I previously posted this as a note on my facebook account, and thus there are some references to my “status updates” and comments made by some others. However, I think this information is valuable for all people to think about, and especially those with school age children in the Public School systems…
Tuesday, the president is scheduled to address children in the public school systems nation wide. Let me begin by saying, I see nothing wrong with that, and it was done by George H. W. Bush many years ago. I even this president could speak about the need for education, and how kids should work hard to achieve their goals so that they can be successful in life.
But, then this administration went a bit farther. They “worked with” the Department of Education to concoct a lesson plan for the different grade levels. Now, these lesson plans were not innocuous, asking kids what their goals in life or education were, or asking them what they hoped to accomplish. They planned to ask the children what they could do to help support the president. They planned to ask them how they were “inspired” by the president. While that may not seem too problematic, it begins with the assumption that all the kids (or more importantly, their parents) are in agreement with the current direction this administration is taking, and therefore want to help, or support him in his policies. The lesson plans did not leave much room for those who might dissent. The DOE also encouraged teachers to put up banners and posters with “great Obama sayings” from previous education speeches. Not influential people. Not all the presidents/politicians. Only President Obama. Again, not a problem? This type of propaganda is reminiscent of various world leaders of the past, none of which live fondly in my memory…
Perhaps some still don’t see why this is so upsetting to me. Perhaps we could make a quick comparison and see if the point sinks home. If President Bush, in the midst of falling poll numbers, while trying to drum up support for fighting the Iraq War, had done the same thing, Liberals would have hit the roof! Think about the timing of Obama’s address. He is trying to ram-rod through his “health care reform”, and is quickly losing support. He has lost so much support, he is calling a joint session of congress together to address his plan. That will come on Wednesday night, one day after the address to students. Think that is accidental? Nope! The American people are expressing their outrage at the Democrats intended rape of the health care system in America. In fact, there will be a gathering of over 60,000 people in southern WV on Labor day (wish I could go!) of people who are fighting against the socialized medicine plan that is being shoved through. By going into the schools, and addressing the children, Obama (I believe…remember, this post is my opinion) is trying to steal the thunder of the protesting conservatives. He is trying to have the children talking about what a great guy he is. He wants them telling their parents that he isn’t as bad as they thought. It is the typical liberal ploy…if you can’t get something you want now, start putting it in the school systems so that it will be accepted int he next generation. Haven’t seen it before? Ask yourself why Homosexual Marriage is now legal in at least 5 states. Yep, they followed the same plan!
Now, some have made the argument that we as conservatives (and perhaps Christians?) shouldn’t think we need to protect our children from things such as this. And, that this will give us the opportunity to talk to our children about it… I have a couple of thoughts. First, if we don’t realize it IS our responsibility to protect our children, then we have missed our God given responsibility. There are some things that our children just don’t need to be exposed to at age 6. Trust me, my children are not going to be taught about sex by a public school teacher in the first grade! I’m going to protect them from such ungodliness. I wonder how many people who make the “we can’t shelter them” argument take the same approach on the physical dangers of life? “I’m going to let them play in the road, I guess they will learn that’s a bad idea one way or the other.” Having said that, I am not sure (since I haven’t seen the text of the speech itself) that this issue is a “protect the children” issue. This is more of a political issue. It has to do with abuse of power, and politicizing the Department of Education. With the lesson plans that were originally released, the DOE was being used as a tool to drum up support for the president, rather than its intended purpose of educating our children.
This is why, in my original status update, I said this is proof that we should never have created the DOE. This is certainly not the first time that it has been abused. Public schools are supposed to educate our children, not indoctrinate them with the beliefs of the current administration. Every day, we see abuses. As mentioned before, tolerance of Homosexuality is propagated, as is support for the unfounded “science” of global warming and a plethora of other policies. The sad thing is, in the midst of all of these “additions”, many children still aren’t taught to read or do arithmetic! I think the actions of the White House in this issue have shown their complete distrust in the competency of the teachers in the public schools. Why would they have to release a lesson plan for the teachers? Does the Obama administration believe that teachers couldn’t use his speech as a teaching moment without guidance from them? Or were they just afraid that some might take the discussion in a different direction than he wants them to go? Obviously, they want the teachers to be used as an arm of the government to encourage the youth of America to get behind the president and his policies (regardless of what they are).
The uproar among conservatives over this has led to some changes in the “lesson plans” released by the DOE. Some of the “support” wording has been taken out now, which is a good thing. What has not been changed is the encouragement to virtually idolize this president over all of the other men and women that could be held up as educational examples.
As I said when I started this post, I am not opposed to the President addressing school children. But, we need to examine all that is going on. Number one, he is giving a speech to all school children at once, from Pre-K all the way through High School. Now, if that is the case, how can address them all on a level that is understood? Can he really inspire seniors in HS with the same language that is understandable by children who are 4 or 5 years old? Of course not. So the goal must simply mean to get him in front of all the kids, and leave a positive impression. How could parents be so upset with a man who is so nice? Second, the speech itself will either contain policy, or it won’t. If it is simply encouraging kids to continue in their education and do the best they can, that is great. However, if it includes the need for them to fight global warming, be more compassionate toward others (code for socialism in most cases) and the need for “health care for all”, then it crosses the line. We don’t need any president campaigning to those that are 5 years old! Third, the propaganda that goes along with this speech is disturbing. Posters flaunting the greatness of this president can be classified as nothing less than propaganda.
Could this be done in a way that does not raise the ire of conservatives? Of course. But, this president, despite all of his claims to “bipartisanship” seems to constantly make decisions to inflame conservatives. I think it is a joke now to look back and see the accusations of the lack of bipartisanship on the part of George W. Bush and the Republicans (which actually had many, many pieces of legislation developed from reaching “across the aisle”) when considering the ram-rod governing we seem to have now! But, how could this be changed?
First, keep the DOE out of it. Teachers and school systems do not need specific lesson plans handed out to schools to tell them just how to use the president’s speech to his betterment. Second, make sure the speech itself is apolitical. There should be no policy, such as the need for universal health care, or the need for the students to fight global warming. Third, If you are going to ask questions, give the opportunity for students to voice disagreement with the president. Fourth, get rid of the posters. At the very least, put up posters of more than just the current president.
I know this is long, and that most will not read it all. But, this is why I think the speech on Tuesday is such a bad idea. I would not pull my kid out to “protect” them, I’d pull my kid out in protest of the abuse of the DOE by this White House, and attempt of this administration to indoctrinate the children with the greatness of this president, especially in the midst of his losing battle on health care reform.
Here’s an article to take a look at with some more info on the plan itself:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/sep/02/wh-withdraws-call-students-help-obama/
I also thought I’d add a couple of videos that were pointed out to me, that should make people think about what is happening in this country. People are now virtually worshiping the man, Barak Obama, instead of recognizing him as being our elected official, and thus the servant to the people. The first video is one that reminds me of Hitler’s Youth:
The second is a PSA, asking people to basically pledge their loyalties to Obama, and his causes. Notice that many of the “pledges” seem to be very good in nature, but many of them are merely supporting Liberal Obama policy. Some are essentially deceitful, using the wording of conservative movements (like Alyssa Milano’s “I pledge to have a voice for those who have none” statement, taken directly from Pro-life members) to be applied to liberal policy. In the end, we are asked to pledge ourselves to the president. Are you kidding me? Can you even imagine the outrage if a conservative put out something as extreme as this?
It is time to say, “NO!” to all of this nonsense. Perhaps, it is time to get rid of some of the nonsense that can’t be paid for in the public schools today, and teach some good old fashioned civics. Maybe then, administrations that grab power like this one could never be put into the office!
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Indoctrination is PRECISELY what this is…
My brother Justin has made many comparisons between Obama and famous (infamous?) socialists in history. Propaganda and indoctrination have always been central elements for those – and it is for this President, as well.
I agree that his speech was for indoctrination reasons. I have read the speach and he repeatedly refers to those who let themselves down also let the country down, etc. He does not specifically bring up health care but does bring up the environment. One of the biggest problems with the lesson plan is that the teachers ARE really an arm of the government. The schools are government run and they are government employees. Which really means he can dictate what lesson plans they teach. If my children were in public school (they are in preschool currently) I would not have let them view this speech.