4:49 PM Fri, Sep 04, 2009Matthew Haag/ReporterI'm getting emails from schools and a call from a parent saying that Plano ISD has reversed its initial decision to not show any of President Barack Obama's planned speech to schoolchildren Tuesday. Plano ISD originally said the speech wouldn't be shown live and that a link to the speech would be added to Plano ISD's Web site.The speech still won't be shown live, but Plano ISD has let each school decide whether they want to show it a day or so later. For example, Schimelpfenig Middle School will show the speech Thursday between between 2:50 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. A parent whose daughter attends Plano East Senior High School said the school will air the speech after Tuesday, as well. And students who don't want to watch it must go to the school cafeteria and work on a brief assignment."It sounds like punishment to me," said the parent, who refused to give me her name.
I have a suggestion for that brief assignment:
"Research the actual definition of 'Socialism'. Compare and contrast what you discover with the inane bullshit your parents have told you about Socialism and how it applies to the president. Bonus points will be awarded for epiphanies regarding anything else your parents might have told you over the years."
21 comments:
Doing schoolwork in school is a punishment? What, does she think her special snowflake needs to not only be excused from the speech (which presumably has an assignment connected to it) but ALSO to be given candy and cookies to make up for the trouble?
ROFL You should suggest that assignment at your first PTA meeting.
Schimelpfening School?? That name cracks me up. Schimmel is either a white horse or mold in German - depending on how you use it - and Pfennig is a penny. Moldy penny???
Ha! Awesome. I was seriously bummed thinkinga bout kiddos in Plano missing out on this.
I really like your suggestion for the "brief assignment."
Thanks for the fabulous laugh. You're the best. I got into a huge snafu over this issue at someone's blog. In sum, I was called a racist and then when I sent the real definition of racist, called prejudiced.
Cheers from one scary commie to another.
Awesome brief assignment!
Laura
Wait - why did they call you a racist? I don't see it. AT ALL.
I don't have a problem with schools showing a video from OUR President but I would have liked to hear the reaction if this was Bush proposing to do the same thing. I have a feeling it wouldn't have been too different just a switching of who is on what side of the issue.
I don't have a problem with schools showing a video from OUR President but I would have liked to hear the reaction if this was Bush proposing to do the same thing. I have a feeling it wouldn't have been too different just a switching of who is on what side of the issue.
Well, there are two answers to that, I suppose.
1) You can go check the historical record, I suppose. Both George H. W. Bush and Ronald Reagan both broadcast similar addresses to school children in the classrooms. Bush's was a similar "be cool, stay in school" message as Obama's, while Reagan preached against the evils of taxation, which I'm sure got the kids all worked up and hip to government, yo. I don't believe there was any mass exodus of liberal children from the classrooms on either of those occasions.
2) Are you asking specifically how those of us on the left might have reacted if George W. Bush, the most intellectually incurious president of the modern age, had ever given a speech to school kids extolling the virtues of staying in school and taking their studies seriously? I suspect we would have risked serious injury from the hysterical laughter that would have resulted. We also would have checked our Tivos and DVRs to make sure Jon Stewart was recording that night.
I agree that obama isn't a socialist. He's a fascist. Big difference!
Both those terms have something in common, though. You don't seem to know what either of them mean.
lol! Your assignment suggestion kicks ASS! Brilliant!
I wonder if the same "we don't want our children exposed to the president telling them to stay in school and learn" crowd would have the same reaction if the kids were supposed to listen to praying??
I don't remember being able to opt out of anything in school, with or without parents involvement. It's is very very disrespectful of the president for this to be going on.
Since when do kids and parents get to decide which parts of school they do or do not want to attend? I don't remember having those choices at all. I wonder if those who think that the president talking to kids about staying in school and learning would be equally appalled if the kids were being coerced into praying?
I'm not sure what the hype is about. I plan to attend the viewing with my son and we'll discuss (after school) what he thought it meant. I'm sure it's available online for viewing somewhere for the working parents who can't attend. Why is attending this evil? Just because you don't agree with the president in office? That's real grown-up.
To Michele- if they were asked to listen to Muslim prayers I can imagine the reaction would be much the same. Fact is, praying isn't allowed to be "led" in school. Any kid can pray to ANY GOD (and there are many to choose from) on his or her own without fear from retribution. Having a lesson on the good of being educated from our current president is not again separation of church and state.
I believ eit was George W. who said "look where being a C student got me!" What an asswipe.
Even more relevant: Look where Bush's C-student status got US!
True Cheri, I was just thinking of something that the conservative side would be happy about. And they would probably only accept a certain type of Christian prayer. There should be no opting out of a speech by the president. They was no outcry when Reagan spoke to children about the wonders of tax cuts and that was political. To those who say that it's not part of the curriculum, I would worry about a curriculum that does not include social studies, civics, US history, etc.
Send the kids or don’t send them…either way, they will find out what was said…with the media and people talking, it will get out…
How cute.
And how about this little gem?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YshG_Ok8idc
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