(no subject)

[liandriel]

My dad pounced at me as soon as I got home from work on Wednesday, saying something about "Obama Day" and telling me "a lot of people" will be keeping their kids home from school on September 8. I Googled "Obama Day" with no helpful results, then "Obama September 8 keep kids home from school," from which I found out that the President will be broadcasting an address to the nation's students. Actually, I found the forums on Sean Hannity's website, which were full of alarm and links to the the classroom engagement resources from the White House, with no real information as to why they were so alarmed. (For grades Pre-K-6 and grades 7-12. Real subversive stuff, y'all. *eyeroll*)

So I went to the White House website and found their official blurb on the Media Resources page, and ... honestly, I think it's a cool idea. I get the impression that this won't be propaganda as much as, "Be good, stay in school. It's important." I like that we have a President who is technologically savvy and who reaches out to the people, a la FDR's fireside chats.

Dad asked later, after I had done some reading on both sides of the argument, if I would be keeping my son home from school on Tuesday. I said no. He was plainly miffed when he asked why not. His irritation sparked my own when I replied, "Because it's a regular school day!" Dad stormed off with a parting shot about indoctrinating my son and the "Cash For Clunkers" program.

I do not understand why people are so afraid of what the President is going to say to their kids. I wouldn't have pulled Michael out of school if it were Bush addressing the students, either. For my part, I plan to watch the address myself when I get home from work and ask my son what he thought when he gets home from school. If I feel at that point that I need to do any damage control--and I doubt that I will--then I will discuss my opinions with my son in a calm and rational manner. Even if this is propaganda--especially if it is--this is a teaching opportunity. Talk to your kids about what you believe. Find out what they're learning in school and from their friends. Your kids will be exposed to dissenting opinions at some point; give them the tools to deal with that. You have more impact on your child's beliefs than anyone else.

UPDATE: I thought I remembered addresses by Reagan and Bush, Sr., when I was in school, but my parents were adamant that it never happened, and my contemporaries didn't remember. Google netted me nothing, so I figured that maybe my teachers had taped State of the Union addresses for Social Studies or something and let the matter drop.

However, redqueenmeg backed me up. President Reagan addressed students in 1988 about the national debt, and in 1991, President Bush talked about his administration's education initiatives and encouraged students to stay in school. Thank you, Meg!

Comments

[redqueenmeg.livejournal.com]

"And don't forget that Bush I and Reagan addressed schoolkids too and none of you ever seemed to have a problem with that..."

[liandriel.livejournal.com]

See, I thought I remembered that! I couldn't find anything to back it up, though, and none of my contemporaries seem to remember it.

[seekingzen.livejournal.com]

I've found various articles on all this nonsense that says you are indeed correct, that they did address the kiddies, and that these people did not shit kittens over it back then.

[redqueenmeg.livejournal.com]

Of course they don't.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/9/3/776437/-Late-afternoon-early-evening-open-thread

http://mediamatters.org/blog/200909030020

[seekingzen.livejournal.com]

The awesome of those links is overwhelming. XD I'm ganking them to rub in the face of one of my husband's idiot bobblehead right-wingers. (As opposed to right-wingers who educate and think for themselves.)

[redqueenmeg.livejournal.com]

A word of caution--you might want to try to find the video clips on Youtube or similar. Many wingers refuse to watch/read anything on Media Matters or Kos because "none of it is true."

[seekingzen.livejournal.com]

That's ok, the only right-winger who argues with me is easily dropped on his head. ;-) It's almost criminal how easy it is.

[liandriel.livejournal.com]

You rock! Thank you so much for these!

[redqueenmeg.livejournal.com]

I got this from a friend, and it's from a "real source" that those inclined to argue might believe.

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/dpgo_obama_speech_to_schoolchildren_lwf_090709_3375921

[angielabrie.livejournal.com]

I already made my own post about this, and I am completely in agreement with you. Thank God my parents are both level headed (and voted for Obama) about this issue. My mom, who was a teacher for 30+ years said "Well, Reagan and Bush and I think even Clinton at one time addressed our youth, so why is everyone upset now?"

Seems like some people are really grasping at straws. Just sayin!

[liandriel.livejournal.com]

I read your post this morning, after I posted, and you and I are on the same page. For my parents, I think this is more about their visceral hatred of Obama--which I observe daily and do not understand--than it is about the President addressing America's students with a potentially political agenda.

[chiropteraclan.livejournal.com]

This entire "controversy" has me completely baffled. Truly. Where I live is a county of Obama cult-worshipers. But we won't be able to show the speech because we simply don't have the technology to do so. Too poor. And the message is needed here. Obama is my kids' hero. They might listen to him. We have an insanely high dropout rate, and they won't listen to the "stay in school/be responsible for yourself and your own actions/work and study hard" lesson if it comes from a white person (and especially their teachers). But we cannot even receive the broadcast.

It would be hilarious if it weren't so damn sad.

So the message will be shown to wealthy and middle class schools, but not poor or minority schools. Ironic.

[liandriel.livejournal.com]

Sad indeed.

I would think there would be a way to make the broadcast accessible to the schools like yours that really need it.

[chiropteraclan.livejournal.com]

Probably not until this country realizes that poor schools simply aren't looking for "free welfare to drain the real citizens of this country public of taxes." The most common thing I run into is no one believes us...they believe we are exaggerating or they think it's just "another whiny minority school district who is too lazy to do things right." Same things you hear about people who are against health care reform. Heh.

[finland-serf.livejournal.com]

The Missus believes that people are throwing handfuls of feces at the tv because Obama will be addressing the nation in the nude, wearing only the Chippendales collar and cuffs, lying across his desk. Do you ever feel you have to do damage control with Michael because of your parents? The way they're jumping on you that seems like something that I would personally be concerned with. If you've already threatened to break your foot off in their asses, then good on you. Not alarmist, just curious.

On a lighter note, how the hell are you! Been weeks!

[liandriel.livejournal.com]

Don't be silly. He only lies across the desk in the buff with the Chippendale collar and cuffs when Michelle asks really nicely.

You would think I would have to do a lot of political damage control with Michael, considering that he's home with my mom watching Fox News in the afternoons. But he seems to have his own opinions, mainly that President Obama is awesome and he wants to meet him.

I'm okay, sweets. What's going on with you?

[finland-serf.livejournal.com]

School starting again. 55 hour weeks at work. General exhaustion. Y'know, the usual.

Just ok, huh?