TheApple

There's been a lot of controversy in the last week since President Obama's speech for students (today) has been released. Do you think it should be shown to students?

Here's the full text.

 Dear MrHeffner,

"President Obama's message is of no great consequence to students."

Interesting - but I do wonder how you can be so sure of that. From what I read of the message, there are some elements of it that I, as a teacher, have often tried to convey to my students.

So, can I assume then that my efforts were also of "no great consequence?"

And even if you didn't like it that wouldn't be a reason to prohibit it.

 Dear MrHeffner,

May I suggest:

http://theapple.monster.com/topics/3859-obamas-back-to-school-speech-in...

I understand that some people didn't want to hear the President's speech.  I also understand that many people don't agree with what he has to say or what he is doing in office.  Here is my point.  The offfice of the President of the United States is an office that should be respected.  It is the highest office of our government that America decided a long time ago should lead our country.  Agree with President Obama or not, the office of the President should be respected and our students should be taught that respect.  Our children are exposed to so much these days, and they are rarely taught how to respect themselves and others.  I am trying to teach my students that when you respect yourself as well as others you will be a much more successful person.  I just don't understand why people refuse to listen to what the President has to say when all he wanted to accomplish was to encourage our children to take responsibility for their own education.  Maybe if we had more parents that would take responsibility for their own children instead of letting "the system" take care of them, the President would not feel it necessary to do this himself.  Maybe if we had more parents that were HELD responsible for the actions of their own children we wouldn't have the drop out rates, drugs in schools, fights, etc. that we see on a DAILY basis!!!  Okay...I will step off my soap box now :)

The President, speaking to students, can be a powerful motivator for some it's true.  As a parent, and as a teacher, I want to know first what to expect that my children and my students are going to hear.  In the day and age of the computer, students can see a speech like this on their "own time" with their parents, or after the original airing after teachers, and educational leaders have had a chance to view it and decide on the worth of the message.  As parents and educators, we want to know the power and worth of the words and images that our children and students are exposed to as we guide them toward becoming successful individuals.

I have mixed feelings about comparing President Obama's speeches with the impact of FDR's fireside chats.  With all the controversy surrounding this President, his use of the teleprompter (how many times does he directly face his TV audience, and speak with clarity from his head and his heart?), I simply think there is something less genuine and special about seeing and hearing from the President 24/7.  His message will change on the reaction from his critics and supporters.  I just don't feel that like FDR's words that were listened to for the first time and lifted up Americans, today's President has had the advantage (politically) of crafting his words to promote and lift himself up, wherever and whenever he can.

Let the President speak what's on his mind, and in his heart.  Let us hear what it is that he really needs to say, but without the influence of a week's time to say what he thinks we want to hear.  That will be what defines his vision for the school students of our America.  Let the parents and teachers decide if those words and ideas are appropriate for our childen and students to hear in our public schools.

It doesn't have to be LIVE anymore.

I can think of any reason anyone would object to school children listening to the President

of the United States.  On career day, school children hear speeches from truck drivers, doctors, accountants, etc. 

With the hopes that they'll be inspired.  What better person to inspire our children than someone who has

worked hard, made smart choices, and became the leader of the free world?  If he can't inspire and give hope to

our children; who can?

In my opinion (and yes it is MY opinion), the only reason anybody would take offense to our president giving a speech to our kids about the importance of an education and the importance of being proactive in his /her learning is that they do not like our president. It seems that many either like him or don't like him. He is not being given common ground. If he messes up then we don't like him, but if we don't support him how can we say we are Americans. The majority vote won and he is our president- like it or not it is our americdan right to support him. We do not have to agree with everything he does and says, but we should give him the same courtesy we have shown to other presidents. None of them have been gods or done everything exceptionally perfect. We are the nation we are because of the decisions our leaders have made. We have only had one president unanimously voted into office. Just remember that, but we have let others speak in our schools. We allowed the showing of the apollo landing in schools. JFK's assassination was broadcasted, but we carry offense that our current president wants to encourage our students to be the best they can be and to go after an education. Sounds like double standards to me.

I am not for/against Obama but I thought it was a great speech for any student of any age. I am currently a Trainer and I cannot tell you how many adults undervalue continuing their education. Many think a great job will simply fall into their laps. So if they think this I am sure a their kids might as well and someone has to tell them that success is built on practice and learning from failures. I think themessage that we own our education was fantastic and did not in any way hit on his agenda as a president other than people being well educated. I plan on keeping significant quotes and putting it into my classroom one day.

I sat down and watched this speech with a library full of 4th and 5th graders. I did not vote for Obama myself so I do not consider myself an Obama fan, however I found the speech was appropriate for students and delivered an important message about accountability. Even at the grade level I watched this speech with the message was clear and the students listened intently for the most part. I hear discussions on a regular basis on the break down of values in our culture. It was refreshing to see students absorbed in a speech centered on their need to be responsible and do their share.

As a nine-year-old interviewed on TV said. "Well, he's the highest man in America; you ought to at least hear what he has to say, and then make up your own mind."  -- Jewels of wisdom from the mouths of babes. -- Dusty

I would have watched it with my class, but, because of budget cuts, I have no television access in my building this year and the district could not supply the bandwidth.

 President Obama's speech was excellent and if I had a class to show it to....I would have! 

The parental opposition is motivated by fear. As a former extreme conservative, I recognize the behavior/ response. I'm embarrassed to admit there was a time when I responded in a  similar fashion to and about President Clinton. In this case, it's my opinion (and experience) parents did not want their children to be influenced by him - even if it was positive, because they (the parents) speak very poorly of him in their homes and circle of relationships. If their kids come away saying the President said something of value (essentially positive and good!) the parents end up feeling threatened. In my local newspaper today (OC Register) there was a commentary from a conservative who wrote that Obama's speech had value and was well executed and that all  children should heed his advice. He added that his fellow conservatives were essentially "paranoid" and that they should call his speech what it was - appropriate and important.  

Bernice

The whole outrage was the required lesson plans provided before the speech was posted. In general the speech was alright there where a few nuggets that i'm against. But nothing to scream about.

The real story is that this was not the original speech (which was in front of about 30 highschool freshmen) which IMO did not go to well b/c the President ended up changing the speech. I think the Reps jump the gun on this one, they should of stayed quiet and let the Dems say the original speech. It probaby would've had a greater impact.

In this case the Dems are digging their own grave, so what do you do, you give them a bigger shovel.

 And then there's this:

I have said that, without question, we cannot prevail as a party without conservatives. But it is equally certain we cannot prevail in the future without moderates.

In that same vein, I am reminded of a briefing by a prominent Republican pollster after the 2004 election. He was asked what voter groups Republicans might be able to win over. He responded: women in general, married women with children, Hispanics, the middle class in general, and independents.

How well have we done as a party with these groups? Unfortunately, the answer is obvious from the results of the last two elections. We should be reaching out to these segments of our population — not de facto ceding them to the opposing party.

There is no plausible scenario under which Republicans can grow into a majority while shrinking our ideological confines and continuing to retract into a regional party. Ideological purity is not the ticket back to the promised land of governing majorities — indeed, it was when we began to emphasize social issues to the detriment of some of our basic tenets as a party that we encountered an electoral backlash.

It is for this reason that we should heed the words of President Ronald Reagan, who urged, “We should emphasize the things that unite us and make these the only ‘litmus test’ of what constitutes a Republican: our belief in restraining government spending, pro-growth policies, tax reduction, sound national defense, and maximum individual liberty.” He continued, “As to the other issues that draw on the deep springs of morality and emotion, let us decide that we can disagree among ourselves as Republicans and tolerate the disagreement.”

I couldn’t agree more. We can’t continue to fold our philosophical tent into an umbrella under which only a select few are worthy to stand. Rather, we should view an expansion of diversity within the party as a triumph that will broaden our appeal. That is the political road map we must follow to victory.