Ellicott Mills Middle School will show it but Oakland Mills High School won’t. I’m referring to President Obama’s speech to students tomorrow which will be broadcast over the internet. The Howard County Public Schools Office of School Administration has left the decision as to whether it will be seen in the schools to each individual school principal.
I’m really having a hard time understanding why there is even any question as to whether to let the county public school students see this speech. The President has indicated that the speech will be about the importance of education. According to the email I received from Michael Goins, Peanuts principal, the presidential address “will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning. He will also call for a shared responsibility and commitment on the part of students, parents and educators to ensure that every child in every school receives the best education possible so they can compete in the global economy for good jobs and live rewarding and productive lives as American citizens.”
What is wrong with that?
Plenty, according to some parents. In an online poll being conducted by The Sun, sentiment is equally divided. Out the 2,046 responses so far, 49.5% think it is proper for the president to speak to the students and 46.6% think it isn’t.
Have we become so politically polarized that an address by our duly elected president about the importance of education is somehow controversial?
What lesson do we impart to the next generations by stifling a speech from our president?
HoCoLocal Video Vignettes
9 hours ago
8 comments:
I cannot for the life of me see anything wrong with any President of the United States of America talking to school children. What has this country come to? This is not why I spent seven years in the military and my father 23 years. Someone in the Republican Party has to stand up and say enough already. They are all just standing back just laughing at how the wimpy Democrats are trying to be politically correct.
There is nothing any wrong.. don't think as a politically..
This. All of this. I totally agree. How is this even an issue?
(Unless it's scheduling, which I get, and is the case in some schools. Fine.)
It's not a new issue, nor should this come as a surprise.
It was like this in 1991.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/When-Bush-spoke-to-students-Democrats-investigated-held-hearings-57694347.html
The speech appears to be pretty harmless, but I think it is a great sign that parents are asking questions and making sure that the speech is not simply promoting a political agenda. And as anon 11:52 pointed out with the link, those for and against the speech for partisan reasons could easily find their roles reversed. From what I have heard there is an accompanying lesson plan which I would like to learn more about.
I am a little surprised that an issue isn’t taken with the “God bless” verbiage at the very end of the speech.
Very well said! Thank you for posting this because I really don't understand the concern - what did people THINK he would be discussing with our children.
Thank you also to Anonymous for posting the link to point out that the political craziness swings both ways!
I am so disappointed in the email I got from the Longfellow Elementary school's principal indicating the school would not be watching the President due to "previously scheduled activities". Ridiculous.
The blowup here is about the power of bloggers and the lack of a filter.
Post a Comment