What my children do and learn in school

I know that my politics are no secret around blogland, but I honestly and truly believe that this transcends politics. Really. I do.

On September 8, President Obama will be addressing schoolchildren across America. Per the Department of Education website, the President will challenge students to work hard, set education goals, and take responsibility for their learning and call for shared responsibility and commitment among students, parents and educators to ensure that each student receives the best education possible in order to not only compete in the global economy, but also to live rewarding and productive lives as American citizens. As a teacher, my husband received an email from the district today with information about the speech, explaining that IF they were planning to show the speech, they had to have a sound curricular reason for it, and send a letter home letting parents know, and they had to plan for activities for any child who a) did not want to participate in viewing the speech, or b) whose parents did not want to have their child participate in viewing the speech. In fact, the exact words were that they didn’t want to give the impression that students were "forced or coerced" to watch. Since when do you have to have a "sound curricular reason" to have students watch an address to them by the President of the effing United States of America? Apparently, there are several people out there that are advocating keeping their students home and boycotting the schools on September 8. I have a huge problem with this. Not just small, but HUGE.

Whether or not you agree with his politics, Barack Obama is the President of the United States of America. Addressing the students of our nation is not only an important thing for him to do, it’s an historic event. Based on the content of his speech (an outline of which is available at the DOE in letter form from the Secretary of Education), I don’t believe that this should be a voluntary event for anybody. I certainly never had any choice when a Presidential address was shown in my classes (we saw several State of the Unions, addresses to the nation, debates, etc), and those weren’t addressed specifically to students, but theoretically to adults. It is time for our country to put aside politics and show the Office of the President of the United States of America some respect. Yes, some R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

And, yes, I would still be saying this (albeit admittedly very reluctantly) if Bush was still in office. If he was planning to address all schoolchildren via video, I wouldn’t expect to be asked my permission for my children to view it. Yes, I would want to know the subject of the speech (as has been provided by the DOE). I find it appalling that there are people out there that think our young people should not hear our President speak about taking responsibility, working hard, and setting goals. Including our school districts. Yes, I’m speaking to you, district where my children go to school and my husband works. I know that I live in the bible belt of my county, and that my city itself is very Republican, but why must this be a polarizing issue? Taking responsibility for oneself? Setting goals?

For crap’s sake! It’s no wonder our economy is in the crapper and we are losing our place as a world leader. I don’t need to blame our President; I can now blame our people. Never have I seen such intolerance. Never have I heard of such fearmongering. Oh wait. Yes, I have. I believe in retrospect it was named the Holocaust. Look where that got Germany. Wake up and smell the coffee, people. We are heading down a road for which there may be no return. Yes, that sounds dire, but what kind of example are we setting for our children when we won’t let them listen to the President of the United States of America speak to them about setting goals, getting an education, and becoming a good citizen of our country?

I say Shame on You.

US Department of Education
Secretary of Education’s Letter to School Principals
Possible Activities for PreK-6
Possible Activities for 7-12

(originally posted at my personal blog 9/8/10, unlinked intentionally)