White House Drops Plea For Students To Help Obama

The Bulletin | 9/6/2009 | JOE MURRAY

[IbJensen]

Firestorm Erupted As Critics Charge White House With Indoctrination.

A presidential video address to the nation’s school children erupted into a firestorm of controversy after the White House disseminated an activities list which, among other things, called for grade students to “write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president.”

The president is poised to deliver an address to the nation’s students on September 8th. According to a press release issued by the White House on Wednesday, the speech stresses the “importance of taking responsibility for [students] success in school.”

But, in preparing for the academic video address, the Department of Education promulgated a list of “suggested activities” for K-6 students that had a number of critics crying foul.

Prior to Mr. Obama’s video address, the DOE had asked teachers to “build background knowledge” about Mr. Obama by having students read “books about presidents and Barack Obama.” Teachers were told to ask students why it was important that people listen to the president and other elected officials.

During the video address, teachers were told that students should be thinking about “what the president is trying to tell me” and “what the president wants me to do.” Students were encouraged to record parts of the speech where Mr. Obama gives them an order so they do not forget it.

After the video address, the DOE suggested students “write letters to themselves about what they could do to help the president.”

In response to the controversy, the White House announced Thursday it was changing some of the language in the curriculum guides.

Regarding the suggestion that students write how they could help the president, the language was changed to read: “Write letters to themselves about how they can achieve their short-term and long-term education goals. These would be collected and redistributed at an appropriate later date by the teacher to make students accountable to their goals.”

White House spokesman Tommy Vietor stressed the language change was done to make the guides clearer and was adamant that the president’s speech is one to encourage students and is not about policy. Some, however, claim the president with using children as political pawns in trying to change the social fabric of the country.

“While I support educating our children to respect both the office of the American President and the value of community service, I do not support using our children as tools to spread liberal propaganda,” Jim Greer, chairman of the Florida GOP, said.

“The address scheduled for September 8, 2009, does not allow for healthy debate on the President’s agenda, but rather obligates the youngest children in our public school system to agree with our President’s initiatives or be ostracized by their teachers and classmates.”

Mr. Greer charged it was hypocritical that “school children across our nation will be forced to watch the President justify his plans for government-run health care, banks, and automobile companies, increasing taxes on those who create jobs, and racking up more debt than any other President,” while “public schools can’t teach children to speak out in support of the sanctity of human life or traditional marriage.”

Conservatives also point to an “I Pledge” video recently shown to Utah students; a move that caused the principal to apologize. The video asked students to make a pledge to help the president.

The Obama administration is defusing the controversy by claiming the president’s critics are creating controversy when there should be none.

Mr. Vietor stressed the speech is “about the value of education and the importance of staying in school as part of his effort to dramatically cut the dropout rate.”

But, is the controversy a political maneuver to ambush the president or has the White House overstepped a boundary leading to indoctrination?

“There is a trend with this administration,” said Neil McCluskey, associate director of the Cato Institute’s Center for Educational Freedom. “They don’t realize how regular Americans are going to interpret the words they choose and use.”

Mr. McCluskey pointed to the health care debate and the Henry Lewis Gates controversy as evidence the Obama administration has trouble communicating with Americans. But, unlike the Gates incident which constituted remarks made off the cuff, Mr. McCluskey argued the curriculum guides were different.

“These guides were drafted, reviewed and double checked,” Mr. McCluskey said. “And whether intentional or not, these guides could be easily constructed as encouraging teachers to teach students about Obama and how Obama inspires them.”

Mr. McCluskey noted that this is not a Democrat or Republican issue, but one that calls for the de-federalization of education.

“Politicians will use education for their own ends and that is not what education is supposed to be,” the education expert said.

[IbJensen]

Not good enough! Cancel the telecast! Keep away from our children!

[IbJensen]

http://www.thebulletin.us/articles/2009/09/06/top_stories/doc4aa3dc0ecd82b612512249.txt

[RummyChick]

Read my post on this thread about what some teachers are going to day anyway...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2333782/posts

[freeangel]

Why is it important that “people listen to the president and other elected officials”?

Most of them are liars from the get go. Is it SO important that the president and other elected officials teach a whole generation to be liars too?

[Bryanw92]

I’ll listen when they start listening to us, and living by the rules they set for us.

[CPOSharky]

...“write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president.”

Bass ackwards.

Since he obviously doesn't know, it should be, "“write letters to the president about what he can do to stop hurting the citizens, the economy, the military...”

[ETL]

Obama’s Little Blue Book and the Egg of Power
By Michelle Malkin, January 26, 2009

Tons of people have e-mailed about the Little Blue Book of Obama sayings that a firm called the History Company is hawking on its website. Yes, they really are selling them in 10-packs for $49.50 — and yes, the resemblance to Mao’s Little Red Book is striking. Weirdly, “Pocket Obama” has a plain blank cover and smacks of a gag — especially the last line [it was not a gag -etl]:

"Printed in a size that easily fits into pocket or purse, this book is an anthology of quotations borrowed from Barack Obama’s speeches and writings. POCKET OBAMA serves as a reminder of the amazing power of oratory and the remarkable ability of this man to move people with his words. His superb and captivating oratory style has earned comparisons to John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, and this historic collection presents words that catapulted his remarkable rise to the American Presidency. It is an unofficial requirement for every citizen to own, to read, and to carry this book at all times-The History Company [the book is no longer listed on the History Company's web site -etl].

http://michellemalkin.com/2009/01/26/obamas-little-blue-book-and-the-egg-of-power/
_________________________________________________________

"From May 1966, student members of the Communist Party were encouraged to carry copies of Mao's Little Red Book of quotations. Acting under Mao's leadership, these "Red Guards" used his quotations in their mission to weed out intellectuals. With themes such as Correcting Mistaken Ideas and All Reactionaries are Paper Tigers, the quotations became the standard by which all revolutionary efforts were judged."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/special_report/1999/09/99/china_50/little.htm
___________________________________________

Mao Tse-Tung

AKA Chairman Mao, AKA 'The Great Helmsman'. (Tse-Tung can also be spelt Zedong. Translated the name means 'To Shine on the East'.)

Country: China

Kill tally: 14 to 20 million deaths from starvation during the 'Great Leap Forward'. Tens of thousands killed and millions of lives ruined during the 'Cultural Revolution'.

http://www.moreorless.au.com/killers/mao.html
_________________________________________________________

From Amazon.com...

Pocket Obama (Paperback)
by The Editors of History Company (Author)

Sign up to be notified when this item [again] becomes available.

Editorial Reviews
Product Description

This is the little blue book that right-wing partisans love to hate. Printed in a size that easily fits into pocket or purse, POCKET OBAMA is an anthology of quotations borrowed from Barack Obama's speeches and writings, intended to keep the momentum going for those inspired by his message of hope and change. The portable book serves as a reminder of the remarkable ability of this man to move people with his words, a primer for readers who want to examine the substance of his thought and reflect on the next great chapter in the American story. His captivating oratory has earned comparisons to John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, and this collection presents words that catapulted his remarkable rise to the American Presidency and set a true course for the future. Includes themes of democracy, politics, war, terrorism, race, community, jurisprudence, faith, personal responsibility, national identity, and above all, his hoped-for vision of a new America. POCKET OBAMA is essential reading as we pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin the work of remaking America.

Pocket Obama (Paperback):
http://www.amazon.com/Pocket-Obama-Editors-History-Company/dp/0978736842
___________________________________________

Yahoo search results for "Pocket Obama":
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=%22pocket+obama%22&ei=UTF-8&fr=moz35

[eaglestar]

I somehow get this dirty feeling about him wanting to talk to children in a political setting. He had to know this would happen or perhaps his inner group did not weigh the consequences and thought no controversy could come from this but not only has he once again shot himself in the foot but he has opened the door for people to openly oppose him.

[mware]

As a social studies teacher for over 25 years I have always felt it was important to show the peaceful transition of power from one administration to another.

Therefor if school was in session I showed the inaugural of ALL Presidents regardless of political party.

My beef is not with the speech (which I suspect has been toned down bigtime after the firestorm).

What concerns me is that this speech is different in that

1. The Sec of Ed bypassed the proper channels in setting up this program.

2. The set of questions that the DOE "suggested" be asked prior and after the speech.

They can revise those "suggestions" but knowing the system as I do, that does not mean those questions will not be asked. Actually I think the question are going to be even more pointed.

As for me I will be instructing my students on how to illustrate and label the positions of the earth and sun in relationship to the seasons.

[IbJensen]

...its not my job to entertain the wishes of insane people...

The only insanity exhibited are comments by imbecilic, socialist zombies like this one. These simpletons need to be kicked out of education, the 'central socialist government' needs to kicked out of the states and the job of education should be directed only by local school boards.

If Mill Valley, California (for example) wishes to indoctrinate their children in the glories of Communism and homosexuality that's their business, but their children will mature into mindless robotic little godless commies.

Obomba has as much business in the classrooms of our children as a pig has wearing lipstick and going to church.

STAY AWAY FROM OUR CHILDREN AND STAY OUT OF OUR BUSINESS!

[paulycy]

[gov_bean_ counter]

This has Bill Ayers written all over it.

[IbJensen]

The problem, chief, is that this moronic, communist zombie is incapable of reading anything that isn’t scrolling down a teleprompter. He is a dyslexic fool.

[ETL]

This has Bill Ayers written all over it.

From Investor's Business Daily (IBD), August 27, 2008:

"Ayers, now a tenured distinguished professor of education at UIC, works to educate teachers in socialist revolutionary ideology, urging that it be passed on to impressionable students.

One of Ayer's descriptions for a course called 'Improving Learning Environments' says prospective K-12 teachers need to 'be aware of the social and moral universe we inhabit and ... be a teacher capable of hope and struggle, outrage and action, teaching for social justice and liberation.

The Annenberg papers are quite extensive — 132 boxes containing 947 file folders with 70 linear feet of material. They undoubtedly contain more surprises regarding Obama's relationship with Ayers, one of many relationships Obama has sought to hide.'..."

Article: Annenberg Papers: Putting On Ayers?
http://www.ibdeditorial.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=304729375940845
__________________________________________________________

REVOLUTION: Voice of the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA [Maoist]
[Revolution] Interview with Bill Ayers, Revolution #63, October 1, 2006:
"On Progressive Education, Critical Thinking and the Cowardice of Some in Dangerous Times"
http://rwor.org/a/063/ayers-en.html
__________________________________________________________

The RCP calls for the armed overthrow of the U.S. government...

From the website of the Revolutionary Communist Party (revcom.us or rwor.org) :

"Create Public Opinion, Seize Power: We are preparing minds and organizing forces for the time when there is a major crack in the system, whenever it comes and wherever it comes from: an opening that makes it possible to bring the future Revolutionary Army of the Proletariat (R.A.P.) into the field and wage a revolutionary armed struggle that actually has a chance of winning.

And we have said that building our party itself is the most important part of organizing forces for revolution. This is true now, and it is true looking forward to the creation of that future R.A.P. and the waging of that armed struggle.":

http://revcom.us/a/v20/1000-1009/1000/barw.htm
__________________________________________________________

"This is a guy who lives in my neighborhood, who's a professor of English..."
--B.H. Obama

YouTube Video:
The O'Reilly Factor confronts Bill Ayers:
October 24, 2008:
(note the red communist star on his shirt--O'Reilly points it out too, but doesn't inform his large audience that it's a *communist* red star, and only a very small percentage of the viewers would know)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP3uvK9gTIY
__________________________________________________________

[Gorzaloon]

The Little Blue Book does not matter.

The only people who still support him could not possibly read it, anyway.

[Pearls Before Swine]

After the video address, the DOE suggested students “write letters to themselves about what they could do to help the president.”

This is reminiscent of the old Communist self-criticism sessions.

[Carley]

Typical egomaniac. Why didn’t he ask the kids to think about what they could do to make their school the best it could be.

Why didn’t he ask them what they could contribute to their neighborhoods.

[cripplecreek]

Doesn’t matter. The teacher’s union have gotten the message and the indoctrination will proceded by other means if need be.

[wiggen]

“Regarding the suggestion that students write how they could help the president, the language was changed to read: “Write letters to themselves about how they can achieve their short-term and long-term education goals. These would be collected and redistributed at an appropriate later date by the teacher to make students accountable to their goals.””
Not sure kids in k-6 have a great many goals and half want to be firemen anyway.Not that that’s not admirable but there surely isn’t room to hire that many.

[FrankR]

They could always turn on the video...and TURN OFF THE SOUND.