Comments on: Never Mind The Grad Rates, Here Come The Chili Peppers!

By: Stephanie Dyer

Stephanie Dyer — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:51:39 +0000

For heavens sake, why can we not just support the President no matter who he is? I agree with Chris in that “doing well in school” is an “Everyman” problem. What happened to courage, honor, and hard work amongst the masses. It seems a lot of what we do now is sit back and criticize.
I teach high school seniors in a rural setting that is half affluent and half “destitute” and find that education is valued by few. What a nasty comment on our status in America. I am thankful the President wishes to take time out of his busy schedule to impress and inspire our young people with the importance of education. It’s something many of the parents in my community aren’t doing. Oh wait, they are too busy worrying about an inspirational message being forced on their child.
Stephanie

By: JCJ

JCJ — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:35:30 +0000

I live in South Africa and the violence in schools over here is becoming a huge problem. I find Obama’s words very motivating and hope that we see a change, not only in America but also around the world.

By: Georgeann Davis

Georgeann Davis — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 01:02:10 +0000

“hearing only one side of the story, young people may be swayed” to think as Obama does.

Obama’s side of the story: Work hard in school, value education, take personal responsibility.
I hope young people aren’t swayed to the other side of the story.

By: kodilink

kodilink — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 23:22:51 +0000

i agree with y jamie r, we student shouldn’t get only one side of the story cause we wont think for ourselves if we want to..

By: Jamie R.

Jamie R. — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 03:12:47 +0000

I am a high school student, and I personally think that all of the controversy over Obama’s intended speech in silly. I’ve read that some people opose the speech because “hearing only one side of the story, young people may be swayed” to think as Obama does. Ridiculous! If we don’t listen to his speech, we really will hear only one side of the story: whatever our parents tell us. Students need to hear other people’s opinions so that we will know how to make our own decisions when we are adults. If we live sheltered lives now, we won’t be able to function as adults in the future. Do we really want the future citizens of America to be close-minded zombies unable to think for themselves?
Always remember, we are the future.

By: Chris Smyr

Chris Smyr — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:59:27 +0000

“Why in the world is doing well in school presented as a way to help the President, as opposed to helping ourselves and each other?”

Because students will feel that their president is setting an ambitious goal and is personally asking each of them to contribute by reaching high for their own personal academic goals. In the context of the speech, this makes a whole lot of sense. Conservatives can pout all they want about how this “accepts the mommy role of government”, but they can’t argue with the influence and symbolism a president realistically wields as the leader of the free world, no matter how ineffective one deems him/her or government as a whole.

If anything, this entire ordeal gives us a good look into our citizenship’s collective level of reading comprehension. We’ve obviously got a lot of work to do.

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:47:07 +0000

“I pledge to be a servant to President Obama” … “How you can help the President” … As Jeff Foxworthy might say, if this doesn’t disturb you, you might be a liberal. Not only on a partisan level, as it serves a President who is also the head of the Democratic party, but on a philosophical level, because it accepts the nanny / mommy role of government that drives convervatives nuts. While it’s in the “context” of service to the commmunity, why in the world is doing well in school presented as a way to help the President, as opposed to helping ourselves and each other? Whether he’s liberal or conservative, the President is our servant, not the other way around. Call me paranoid, but after seeing kids sing “O-Ba-Ma” in their classrooms and watching goofballs like Moore and Keidis declare their allegiance to the Great One, there’s reason to be a little concerned about indoctrination.

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:39:58 +0000

While I agree that the furor over “indoctrination” has gone overboard–and frankly, the story about the controversy has now overshadowed the controversy itself–I think that showing some concern over the aggrandizement of our President is entirely reasonable.

After seeing the White House’s original lesson plans (”Write letters to yourself about how how you can help the President” and “How will the President inspire us?”) and the cloying nature of some celebrity statements in the “I Pledge” video (”I pledge to be of service to Barack Obama”), there is a sense that supporters may be crossing the line between respecting the office and worshiping the office holder…and that the administration is enabling that audulation.

I welcome the opportunity for my children to watch the President’s message and then have an educated discussion about it around our dinner table. However, I can’t help but be concerned that the Kennedyesque promise of the 2008 election is in danger of morphing into “Ask not what Obama can do for you, ask what you can do for Obama.”

By: Phillip Gonring

Phillip Gonring — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:44:54 +0000

I am writing to offer some encouraging news that comes out of a school district located in one of the most conservative parts of Colorado — located in the Congressional District that sent Tom Tancredo to Congress. Here is a portion of the press release the district issued about the President’s address:

“Recently a communication from the US Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, went out to schools across the country announcing a Presidential address to students that will take place on September 8th at 10 am (Mountain Time). The invitation encouraged schools, teachers and students to watch the Presidential address through this live streaming event. The purpose of this address as outlined by Secretary Duncan is to challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning. What sets this presidential speech apart from previous events is that the President is speaking directly to school-age students.

The District considers this address as similar to having a guest speaker in your student’s school. We encourage schools to handle this speech as they would any other historical event. If your student’s school decides to have an all-school activity related to the Presidential address, you will receive advance notice. Schools will provide an alternative option for families who object to participating in the viewing. Click link below for opt-out form.

Let’s hope cooler heads like those in Colorado’s Douglas County School District prevail across the nation today.

By: Catherine Johnson

Catherine Johnson — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:56:25 +0000

Innocuous?

“write goals on colored index cards or precut designs”

“create posters”

“interview and share about their goals”

The only thing I don’t see is foldables. Of course, maybe that’s because I didn’t read the whole thing.