I pray for my kindergarteners. I hold them when they cry. I feel like they are my responsibility when they are away from their parents. Not to toot my own horn, but I think I am doing quite a good job of educating them as well. My husband’s family homeschools. And I think that is wonderful. However, that is not the best choice for everyone. It hurts when I go to play groups and church and people act like I am doing something wrong by sending my kids to a public school. Someone needs to be the light there. Someone needs to stand up and speak for what is right. That is what I am teaching my kids to do.
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.
I don’t get the outbursts!! I work in the school system. I read the speech before it was televised. I believe wholeheartedly that every kid in America should see and hear this speech. It has nothing to do with politics. It is a very motivational and moving speech!!
Pam:
Many people in this nation believe that the government schools have overstepped their authority in the lives of our children. We believe that school is for academics. It is not for imputing the various worldviews which are held by teachers and other school officials into the hearts and minds of children. The goal of education has undergone a paradigm shift and parents are being systematically replaced as the guiding figures in the lives of their children. As a worker in the “school system”, you should know this better than anyone.
jules
Many people in this nation don’t understand that going to school everyday is the only stability that some children have. Teachers are role models. I know that in some cases this may not be a good thing. Children and young adults need teachers in their lives. They need to know that there are many opinions in the world. This is part of learning life. As a parent, you should know that.
Pam:
I invite you to stop by the blog this week to read my series of posts on why, for Christians, homeschooling is a must.
jules
And, to be blunt, I couldn’t care less about the “many opinions in the world”. Our singular goal is to teach and train our child in a God-honoring fashion, that he would love God’s Word and that he would walk in it all the days of his life.
We desire to please God, not man.