Obama's School Address (Not a debate!)

[connorsmom]

I don't want this to be a debate. I am just curious what everyone thinks of Obama's address he is doing for school children.

Will your child's school be showing it?

Will your child be watching it?

What are your feelings on it?


The 3rd and 4th graders at our school are watching it but they sent a letter home with the kids Friday and it must be signed by a parent in order for them to see it.

Connor will be leaving school at 11:30 for an Endocrinology appt. so he won't be seeing it. My dh and I weren't sure we were going to give him permission anyway so the appt. worked out to our advantage. I'm really not sure how I feel about this whole thing with him addressing kids. I would cetainly feel better if I could hear it first and then decide if I want my child to hear it. I am just not comfortable with it being broadcast straight to the schools with noone knowing what is going to actually be said.
(Sorry about the italics. I hit a button on my keyboard and can't figure out what I hit to turn it off.)

[JacksonsMom]

I am pretty sure they will not be showing it in Jackson's school since it is a special school. But he is not the first president to address school children so I don't know what all the hubub is about.

[alisonb]

The text of the speech is on the yahoo home page............looks perfectly ok to me........but he isn't my president so : )

[connorsmom]

The text of the speech is on the yahoo home page............looks perfectly ok to me........but he isn't my president so : )

Thanks. I did not realize the text had been released. I'll take a look later.

[Dawniee311]

i would let my kids watch it

i just read it and its really good!! very inspiring!!

[mfertig]

The text was released already. Both Reagan and Bush addressed school kids. It won't be shown in my son's preschool so I don't really have any decision to make. Seems to me that there is a lot of hubbub about nothing since if the message is really to encourage students to work hard in school then they will have already heard that from their parents or need someone in authority to tell them that if they haven't heard it.

[one_of_many_micheles]

I also am not sure what has everyone so worked up. Whether you agree with any President's politics or not, the idea of the President is important for kids, understanding they are part of a larger society is important, and I think it is very important for kids to know that they matter to the President.

We don't start school until Wednesday around here, so our area has been insultated from the controversy, but I have looked at the message and feel it is very appropriate....it will be aired on C-SPAN at 12 noon EST and I will have my kiddos in front of the TV to see it.

[snickchick]

What I personally don't like is not the speech itself but the books and lesson plans that where sent to all the schools to read and discuss before and after the speech. I read the books and I really do not like what I read. I just don't think its appropriate for students to be reading that in elementary school. They have now changed some of the wording within the last few days because of all the upset. It use to say "how can we serve the president". That I was not ok with either. We don't serve the president he is their to serve the United States. They did change it but the fact that they where ok saying that and only changed it because parents where upset bothers me. My son's school is not showing it since it a special needs school but if they did he wouldn't be watching it. We would probably talk about the president at home and discuss some things though.

[claudia]

I don't see why they can't show it on Saturday, and whoever wants to make their child watch it can do so. I haven't heard anything from the school since David has been home sick since Thursday. I don't mind them watching it, but I think they should record it and watch it on a half day instead of watching movies. I think half days are such a waste of time. Why send my child to school to watch a movie (high school musical, the goonies....) when they can do that at home.

[HeatherM]

Caroline's school is showing it, and we had to sign a paper if we did not want our children to view it. (I am fine with her watching it.)

[johnjakemom]

I have not heard anything about from either of my kids schools. But then Jake is only in Kindy and John in second grade. So they are both too young to watch it....but I would let them watch it...

[VicNic]

I am pretty sure they will not be showing it in Samuel's school since it is a special school. However, even if they were going to show it, it would be a moot point simply b/c Samuel was not in school today for other reasons. And I'm not sure why there is even any controversy about President Obama giving a speech to school children ? I mean, he's not the first president to do so; President Reagan & President Bush did it, too.

[3girlsmom]

My kids school is showing it. If you wanted to opt out you could sign a paper. I am fine with them watching. I may not agree with all the politics of the administration, but it is still the president. Seems fine to me.

[jularias]

I don´t think the kids are watching it. WE haven´t heard anything about it from the school. From what I´ve heard it sounds ok to me. I will however watch it (on-line somewhere) and talk to the kids about it if they saw it. (don´t think I will have much to say about it but might have if it had been more political).


Julie

[kaylanbaby]

My daughter won't be in school because of a gi appointment plus her school is SXI and CI so i doubt they'd take the time to show it anyway but I with some of the other ladies I'm just not sure what all the fuss is about. I think it's cool that he's trying to inspire children to take school seriously especially since here in my neighboring city (Detroit) the dropout rate is 1 and 4...I know right!? It's awful!

By the way I asked my dad if he and my mom had a choice to opt out of the speeches that I had to watch from the Reagans for the D.A.R.E program...my dad said not that he could remember...

[aemom]

I don't believe my kid's school is showing it. I would rather have the option to view it in the evening with my children so we can discuss it with them...but we don't have a tv so hee hee

[Megan]

Jack's school is showing it and we did get a note about it last week. The way I see it, it's a learning experience for all. If you, as the parent, don't agree with him for whatever reason, that's the perfect opportunity to talk with your child about that. The same goes if the opposite is true. I think Jack will enjoy seeing it and it shows kids that adults think what they do is important.

[nicholasmom]

I don't see what the big deal is either. There was an article saying that it is up to each school to decide if they want to show it. Nick is home today so I guess I will hear if my other kids say it.

My personal feeling is.. he is our president, like him or not. I have no problem with anyone telling my kids to set goals, stay in school.

[MomOf4]

Well, I will be one of the first, I guess, to say my childs school did show it & we did not allow them to see it. The only reason we were aware of the speech was because so many parents took issue with it...the school had not planned to notify parents until it came to a point where they needed to provide an alternative to the speech for those children whose parents didn't want them participating.

Our kids know that we did not vote for Obama BUT it has been made VERY clear to them that regardless of where our vote went, WE & THEY are expected to support our president. Afterall, his success is ours', as well as his failures...naturally, I don't want the President to fail because it effects ALL of us.

He is not the first president to address school children but it doesn't change the fact that we'd prefer to watch it with them.

As the school's letter to parents said -- "One of our countries greatest attributes is our freedom of choice"...It was my choice not to allow my children to attend, that may be "hubbub" to some, but my choice.

[Dawniee311]

I am guessing the reason they wanted to show it at school during school time is because the content of the speech was relating to school and working hard...where there could be follow up discussions with the teachers...the ones guiding them through school. I think it's great that the President is speaking to the youth of America about personal responsibility and hard work and I did not vote for him nor do I agree with many of his ideas!