Public school superintendent in chief?
On Tuesday, Sept. 8, the first day of school for many, President Obama plans to address public school students via video. Some education experts are concerned that the lesson plans that will accompany the speech (here are links: pre-K-6 and 7-12) will be used to indoctrinate kids to support the president’s political agenda.
Neal McCluskey, associate director of Cato Institute’s Center for Educational Freedom told Fox News, “In general, I don’t think there’s a problem if the president uses the bully pulpit to tell kids to work hard, study hard and things like that. But there are some troubling hints in this, both educationally and politically.”
What also concerns McCluskey is that parents, as taxpayers, would be in effect paying for this influence on their children, regardless of their political affiliation: “That’s the fundamental problem. They could easily be funding the indoctrination of their children.”
Frederick Hess, director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, added that he believed the lesson plans cross a line: “I don’t think it’s appropriate for teachers to ask students to help promote the president’s preferred school reforms and policies. It very much starts to set up the president as a superintendent in chief.”
One of the post-speech activities in the lesson plan calls for students to “Write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president.” Here’s a suggestion: Students can write to remind themselves to pray for President Obama each and every day.













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back to top61 Comments to “Public school superintendent in chief?”
Pff. Who starts school in September? Everyone I know started school last week at the very latest.
Please, brothers and sisters, keep our public schools in your prayers. Obama or not, there’s problems around here.
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OP, you live in the wrong state. I think MI and MN start after Labor Day.
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Now that the White House has taken over the census Obama plans to use public school children as a little ACORN army to collect information on their parents.
The Obama administration is also working with Sesame Street to get the president’s messages to children.
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This highlights perhaps the WORST thing about America today:
There is no way on earth that public school officials would EVER have allowed President George W. Bush to do this on such a universal scale. NEVER!!!!!!
When I visited schools during the Bush administration (and our church rented school facilities in three different locations in the last few years while building our new building), I never saw any images of President Bush on display in halls or in classrooms or anywhere.
<b?Now, I see images of President Obama EVERYWHERE in public schools.
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I could support this if it weren't for the egregiously stark and hypocritical double standard.
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McCluskey gets my vote for Wingnut of the Week.
“It essentially tries to force kids to say the president and the presidency is inspiring, and that’s very problematic.” Bwahaha!
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McCluskey gets my vote for Wingnut of the Week.
Xion (#3) gets mine.
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This highlights perhaps the WORST thing about America today:
There is no way on earth that public school officials would EVER have allowed President George W. Bush to do this on such a universal scale. NEVER!!!
When I visited public schools during the Bush administration (and our church rented school facilities in three different locations in the last few years while building our new building), I never saw any images of President Bush on display in halls or in classrooms or anywhere.
<b?Now, I see images of President Obama EVERYWHERE in public schools (as it should have been with Bush when he was President).
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I could support this for the sake of education and learning were it not for the egregiously hypoctitical and stark double standard.
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Weather or not I would have a problem with this totally depends on the content of the speech. If the president is just talking about the importance of getting a good education than; okay.
Anyway, my son is in a private Christian school so at the moment it’s not my problem.
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I think its a marketing push really, so all the kids will want the new Obama doll to go with the hat and tshirts everywhere.
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Were it not for this story..
http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/pcourrielche/2009/08/25/the-national-endowment-for-the-art-of-persuasion-patrick-courrielche/
..it would be easier for me to dismiss concerns about propaganda/indoctrination as paranoia.
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Well, the Moron of the Week award goes (collectively) to those brain-dead leftists who think that it is ‘okay’ for a President to attempt to forcibly brainwash children in the public education system, regards his far-left and anti-American agenda.
Overall it is a rather clumsy attempt to reinforce the familar Marxist-Leninist cult of personality for Obama, via the State-mandated ‘education’ system (after all, from his Marxist-Leninist based background, it worked for his mentors like Chavez, Castro, Moran, Stalin, Mao).
But Obama is quickly finding out that he is having to deal with people who actually care about this Republic – people who do not have the ready disposition of slaves. That is a surprise for him – he has not had to deal with this before. It is a shock to him and the Left, no doubt, that he is even encountering resistance.
They no doubt believed after so many years of Oprah and the cartoon channel, they had the American people about sewed up.
It is a shame that the clowns who think this kind of mandated State indoctrination of children is okay don’t have the backbone to move to North Korea where they can worship a real ‘Dear Leader’ – and not try to drag down everyone else in this Republic into their Socialist Leader-worship cesspool.
But I guess that would be too much to ask; like asking fungus on the oak tree of liberty to kindly move to another tree.
One can always hope, though.
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Wait a minute … is he a Marxist or a Muslim? I can never remember.
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This is only the tip of the iceberg.
The House and Senate passed the GIVE Act (HR1388) an April 21st, which authorizes the government to re-engineer the volunteerism laws including a mandatory service requirement for able bodied youth, i.e. an Obama Youth Corp. In an interview about this Rahm Emanuel, said that all American youth would be required to serve. How can volunteerism be mandatory?
“The language of requiring students to serve and the creation of a “Classroom Corps” sparked a surge of criticism from bloggers for bringing back memories of the much-publicized video of marching Obama youth and Obama’s “civilian national security force,” which the candidate said in July would be just as powerful and well-funded as the U.S. military.”
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Hitler had his Youth; Mao the Red Brigade; now we have the One reaching out to the brainwashed masses is public school – all hail fearless leader! Joel Mark nailed it – if “W” had done it there would be calls for a mass sick-out; if people keep their kids home Tuesday they will probably be checked out by the truant officer or a member of SEIU.
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I think I provided a link in WV about the classes Obama wants teachers to teach, too. I don’t have a problem with teaching the Constitution which would include classes on the executive branch, but promoting Obama like this is offensive. Teachers should not be teaching a particular political agenda. (I notice that this is okay with SteveG, who posted a one liner, trying to mock people.)
Volunteerism can be mandatory if lefty world, but nowhere else. Definitions mean nothing to the left. Get with the program, Xion!
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#12, probably more a Marxist than a Muslim. Always think politics, not religion, when assessing his deepest convictions. Next question.
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But he’ll USE religion to get his way.
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Black Liberation Theology is a mixture of Marxism, Islam and a warped biblical view that is about the slaves in Egypt overcoming their oppressors.
It is perfectly clear where Obama is coming from.
It seems to me that the health care debate is merely a diversion or minor bump in the road along the way to Obama’s grand vision. America hasn’t seen anything yet.
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Parents should accompany their children to school on September 8th – even if it means taking a vacation day – there is nothing more important than taking a strong stand when it comes to indoctrinating children.
If parents took a STRONG STAND, this would back off just like the health bill –
When anyone wants to talk to ones child when the parent is not present, the RED FLAGS SHOULD BE RAISED – if Obama wants to inflict his ideas on children, why not do it in the evening when parents/parent and child/children are BOTH HOME –
The entire content MUST BE READ/HEARD before children with only their teacher is present –
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I think I’ll keep my son home from school that day.
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David, it’s a good idea OR go to school with him to see how the teacher treats the information and the way in which the students react, and more importantly ‘coached’ as to what they should think.
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Victoria and David are right. I would do one or the other. This is a waste of school time at the very least. There are plenty of people to inspire children. It smacks of all the Marxist/Communist countries.
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I am concerned that we are turning into a nation that assumes we belong to the state. We are not property of the state, nor are our children. The ignorance in this country is not unexpected, but it is appalling.
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Ki,
I agree with you – it’s the ignorance and detached attitudes of people who aren’t paying attention – so many people believe that this country will be alright, that this is just a temporary situation, as they look at their jobs, etc., – but they aren’t observing the REAL problem which is most important, it’s the CORE, the soul of what we grew up in as citizens of this country. To those of us who are Believers we see the cancer in this country we love spreading.
To coin your phrase “The ignorance in this country is not unexpected, but it is appalling.” – I add to that “painfully appalling” – GOD help us
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NJLawyer: (I notice that this is okay with SteveG, who posted a one liner, trying to mock people.)
Actually no, it’s not ok. I think it’s an unwarranted over-reach and Obama has no business talking to children directly at all. There’s no justification for it, and it’s unseemly at best.
But don’t let pesky old facts stand in the way of your prejudice.
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I shouldn’t have to prod you to speak up, SteveG. I mean, you wouldn’t want me to think you are a delusional zombie, would you?
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Oh….. so which is it? – you can’t remember even when you’re playing the humor game, or is it the selective sarcasm game?
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And “unseemly” isn’t a very strong word.
Lesson plans? They’re your kids, people.
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LOL NJL – now, now we wouldn’t want anyone to get upset – after reading 1000 page, informing us day after day just how ignorant we all were.
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Aw gee, Mr. G. No shame in agreeing with a member of the opposite party once in a while. You could’ve just said so.
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“For grades 7-12, the Department of Education suggests teachers prepare by excerpting quotes from Obama’s speeches on education for their students to contemplate — and ask as questions such as “Why does President Obama want to speak with us today? How will he inspire us? How will he challenge us?” (ref)
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Someone’s upset????
Victoria, thank you for the quotes. If I ever win a big lottery, and I doubt I will, but if I did, you and I will open a school.
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NJL
YEP – I bet you know WHO, among others.
You would be a great CEO, anyone would be fortunate to attend a school you would support – I would love to work with you
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1 – Sorry, Teen. You’re on your own with Obama.
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NJL: I shouldn’t have to prod you to speak up, SteveG. I mean, you wouldn’t want me to think you are a delusional zombie, would you?
You’re going to think no matter what I say.
Anyway, my sarcasm is because while this is hamhanded and dumb, I still think it’s hilarious how wild-eyed the ODS people are (#3, #11, #13 and #14 for example.)
But just because I think that stuff is ludicrous doesn’t mean I am “ok with it.” You and Xion, in particular, make that declaration repeatedly, whether about me personally or “leftys” in general. And my protesting never makes a dent, so why bother?
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STEVEG- I did not realize your were a doctor – able to diagnose what you label ODS from a sarcastic post. OK, doc, under Obamacare do I get a blue or red pill, or am I sentenced to be beaten to death by the Obama brownshirts in the SEIU?
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I like the “idea” of the “President” speaking to the kids directly.
Now the reality, I don’t trust “this president’s” message to the kids. Bush, Clinton, or Reagan would have been fine with me. I think Carter would have given a real good talk to children.
Any else agree with me on this?
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Lloyd,
I don’t agree that Obama should speak to children in any way shape or form WITHOUT the parents having full knowledge of EXACTLY what he is going to say – plus the parents being either in the classroom or school auditorium -
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VICTORIA,
Did you feel the same way when President Bush visited classrooms?
He was reading to children on 9/11.
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But I agree, I don’t want President Obama speaking to my Grandchildren, I don’t trust HIM.
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Notice how Obama doesn’t use the presidential seal on his web site? Instead we have the big ‘O’, the brand symbol of the Obama marketing campaign. It’s all about selling the Obama brand at taxpayer’s expense.
Teachers are part of the propaganda campaign, putting up posters of Obama quotes. Kids are asked to think about what job they could do for Obama (not America). The goal is to create a new generation of eco-warriors and social progressives who vote Democrat.
This image branding reminds me of traveling throughout the Middle East where the dictator’s face is on the side of every building. Kids are asked to sing to and praise their leader. In one school in Las Vegas, kids actually were pledging allegiance to Obama.
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Lloyd – 42
When President Bush visited classrooms he read them stories with his wife Laura – they loved children, and because they had such love they wanted children to LEARN TO READ -
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Xion – 44
I agree with you, but it is a very serious picture you paint. We should all think about this, realizing what this country is facing.
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#44
I saw the same thing, (pictures of leaders) plastered in South America. I get the same feeling when I saw the poster of Obama’s hope.
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#45
Big difference, I agree!!!
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Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. JFK
Ask not what you can do for your country, but what government can do for you. BHO
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Lloyd – 49
That sounds just like the Obama guy.
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Ask not what you can do for your country. Obama will tell you what you HAVE to do for HIS country.
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#42 , When Bush went to school it was so that he could get an education.
When Obama goes to school it is so that Obama can receive Seig Heils!
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GWB visited inidividual classes and read a story. That is far different than forcing all children across the country to listen to his video message but also do assignments based on his speeches as Obama is doing.
If this was such a great thing, the media would be playing it up. They’re not.
They’re your kids.
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White House Withdraws Call for Students to ‘Help’ Obama
President Obama’s plan to speak to the nation’s schoolchildren in a video address next week erupted into controversy as critics claimed he was trying to indoctrinate America’s kids.
FOXNews.com
Thursday, September 03, 2009
It’ll be interesting to hear my sons’ reactions to Obama’s speech, assuming their schools participate in this. My younger son will probably have no idea what he heard as it’s not likely to interest him. My older son will probably fulminate on everything wrong with Obama’s agenda for the country.
I remember as a kid having the local superintendent of schools come talk to us one time. I had no idea why he bothered, other than to give us a face to associate with the admin building on the other side of the field from the school. He probably talked about the importance of education, which was old news to me. He was just another adult giving a speech, and I was used to having to sit through those without really listening.
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Isn’t it a violation of something to have a video of the preacher-in-chief played for our children?
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#55 Pauline – You’re right, the kids won’t pay attention. I suspect the message is more for the teachers to reinforce. Their employers, the government, the teacher’s union and the Department of Education are all pushing this.
I remember when I was in third grade and the school held a mock election for Humphrey vs. Nixon. I had no idea who they were, but picked Humphrey because hardly anyone else did. I got laughed at. Well, who’s laughing NOW!
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There were homework assignments. You don’t ignore your grade.
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#58 “You don’t ignore your grade.”
NJLawyer,
That’s what I thought when I went into teaching. I was amazed at the number of students who did ignore their grades. There were a few students who made sure they always got A’s, but most didn’t mind getting a mix of B’s and C’s, and wouldn’t bother with assignments they really didn’t like, figuring they could afford a few bad grades pulling down their averages. Some students didn’t even care if they passed.
Things changed when they got into ninth or tenth grade, and suddenly realized that what they did now affected their college prospects. But the middle school students, and even the ninth graders to some extent, tended to wait until the end of the semester to suddenly start trying to find ways to get their grades up.
Younger than middle school, I really don’t think they would get a lot out of a speech, even knowing that there was homework involved. I haven’t worked with fifth graders in a long time, and my son just started fourth grade, but I’ve had plenty of contact with his age and younger in Sunday School and Cub Scouts, as well as having been in his school classroom as an observer, and they just don’t listen well. I don’t mean they don’t do what they’re told – though that is a problem too – but they just don’t pick up on what they’re hearing very well. Teachers and leaders have to make lessons very interactive to keep them attentive and following what is going on, and a video of Obama talking just isn’t likely to keep their attention.
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But they will be focused on doing the assignment whether they seek the A, the B or the C — only the Ds and Fs really don’t focus on the grade at all.
Little kids are impressionable. When JFK was killed, I was in the 6th grade, my best friend in the 5th, and a kid in her class made comments that upset us, i.e., he said his parents said Kennedy deserved what he got, etc. My parents didn’t vote for JFK, but what I heard at home was that he was leaving behind little kids who now had no father. Those comments really stayed with me, and I think even arguments at home about this video will stay with these kids. I also remember sitting in the Senate at 6 years old watching Humphrey and Dirksen debate.
Not mention that there really is something creepy about Obama wanting to do this in the first place. He could just as easily put out a commercial that all could see and run it periodically that says stay in school. The parents were sideblinded with this.
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SteveG and I agree:
Actually no, it’s not ok. I think it’s an unwarranted over-reach and Obama has no business talking to children directly at all. There’s no justification for it, and it’s unseemly at best.
But I won’t get too worked up over it, at least not yet. Wait to see what he says.
(But I don’t have any kids to think about, either).
Sarcastic or not, suggesting that Obama is like Mao or Hitler is ridiculously over-the-top, and probably hurts the one who made the statement more than anything.
I agree with KI’s statement here though:
I am concerned that we are turning into a nation that assumes we belong to the state. We are not property of the state, nor are our children.
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