Seriously? This is crazy! If Bush had given a back to school speech, I personally wouldn't have wanted to watch it, and probably my students wouldn't have wanted to either (many of my students have already been indoctrinated by their parents :-) ), but I wouldn't have thought it was a big deal in any way, and certainly wouldn't have been mad about it.
Some of the controversy surrounding Obama's speech stems from a proposed lesson plan created by the Education Department to accompany the address. An initial version of the plan recommended that students draft letters to themselves discussing "what they can do to help the president."
The letters "would be collected and redistributed at an appropriate later date by the teacher to make students accountable to their goals," the plan stated.
After pressure from conservatives, the White House said that the plan was not artfully worded, and distributed a revised version encouraging students to write letters about how they can "achieve their short-term and long-term education goals."
A number of the president's critics, however, were not placated.
"As far as I'm concerned this is not civics education -- it gives the appearance of creating a cult of personality," said Oklahoma state Sen. Steve Russell, a Republican.
As a teacher, here's how I interpret this: Obama is trying to use his "cult of personality," which he has, whether he's cultivating it or not, to encourage kids to make and reach goals that are good for them. My initial thought is that "what they can do to help the president" should have instead been worded JFK-style to say "what they can do to help their country," but would that have calmed these nuts down any? I'm not sure.
Any focus on education is great, however any thing you do or say as "president has to be well thought out...and you still will not please everyone.
ReplyDeleteMichael Vick gave a school speech the same day as President Obama and I didn't hear too many complaints....
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