Obama School Speech: President To Deliver Televised Speech To Nation's Students

President Obama is planning to deliver a nationally-televised speech on education to students across the country next Tuesday, the Washington Post reports. Obama will give the speech at Wakefield High School in Arlington, VA, and it will be broadcast on the White House website as well as CSPAN. The focus of the back-to-school speech will be on the importance of education.

White House officials said Obama's speech would be the first by a sitting president to students about achievement since 1991, when George H.W. Bush spoke to the nation's schoolchildren from Deal Junior High School in the District.

One might assume that such a speech would be free of controversy, and yet as HuffPost's Jason Linkins reported earlier today, Florida's GOP Chair Jim Greer has denounced the speech, warning that Obama will attempt to indoctrinate students with "socialist ideology."

Comments

[revruc1]

One thing for sure, President Obama could never think like this on the Black side, however, his White side could. Blacks are a Harmonic people, a musical, song and dance people. Jama, Bahamas, Barbados, and everybodys King Country, Africa is a good example. Many whites know that, they go their to look at the beautiful colors. Some even get tans, lip plumpers, breast plumpers, butt plumpers...You could say, they are trying to be Black. But hate Blacks(?) But Blacks could never come to this type of hate:

“Two Americas called, the United States of America.” It is dust backed by hatred. The movie was “South Pacific.”
Rogers and Hammerstein played this song in the movie called, “You’ve got to be “Carefully Taught.” This is “Prejudice” at its best:

“You’ve got to be taught to hate and fear,
“You’ve got to be taught from year to year.
“It’s got to be drummed in your dear little ear,
“You’ve got to be carefully taught,
“You’ve got to be carefully taught.

“You’ve got to be taught to be afraid,
“Of people, whose eyes are oddly made?
“And people whose skin is a different shade.
“You’ve got to be carefully taught.

“You’ve got to be taught before it’s too late
“Before you are six or seven or eight,
“To hate all the people your relatives hate.
“You’ve got to be carefully taught,
“You’ve got to be carefully taught.

“that this is the source of racism in our country:”

[TonyTellsTheTruth]

I am constantly surprised at just how out of touch Obama seems to be after only eight months in office. I am a Black Democrat who voted for Obama, though I felt Hillary should have been the nominee. For some reason Obama still thinks he is a beloved President, even as his pole numbers plummet. A lot of people are noticing that he is not as sharp as we had hoped. His only real success so far has been foreign policy thanks in great part to Hillary and Bill Clinton.

Obama seems to be making novice mistake after mistake, and is not a strong leader at all. Because he is so new and hasn't really earned the admiration or respect from the American public yet, it should be obvious to him that giving a speech to students at this point is premature. He just isn't somebody people trust yet, even though he was elected POTUS. Had he accomplished more by now like fixing the economy, healthcare, the war situation, the employent situation, and the crooked financial industry; he might have earned enough esteem from the public that this speech idea would be welcomed. He just hasn't proven himself as anything more than a Presidential placeholder so far, so why should he be preaching to children like some great role model right now.

He just doesn't get it!

[revruc1]

TonyTellsTheTruth

I am sorry you feel that way. Ratings are like a.. h...(s), everybody has one. Give him time, he just started painting the portrait and you already know what the picture is. Right now he is like Jesus, when you are doing something right, up pop the devil. Failure is a natural consequence of success, other words you cannot succeed without first failing. (I am soryy, I guess you never failed. You always hit it dead on the money. Always ask the wife of a married man has her husband ever failed) Suppose Jesus did nothing because of your opinion?

[TonyTellsTheTruth]

Obama is not Jesus! That is the problem with too many famous people today, thay all think they are the 2nd coming. Obama is an unproven, inexperienced politician who doesn't seem very good at persuasion. Persuasion is the only real tool in a President's arsenal, so this weakness is very bad. America is on the verge of meltdown due to the horrible policies of the Republicans who held power for eight years. This is no time for a weak President who requires on-the-job training and has a Messiah complex. The stakes are too high!

[ducdebrabant]

I never thought I’d see the day when parents would demand a President of the United States be barred from addressing their children. Because our current President is of another party (and, in some cases, because he is of African descent), he is now being treated as, immoral, villainous, toxic and alien. It will surely not be lost on African-Americans that a new precedent is being set for our first African-American President. Speaking as a Democrat, I have never in my life dreamed of treating any Republican President like a drug pusher or sex offender simply for offering to speak to schoolchildren. It is the height of impudence that any President’s remarks be “screened” by parent-ideologues of the other party, by tendentious teachers or school administrators. That any teacher, principal, school board, municipality or state should take part in this outrage is nothing less than a scandal. I rarely use this term, but there is no other term for it: is un-American.

[PlainBread]

The president of the UNITED STATES is not allowed to give speech to US students. Hilarious! This is even funnier than Sponge Bob or The Simpsons.

[kennedybell]

I am a teacher at Wakefield High School, the school where the speech will take place. In all of the media coverage NOT ONCE has anyone asked WHY President Obama chose Wakefield. Let me inform and educate some of the ignorance that I am reading here.

Wakefield is a multicultural school. Many students are on free/reduced lunch and many do not have English as their first language. WE EXCEL AND WE MAKE NO EXCUSES FOR IT! We make AYP every year. We have outstanding and visionary administrative leadership. Our academic model is ALWAYS trying to be duplicated. We have dedicated teachers who teach to the individual child. Can you say that your child's teacher does the same? Finally, our students believe that they can and do succeed despite any odds placed against them.

It is definitely an honor to have President Obama think so highly of our academic environment that it warrants a visit. You could only wish that your child attended a public school with such academic standards and high levels of performance. So while you are debating the President's is "brainwashing" of our children, we as dedicated teachers are preparing them to make informed decisions.

Guess what? When your children grow up there will be people in their lives who don't agree with their beliefs. Are they going to stay home from work because of it? OR Are you going to prepare them to have a strong belief in self and a respect for others.

[NTBoss]

@Kennedybell, its good to know teachers from the school are vocal enough and take time to educate on your free-time the numerous parents and elders of a family about the symbolism of The PResident's speech.
I salute teachers and parents who give children enough 'tools' to get them to think progressively- can't say the same is said in any GOP "parenting manual" (sarcasm). I don't mean to generalize but the things I've been hearing about the president's high school speech has its urban legend-ish skoopy-ism ( i know there are no such words). After letting kids drink and drive, have unsafe sex and swear at elders...parents (who disagree about the uplifting speech) feel that their kids are threatened. Oh, WOW! Indifference and scare-mongering is not the way to teach your children how to be better citizens...

[kennedybell]

@ NTBoss....­Thanks...I­n all of the controversy discussion I don't want anyone to forget what this is really about..."our children". The Wakefield High School community works really hard for the type of success and accolades that we receive. It does not come easy and it does not come with teachers coming on time and leaving before the buses. We are dedicated to our students and we want the best for all of them. It would be really nice if everyone could put away all of the political hoopla and just think about the kids.

[mom58]

Thank you ,thank you!!!! Instead of looking at this as an opportunity to hear encouraging words from the president of OUR country, people are turning this into a negative experience. What a great chance to speak to the future leaders of OUR country and hopefully promote a great discussion and maybe actually stimulate a few minds. I think that any parent who keeps their child home should really rethink their decision! Let's promote respectful discussion and salute the president for caring .

[mnyegele]

No body posting this knows what opening day actually involves. I do since I taught in an inner city high school in Los Angeles before I retired.
Here's the low down. Long before the opening day, I filed a 77 to 83 page syllabus for each course I taught. I had to prepare teaching materials, decorate my room, and fill out seating charts long before the students arrived. In addition to a rap and a costume change, my first day involved going over expectations and rules, complying with all the registration and sign-in procedures (Usually 5 to 7 pages worth of instructions.), figuring out how to seat 43 students when I had 36 desks, and actually beginning instruction with a homework assignment. And everything I did had to flow seamlessly like an opening night production of a Broadway musical.
Doesn't this sound like fun?
Of course, since I taught in an inner city school, I would welcome opening day remarks from Obama, if I could fit them in with everthing else I had to do. But given my school that's a SUPER BIG IF.
So the hate-filled brouhaha over Obama's opening day speech only reveals the stupidity of the GOP and unfortunately some of the people who blog on this site..

[revruc1]

It shows that the so-called great American has a "Barnum and Bailey Mentality." There is one born every...

[mnyegele]

This whole brouhaha shows how stupid people are. Let's approach it from a classroom teacher's angle. I retired in 2007 after spending nearly a quarter of a century in an inner city school in Los Angeles. So here's what you don't know.
First, not all schools start at the same time. Usually schools in Los Angeles open in mid-September. A number of schools in Los Angeles are multi-track, which means that they open and close tracks at many different times.
Secondly, not all schools have the same on-line capability. When I retired, I was the proud custodian of 16 computers, but then I was the journalism advisor, so I had more computers than other class room. My internet capabilities were limited because I had only 5 internet drops and a rather quirkly internet hub. I was better wired than many teachers in my school. .
Thirdly, you don't know what opening day involves. And I can't tell you on this post because of the idiotic limitations of words and space imposed by the Huffington post. Suffice it to say, opening day is like the opening night of a Broadway musical. One slip up and you'll go down in flames.
Of course, I would welcome opening day remarks from Obama, if I could fit them in with everthing else I had to do. But given my school that's a SUPER BIG IF.
So the hate-filled brouhaha over Obama's opening day speech only reveals the stupidity of the GOP.

[ATXdem]

I heard about this because a woman in my office received an email from the superintendent of the San Antonio Independent School District stating that the address will not be televised at school, but will be available on the SAISD website for children and parents to watch.

I don't remember watching HW's speech when I was in school, but I would have been in 2nd or 3rd grade then. Was HW's speech this controversial? Why when Obama makes a speech he is trying to brain wash or indoctrinate the children of the United States into socialism? The conservative media in this country is ridiculous. Why can't this just be about the President of the United States making a national address? I thought the socialist craze was going to stop after the Inauguration, but I guess asking conservatives to view Obama as our president instead of some crazy socialist is just too much to ask, and I should get used to hearing this garbage for the next few years.

[revruc1]

No it was not. The controversy is President Obama is Black. However, they are using any stupid act to not say it. However, the evil ones know their language. It is a code. President Obama know what is is, his GrandParents whom were white and his Sisters who are white made sure he has the picture. That is their brother, color cannot penetrate it. That is why President Obama is quiet. He is using what we Blacks call: "Quiet Power." Soon, the evil will backfire....Like a Jesse Owens Syndrome.

[mikerobjohn]

Any school district that does not show the PRESIDENT OF THE US at their schools will regret that decision. ALL PARENTS who are in favor of showing the video will be getting together a FULL ad in the LOCAL newspapers denouncing the very RACIST act of the School Districts.

[Lisa Breda]

I am concerned that any president that speaks to my child has to POTENTIAL to give a political message, as opposed to an INSPIRATIONAL message on the importance of school. I have this concern regardless of the color of the skin or the gender of my president. I believe it is prudent for parents to listen to what any politician is telling their child. I don't believe that this makes me a racist. Why is any disagreement with the current administration construed as being racist in nature?

[AnnikaD]

Bush was visiting and addressing a school class when he got the whisper in the ear that the planes had crashed into the WTC. Was there an uproar then? Of course not. How ridiculous. The President of the United States addressing schoolchildren should be welcomed and supported, period. It's partisan fearmongering to label it "indoctrination."

[NTBoss]

Cart before the horse...You wouldn't know until you've heard the speech...Besides, if you have taught is firmly etched in your child's mind and heart then there is nothing to worry about- your child will make the right and educated decisions for themselves.
True leaders are inspiring by nature...not them dolts who give nonesensical heehaws. BTW where have you been hiding Lisa? The President has made enough speeches for you to know he is not a heewhaw or indoctrinator.

What isn't inspiring as "There is no excuse" when it comes to determination and achieving your potential? Just my opinion...

[revruc1]

Sure Lisa. That is like I am saying, "I have a friend that is white too." They heard you when you voted the last administration. He was still begging on his way out. I guarantee, if you tell them about what Bush did, they would probably say, I want to hear President Obama. Your kids will grow up! Be careful the direction you push them in. They will retaliate with growth. They go to school with each other, they date each other, and your kid probably has a Black kid who defends him at school also.

[revruc1]

Again, there goes "Tolerance." What is wrong with kids having the honor of the President of the United States addressing them? No other President has. Because it is President Obama, the ugly will say, "Let the teachers teach." President Obama is not teaching them and that old tired reverse psychology do not work anymore. If you want to hear what hurts children, let them watch TV with men marching with men to marry men and women marching with women to marry women. Which is worse for your child. You already have kids killing themselves because they do not know what they are. You do not see that side. It is like a bill board showing whiskey and a lady in a long black dress. They do not show you the drunk side of throwing up in the toilet, and peing on self. If the parents do not want their kids to hear President Obama, that is their lost and the kids will grow up hating the ugliness of their own parents.

[SPQR1775]

Education is a NATIONAL ISSUE of vital interest to the state, how can we have a nation of temperance and perseverance ready for the technological future is southern white kids continue to fall behind, and their only way to get ahead is by teaching to the test, but they can't reason or hold an educated conversation, they just spew talking points. Every white southerner and the fringe GOPers use socializm as a tactic, but ask them what is medicare, medicaid, military healthcare, goverment hand out, social security and they don't know, it's socialism people, Public School is socialism, using your own dumb ignorant logic, but in the 1960's you wanted the Goverment to do everything when its please you the white bigots of the south and OK, but when it benefit the greater society you kick and scream and go pray to your "white hooded GOD", AMERICA by 2025 will be a latin, black, asian, "NATIVE American, West Indian American MAJORITY. Stay in OK, AK, MT, ND, SD, UT, that account for 3% of America, AL, GA, LA, AR, SC, TN, MS will become minority majority states in 10 years, deal with it. And all those old white bigots can keep on hating, your day with your maker is at hand, so how did you maximize your time on earth, God I was nice to the blacks, and the other races, I tell them to go around back, you ignorant fool, back to earth this time as a minority white!

[revruc1]

SPQR, thanks for being a true person of integrity. For the others, the truth will hurt, heal, then set them free-if they live long enough. Hate kills self.

[SPQR1775]

I am in the Army and just moved to the south, ALABAMA and the state is such a "POOR" place, you would be suprised to know that, federal funding will be needed. Thousands of us Army soldiers are moving here and the housing market in Fort Mitchell, AL 30 minutes from Columbus, GA and 10 from Fort Benning Army post is on the boom, yet the infrastructure is non existant and they Bus the black children to far away "black/minority" districts instead of to the nearby white districts, where as we know, they have these huge college style HS campus. The Military influx is biracial of black, white, latin, hispanic and asian, west indians etc, we will soon demand once the Iraq War is over that we get good representation, we will form our own comittee's and VOTE with our boots. YES, the GOP talk a good game and don't do anything, they love WAR because they have a vital interest in WAR stocks. To the GOP peace meand WAR, education mean no child left behind where you teach to the test and not to reason, where religion meand the KKK and Healthcare means pay as you go, die if you can't. It is time once and for all for AMERICAN's silent majority who support Pres O to ensure he enanct "OUR DEMANDS" but we must 'BE THE CHANGE!"

[260Parkway]

For all it's greatness in some areas, America is still a disgusting place to live when it comes to race no matter which side it comes from...... Shame on us, shame on us!

[Lisa Breda]

I am offended at the suggestion that just because I am conservative,and hold a belief in God, that I must be a member of the KKK. Thanks alot for being non-judgemental.

[cyndikoz]

Take heart Lisa. Anyone who know history will know that the KKK was actually a Democratic and liberal organization. Look it up in the history books. Allllll Dems!

[jumperpin]

Do we focus too much on costs and debt when tomorrow's challenging careers will require decades of schooling for each of our worker-citizens?

How many legions of physicists will we need for retrieving all those errant shopping carts? Can you even imagine a Bedpan Specialist without post-graduate studies in Fluid Dynamics? Differential Equations can be pretty handy when super-sizing that customer's Big Mac meal.

These are just obvious examples. Mostly of course, we'll need more MBAs and supporting IT pros to virtualize and offshore jobs in the event that wage inflation ever rears its ugly head again.

[betty22]

president Ego

[betty22]

not my kids I will keep them out that day

[CoolPapa]

Why don't you home school them and do us all a favor.