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A Board of Education written communication dated September 4 states:
Obama Address to America's Students - September 8, 2009 at Noon - Since yesterday, we have heard from several concerned parents who have asked if the district will be broadcasting the address in all of its classrooms. The building administrators have explained to their teachers that if they opt to view the address with their students in their classrooms (live or taped), they must provide prior written notice to parents. If a parent does not want their child to participate, they can indicate that to the teacher. Adjustments will then be made for the student to utilize this educational time in an alternative manner and setting.
Given that the communication was made September 4 (before a three-day weekend), there is barely any opportunity for teachers to give the required written notice under the Board policy.
Several district parents were asked - and nobody had received written notice of the speech. While a later viewing is still possible, it looks as if Greenville will not be playing the Obama speech live on September 8.
I must say that I am truly embarrassed that partisan politics and outright paranoia are blocking children all over this country from an encouraging speech from THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. I was always raised to respect the office of President even if I did not agree with the political stance they held. What a shame that others cannot teach/practice the same.
ReplyDeleteI think the recorded option and giving parents notice is a fantastic idea. If the teachers screen the address in advance and find it appropriate for their students then they should show it.
ReplyDeleteI don't have an issue with the president addressing students to encourage them. I just worry it will be laced with subtext or even blatant rhetoric. In my lifetime there has never been been a more far-winged president in office, so I don't trust him not to preach.
Besides, not watching live makes it much easier on the schools and teachers. The noon hour is often part of lunch period.
Ironically it is only "partisan politics" now to liberals and Obama halfwits. When the shoe was on the other foot, the same stink was raised by Democrats. Apparently it is time for some "favors" to be returned.
ReplyDeleteTo 10:51... I love it, thats just perfect...
ReplyDeleteYou call them "halfwits," yet act in the exact same manner by saying your protest is part of, "'favors' to be returned"
When one acts as does the 'halfwit' does that not make oneself a 'halfwit'?
I'm glad that parents are given the choice, if that is how it will really happen. The noon hour is very inconvenient for the schools, and do you really think any of this would sink in to five to seven year olds?
ReplyDelete10:51, two can play the "shoe's on the other foot" game. If liberal parents had threatened to keep their kids home from school rather than hear an address by President Bush, they would have immediately been branded as unAmerican traitors. The hypocrisy now demonstrated by the Republicans is staggering -- after eight years of telling anyone who dared to criticize Bush and his administration's agenda that they were essentially guilty of high treason, they now equate Obama with Hitler and accuse him of trying to brainwash children. Now I see that when they said everyone should show respect to the office of the president, what they really meant was, "Show respect to the office of the president as long as it's someone you voted for." This "controversy" over Obama's address is lunacy, and, if anything, it just reveals how mean-spirited and suspicious the modern GOP is.
ReplyDeleteTo 9:15 am:
ReplyDeleteWhen Obama has "advisors" around him like this idiot Van Jones, how can parents trust what he tells our children? Blame Republicans and Bush until you're blue in the face---Obama is in charge now, not Bush. Thinking Democrats (not far left libs) are also protecting their kids.
If the Greenville School, who regularly forces students to attend "pep rallies," blocks or discourages the President's address, I will campaign tirelessly against their upcoming building levy.
ReplyDeleteIt is the president of the United States not a terrorist that wants to give kids ideas of blowing up the school. What in the hell has this country come to. I think Religion and Politics do nothing but ruin this country.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that parents are given the choice, if that is how it will really happen. The noon hour is very inconvenient for the schools, and do you really think any of this would sink in to five to seven year olds?
ReplyDeleteThis is stupid.....then why send them to school. Will anything the teacher says sink in. COME ON stop the stupidity
9:15 a.m. showed exactly why liberals are hypocrites. The posts I have read from liberals have been among the most disgraceful whining I have ever witnessed. If I recall, Bush-I planned on giving a speech of the same nature in the early 90's and Democrats went absolutely nuts over it. At that time, there had never been such an uproar over telling children to "stay in school" and "work hard" and all that which Obama's speech is apparently going to be about. Nobody could understand why it was received that way by the Democrats, but it was. Now the shoe is on the other foot and all I can say is "Payback's a [female dog]." It is quite amusing to watch the abomination (or Obama nation, same thing) get their g-strings in a knot.
ReplyDeleteAnd Obama supporters are "halfwits." They voted for Obama! What more proof do you need?
It amazes me to see how many people think they have the right answer to an issue but are too ashamed of the remark to sign their name to it.
ReplyDeleteWhat is wrong with people? If honestly stated, these comments from the "heartland" should strike fear in any person educated in our government and its constitution. But maybe I have just answered my own question.
ReplyDelete11:39 AM and 9:51 AM are the reason this country is the way it is because people wont unite under one cause and change the way things are done in our government.You no it filters down from federal to state to city.So if we cant unite and change the way things are done we are seeing the down side of our great nation.
ReplyDeleteI believe it all depends on the text of the speech and the President's intentions. If he is saying, "Stay in school. The economy depends on you to get an education or training", then I am all for it. However, if he is pushing his stimulus, Obamacare, Cap and Trade or telling them to listen to the words of the government for direction, then I am against it. Our children need a leader, not an owner.
ReplyDelete"If the Greenville School, who regularly forces students to attend "pep rallies," blocks or discourages the President's address, I will campaign tirelessly against their upcoming building levy."
ReplyDeleteBrilliant, punish the kids because you are upset.
And your any different how?
ReplyDeleteDepriving the children the chance to listen to the leader of the free world, because your upset over what he MIGHT say?
I think it's ridiculous to get so upset over something so minor. It's a stay in school speech. I highly doubt he will be slipping anything else in there. The whole country will be watching.
ReplyDeleteMy opinion is...he won. Now it's time to at least give him a chance. See where we are in four years. If things haven't improved (although honestly, ANYTHING is better than the last 8 years), then we can elect someone else. Us democrats had to suffer through eight long years of not getting our way. It sucks, doesn't it? ;) And since so many are saying to not be a coward and give your name....mine is Katrina. From Arcanum. A liberal democrat happily married to conservative republican (who by the way sees nothing wrong with this speech).
Nuts- he's our President who has children of his own. Do you really think that there will be anything offensive or inappropriate...cmon' people. Let's unite, not fight;(
ReplyDeleteWhat a discussion?!? 85+ comments between the two stories. Way back in the first few comments (on the first story), I wrote that if my children were going to see the speech I would talk to them ahead of time. I still think that's the best approach.
ReplyDeleteTo the conservatives ... use it as a teaching moment. Rather than completely shun the message (which is generally bad), use it as an opportunity to fill your kids' impressionable minds with the stuff you want in there.
To the liberals ... puh-lease. G.W. Bush could have cured cancer, and the democrats would have called for hearings on why he didn't do it quicker. Your righteous indignation misses the mark. Also - second point - if Obama's agenda was so "innocent," why did they quickly erase a bunch of stuff from the Whitehouse website after initial criticism from some conservative bloggers? [an answer please on that last question ... :) ...]
I'm glade to see the debate moderator tries to keep things civil...
ReplyDeleteTo be fair if President Obama announced he had found the cure for cancer today, the right would say, "Sure a cure for cancer, but what about AIDs, he's only helping certain people, not everyone, so he should have done nothing!!!"
As far as retracting something after getting feedback, is that not the beauty of the internet, it allows you to post drafts of your work to be reviewed by hundreds of millions without costing a dime? I would rather see things posted on the internet and then changed around with only the cost of time, than see things printed, only reviewed by small numbers and then redone at the cost of time, and materials...
But in the end it doesn't really matter what I write or what I say, most people as well as the admin for this blog are well set in their ways, they truly believe the president wants to destroy the nation, tax away every dime they make, etc... etc...
Now I am sure by this point some of your are huffing under your breath at your monitor "stupid liberal, trying to make sane people look bad..."
But you might be surprised to to know I am a moderate with right tendencies. My main concern is that people are jumping to conclusions too early. Even if the president's address is the most left wing, radical, speech ever given, its not too late afterward to do something about it. It takes continued pressure to turn people. If you have one beer does that make you an alcoholic? No, but if you continue and continue to drink you will eventually become one.
My thoughts, at least hear him out, I'm sure the kids are as excited about this as they are about going to the dentist, so I don't think curbing their enthusiasm will be needed... If it is nothing more than an hour of leftist rhetoric, then we can go from there, but lets wait to make sure before we put the nooses in the gallows...
Perhaps many of you are correct in your statements and your children should listen to President Obama. Obama won Ohio last November, so perhaps that is what you want. Ohio has transformed into a Liberal state. Just keep in mind what he might be saying to them: Your govenrment will take care of you (Obamacare) and We need to keep CO2 out of the atmosphere (Cap & Trade - something you have been fighting in Darke County, lately). A text of his speech will be available Monday. Perhaps he will not mention these topics.
ReplyDeleteTo Anon, Sept 7, 2009. WELL SAID.
ReplyDeleteAs a 2 x Bush voter and a registered republican, I will admit and conceed that Bush was an epic fail. EPIC. If you are too "party blind" to see that, well my friend, that is just too bad.
I voted for Obama. I didn't agree with who McCain or Palin for that matter. Who I really wanted in the white house? RON PAUL.
Regardless. If GW Bush were president and addressing our children, there would be no, "written" permission needed. I've never, EVER heard of something this outlandish.
Obama has made it very clear that he encourages our youth to continue their education and to go to college. What is wrong with that at all? Regardless of what party you associate yourself with, it's just common sense to know that the more education you have the more opportunities you will be rewarded with.
AND furthermore, for all the people who despise Obama and call those of us who voted for him, "mindless drones" or obamafanatics? I don't think the sun rises and sets in his butt, I think he 's a man, who can make mistakes, who is trying to do better for our country. Do I agree with everything he stands for? Absolutely not. However, he's our President, he deserves to be respected... even if you don't agree with him.
To Erika, you are no republican, if you voted for Obama. You like many others have drank the Kool-aid. You stated if Bush was to address the School children there would be no "written" permission needed. Maybe thats cause most people know how far left Obama is and so far away from most peoples morals and just everyday thinking. Just because he is our president, doesn't mean he deserves to be respected. A person (any person) has to earn respect from others. You screwed up by voting for him, just admit it! Unless you are one of the people who don't want to work. Let the gov. give me everything i need.
ReplyDeletePeople that vote strickly for the party are a joke, just means you can't think for yourself. As for Obama being soo far away from most peoples morals is a joke, look at what morals of the previous President has gotten us, thats why the majority of the People of the United States Of America voted for Obama, for change, not to mention that your beloved Republican party had nobody worth voting for in the last election.
ReplyDeleteThe morals of this country are what got Obama elected--people have none. They also voted for him thinking it would help them financially--how's that working out for all of you???
ReplyDeleteWhy did you leave your last name out Bob. Theres alot of Bobs out there. Are you ashamed of your identity. My name is really Anonymous.
ReplyDeleteTo Erika: You are right. Ron Paul was the only Republican running for President last year. Smaller government, lower taxes, less federal spending are what he espouses. He is the first true Republican since Tricky Dick, a much-maligned, well-intentioned Preident.
ReplyDeleteI briefly read the speech and I agree with a lot of it, kids and people need to be told to be responsible for their actions.
ReplyDeleteAs a lifelong Republican I don't see anything particularly offensive about what has been released from the Whitehouse so far in this matter.
Well, I think we should stop the schools from showing this speech NOT first comes Censorship, next book burnings followed by jailing all those that do not agree with our religious views --- does this remind you of anyone in the past?? Maybe you should all take a step back and see what you have become. I believe that is what you were accusing our President of trying to do.
ReplyDeleteI would venture to say that a large portion of posts on this and the other Obama education thread were merely to elicit a reaction from Democrats and liberals. Apparently it worked. It has been very amusing reading to say the very least.
ReplyDeleteTo September 7, 2009 1:00 PM post. You are a joke if you really believe what you wrote. People who vote one party can think on their own. Sounds like you can't, you must of drank the kool-aid. Most People voted for Obama cause they were thinking they could get a free ride in life from the government. Just lets see where Obama will have the country in 4 years. Don't even try to use the excuse that Bush had it to messed up to fix in 4 years. Things were a lot worse when Reagan took office. Yes a Republican president that fix the mess a democractic president (carter) had us in.
ReplyDeleteTo 9:14 Yes, things were bad when Reagan took office, and they were a helluva lot worse when he left. His "no-new-taxes" successor was an honorable man who had to raise taxes after Reagan tripled the national debt, then was crucified for doing it. I truly hope all you ditto-heads and right-wing media disciples are now ashamed over your reactions to the student speech, you should be.
ReplyDeleteI never read the speech President Obama is suppose to give to the school children, and if the media is correct (scary thought) then I see no problem of airing it to the kids. I believe it is the parent’s responsibility to check it out and decide if their child should watch it. I only say that because of some of his believes and actions over the past year or so.
ReplyDeleteThe government’s direction of spending, stimulus, cap & trade, and the health care package scare me to death. Democrat or Republican makes me no difference; I am an American and care about our Great Country. We the people need to stand up and let the entire bunch in DC know, they all need to be replaced! We the People of the United States need to remind these people they are servants of the People and our Great Country. It’s time to quit the spending and help get us Americans back to work…
To "Brian":
ReplyDeletePerhaps you only ever learned to read parts of paragraphs and parts of sentences.
Maybe you should re-read what I wrote and paint yourself the bigger picture of what I typed and not just pick out the things that you can jump all over.
"drink the kool-aide" really? I'm sorry that the party that I was registed for tried to pull a fast one by putting a woman on the ballot and thinking that because she and I shared the same anatomy I would vote for her.
IF the republicans had put someone on the ticket who represented what a republican truly is, RON PAUL, I would have voted that way.
And I love that just because I voted Democrat that I'm "One of the people who doesn't want to work and wants to government to give me everything."
Yeah. That's exactly what I wanted and that must be what all people who vote democrat want.
It's like saying, some people like orange juice, and orange juice comes from florida, so all people in florida must like orange juice. NOT THE SAME.
What I want is what RON PAUL wants to do... and if you are as intelligent as you seem to think you are, perhaps you should go research it.
Just read over the posted link that has a copy of the president's speech for tomorrow...
ReplyDeleteLooks pretty straight forward for me, stay in school, don't give up when things are hard, don't pin your hopes on being a rapper...
I think some people should feel pretty silly about the things they wrote on here...
I'm not feeling silly at all. In fact, I think I am beginning to understand. After reading the comments again, it seems obvious that there are people who don't trust this President. No matter what he says in a speech, many people have lost their confidence. I for one have no faith in his work nor his words.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't the speech have been released a long time ago? Why did they wait until the day before the speech to release it? Put two and two together and you realize that the speech changed between the time it was announced he was giving it and the time it was released. I laughed when someone from the White House made a point to say in an interview that the outline of the speech released was significantly different from the actual speech Obama was going to give. Well then why release an outline that apparently wasn't going to coordinate with the speech?
ReplyDeleteMind you that I was really not that concerned with him giving a speech in the first place, but the way he was going about delivering the speech was very suspect. Release the speech the day before he is going to give it and the changes made in the accompanying handouts to school children concerning the speech and any person of even vague intellect sees that the original speech didn't make it to the podium.
To the person who posted the September 8, 2009 7:41 AM. You are a dumbass. Things were a hell of a lot better when Reagan left office.
ReplyDeleteI agree with September 8, 2009 9:23 PM. When it comes down to it, it doesn't matter what any of you think. Its up to the parents if they want their child to view the speech or not. Thats how it should be!! It is each parents choice.
ReplyDeletePeople have no faith in the government at any level for two reasons.
ReplyDelete1. They expect elected officials to be gods that do everything perfectly the first time and instantly, they have forgotten that everyone in government is a person just like you and me, a person with thoughts, feelings, opinions, likes/dislikes, hopes/dreams... This applies to everyone from the mayor of the tiniest village to everyone in the white house... I take it you didn't bother reading the part of the speech about doing extra math problems and WRITING DRAFTS to makes sure you do things correctly?
2. Everyone seems to think they are right... I don't mean to come off as patronizing, but if you think you have the answers then why are sitting in front of your computer? If you know what is best for the nation, they why wasn't your name on the ballot last fall? If your right, go out and prove it... If you don't it makes you no different than the fat man that carries on and on about how the Bengal's quarterback sucks and he could do a better job...
Now I know some of you are going to start saying, "Its my right to have an opinion." Yes, yes it is, but there is a difference between constructive criticism and calling people, "halfwits" "dumb asses" "Nazis" "idiots" and "stupid" among other things... I was hoping this be forum for interesting and intellectual converstation, rather than left vs right smearing...
9:23 You must be an ultra-liberal. If tripling the national debt was a "hell of a lot better."
ReplyDeleteIf you don't it makes you no different than the fat man that carries on and on about how the Bengal's quarterback sucks and he could do a better job... Sounds like you are smearing fat people. Quit trying to be so self pious.
ReplyDeleteI am not self worshiping, far from it, I have my faults as does everyone else, but stepping back from the issues and trying to help people see why we have the problems we do, such as a lack of faith in the people we elect, will go a lot further to solve our problems than bickering about the details... Is it not simpler to fix the fence than to convince the cows not to go through the hole?
ReplyDeleteBut once again rather than intellectual conversation you go to name calling and belittling... If you would like to discuss the best way to restore the public's faith in the fellow citizens we elect, and the reasons we loose faith in them... I would enjoy the converstation....
My original point was...
The portly, like myself, are not capable of performing at the level of highly trained athletes who devote their lives to their physical fitness...
The same as nay-sayers with no political experience whom claim to have all the answers, are not capable of performing at the same level as politicians who spend their lives devoted to politics...
Once again there are better ways of showing how well your ideas will work than posting them on here for anyone to use and take credit for...
Oh, boo hoo, the republicans cried "The sky is falling" like Chicken Little and again they were wrong and nothing happened.
ReplyDeleteThe same as nay-sayers with no political experience whom claim to have all the answers, are not capable of performing at the same level as politicians who spend their lives devoted to politics...
ReplyDeleteYour right- Obama does not have the political experience to run our great nation!
Why have faith in any government at any level. They are out for themselves and what is best for them.
ReplyDeleteTrust in the government is important as that creates the value of the dollar...
ReplyDeleteThis is why it is important that we fix the flaws in the system to so that the best interests of the government is the same as the people's... My personal thoughts are having less being decided by the federal government and more by state and local governments as the locals have more control, and people of similar values live in similar places rather than worrying about the east coast/west coast not thinking the same way as mid-west for instance...
Republican or Democrat - who cares. We should all feel silly for the type of debate that was conducted on this topic. Nothing in his speech was political or driven by an agenda.
ReplyDeletePresident Kennedy addressed the students of the nation in a speech in the 60's. So not new territory.
Greenville becoming a discouraging place to live when you listen to all this "noise"
If Greenville is becoming a discouraging place to live. THEN MOVE!!!!!!
ReplyDelete