Things That Make You Go, Hmmm: The Great School Speech Debate of 2009

Well, it’s pretty straightforward stuff: On Sept. 8, President Barack Obama is scheduled to deliver a major speech to American school children. According to Arne Duncan, the secretary of education, the President will discuss, among other topics, the importance of working hard, and setting educational goals.

Of course, Obama is not the first President to speak directly to school children. In terms of our country's recent history, in October 2001, George W. Bush urged kids to donate a dollar to America’s Fund for Afghan Children. And in 1991, George H.W. Bush was criticized by Democrats for conducting a teleconference with students on the topic of math and science.

The backlash around this planned speech has come swiftly with a flurry of political accusations ranging from socialist tactics and using school aged children as lobbyists. It has also developed into a prickly issue for educators of our children.

This week local and suburban schools began using mass calling systems to inform parents of their intention to view the President's speech, distribute hard copies to students and/or to use this speech as a teaching opportunity. Due to the political sensitivity of this speech and to acknowledge parental desires and views, some are also sending parental consent forms home so that students may "opt out" of the activities.

In Chicago, at least; I find it interesting that our officials have endorsed using the "Birthday Sex" crooner as the face of it's back to school initiative without checks and balances from the community, but tip toes around whether to allow students to listen to a back to school speech from the President that encourages students to focus on their educational goals. Is it just me?

Submitted by: A Proactive Parent