Tomorrow at 1 p.m. EST, President Barack Obama will give his second annual “Back to School Speech” – an “opportunity to speak to students directly across the country,” according to a press release from the Office of the Press Secretary.
Last year, our school district required k-12 to view the presidential speech. My high school students had to write reports on the speech – regardless of whether it was a P.E. class, an agriculture class, English or History.
To be honest, any school mandating such an event concerned me – especially from a man who considers clinging to my faith when times get tough an out-of-the-norm response. You can read more on my response in Obama is Not My Kids Mama and The Day Obama Rattled the School House Doors.
Maybe I would not mind the president so much speaking in the classroom, if the classrooms were teaching Alexis de Tocqueville’ s Democracy in America or John Locke’s reliance on over 1,500 scriptures in his 2 treatises on government that formed our very foundation (some sources imply that the consitution was so directly taken from his treatises that it could be considered plagarism) or about how Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson wanted Moses on our seal because they saw America’s separation from England as parallel to the Israelites deliverance from Egypt. Or the history of prayer in Congress calling our nation to pray and fast. Maybe if we had a little more of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense in the classroom and a little less re-constructionist history then maybe I would not be so concerned about a socialist president speaking to my children, a president who defends bible burning but condemns Quran burning.
I called the high school, middle school and elementary school my children attend. This year, most principals are not aware of the president addressing students across America. The high school has more important things, like testing – one principal said.
Maybe the voices of parents complaining last year are still ringing in their ears. Maybe they realized the president needs to speak to children through their parents, not speak to parents through their children.
Whatever the reason, I am glad I do not have to pull my children out of the classroom to watch a presidential speech, discuss the content and then send them back to school. I am glad my high school students do not have to offend a teacher by disagreeing with a man they see as a socialist president trying to dismantle the foundations of a capitalist society.
I am glad our county is leaving those decisions up to the parents of the children they teach.
Since we homeschool we won’t have to go through this again like last year. My boys said not one student or teacher paid attention or they were busy testing. Most classes didn’t bother to watch it. That made me laugh. I am off to read your links.
I agree 100%! (and my kids aren’t even in school yet!)
So glad to have found you! I have only two boys, but having grown up around only girls, I need all the help I can get.
Thanks for stopping by RefreshMoments; I hope you’ll come again.
(Have you found the MOB (Mothers of Boys) Society? You’d feel right at home there!
Blessings,
Mary Hampton
I love this:
“Maybe if we had a little more of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense in the classroom and a little less re-constructionist history then maybe I would not be so concerned about a socialist president speaking to my children, a president who defends bible burning but condemns Quran burning.”
You are so right on target. Thank your for writing about this again. I don’t think most of America is even aware of the speech this year, which is a good thing.
Interesting read. I am not a mommy and I am not from USA, but this sure was an interesting read to know about the past and the present of this.
I came over after reading you BF comments in Red’s community. So sorry that it didn’t work out the way you thought it would. That angers me how the school handled this situation. I bet there are other parents that feel the way you do, it’s unfortunate that some won’t speak out so things like this won’t happen again. Kudos to you for standing up for what you believe in.
You know, I really have to disagree with you. He is our president and kids should see him and hear what he has to say about staying in school. I think its attitudes like yours that have led America into the realm of being completely ignorant about who are leaders are. Just because I absolutely detested George W. Bush I still would have wanted my child to watch any back to school pep talk he had to give.
I think what is important is that you talk with your kids about the message and reinforce the good points as well as explaining the ones you disagree with. I doubt very much his speeches to students will say anything for or against religion of any kind. It would be inappropriate just as discussing senior healthcare to kids would be inappropriate – doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a stance, doesn’t mean his stance agrees with yours, but this isn’t the venue and after the last media storm I think you can feel pretty confident that he is only going to stick to universally positive messages. (In fact i just read the speech and I really can’t see what you would find fault with, it may not be applicable to your kids if you are in an all white small town school where over half the kids go to college because you’re dripping with money..)
In short, I think you are making a BIG DEAL out of nothing. I’m glad we have a president who wants to be present and communicative, period. No more hiding. It makes me wonder if you would pull your kid out of school for the day if the president visited the school. If you would I think that’s really sad and small of you to deny your child the once in a lifetime opportunity to see and hear the most powerful man in our country up close.
I was bothered by it last year. I am very involved in the school and make my voice known quite often if I am not in agreement with it. I didn’t let me daughter go to the little class the school offered to the 4th graders last year about their bodies changing and other stuff that I as a parent should address…not some teacher. I opt out of things often. I am that parent. LOL
I would have *loved* to see an essay on last year’s speech written from the P.E. point of view though. Now that would have been a challenge to the students – write about this speech taking the angle of the class you’re supposed to be attending right now. LOL.