Posted on 08/27/2009 11:07:07 AM PDT by Benjamin Harrison
Subject: A Back to School Message from U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan - K12 (GA,HI,IA,ID,IL,IN,KS,,KY,LA,MA,,MD,ME,MI)
[You have received this message because of your affiliation with ------------ High School.]
Dear Principal:
In a recent interview with student reporter, Damon Weaver, President Obama announced that on September 8 – the first day of school for many children across America – he will deliver a national address directly to students on the importance of education. The President will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning. He will also call for a shared responsibility and commitment on the part of students, parents and educators to ensure that every child in every school receives the best education possible so they can compete in the global economy for good jobs and live rewarding and productive lives as American citizens.
Since taking office, the President has repeatedly focused on education, even as the country faces two wars, the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and major challenges on issues like energy and health care. The President believes that education is a critical part of building a new foundation for the American economy. Educated people are more active civically and better informed on issues affecting their lives, their families and their futures.
This is the first time an American president has spoken directly to the nation’s school children about persisting and succeeding in school. We encourage you to use this historic moment to help your students get focused and begin the school year strong. I encourage you, your teachers, and students to join me in watching the President deliver this address on Tuesday, September 8, 2009. It will be broadcast live on the White House website www.whitehouse.gov at 1:00 p.m. eastern standard time.
In advance of this address, we would like to share the following resources: a menu of classroom activities for students in grades preK-6 and for students in grades 7-12. These are ideas developed by and for teachers to help engage students and stimulate discussion on the importance of education in their lives. We are also staging a student video contest on education. Details of the video contest will be available on our website www.ed.gov in the coming weeks.
On behalf of all Americans, I want to thank our educators who do society’s most important work by preparing our children for work and for life. No other task is more critical to our economic future and our social progress. I look forward to working with you in the months and years ahead to continue improving the quality of public education we provide all of our children.
Sincerely,
Arne Duncan
And "submission," "acquiescence" and "obedience."
Ping!
Both of mine will stay HOME with me.
I’ll be sure to remind my home school students not to watch the propagandist in chief.
Everybody should take their kids out of school that day. This is ridiculous. It’s like Stalin or Hitler speeches being read to kids in their classrooms where they are a captive audience and where it is sanctioned by the state.
Just wow. What a waste of taxpayer money to have this propaganda during a school day. Maybe Obama could better reach the nation's school children by speaking to them via Nickelodeon or the Disney Channel. Also, don't most public schools start in August? We've only lived one place where schools start after Labor Day.
This actually better than what is usually going on in a public school. Sadly.
My kids (one of which just entered 6th grade, already in session here in a Florida CHRISTIAN school) would probably heckle the video, ala MST3K style. She would get in trouble for it and I would punish her properly with a stern admonition ... and a trip to Friendly’s Ice Cream Parlor!
Bump, phone call to school
Cool idea, can I be Tom Servo?
I wonder how many of these broadcasts he’s planning. He can’t get the networks to buy in to too many more, he’s oversaturated. But, he can get in to the children’s heads for next to nothing. I may have to write a note to the school, excusing my child from any future presidential broadcasts without my express permission.
It’s sad to even have to say that..I would have loved to have heard Reagan in the classroom once a month. But then, he was an American Patriot.
Any chance that if the schools hear from enough parents who do not want their children to see this, it can be scrapped?
I, too am a school teacher and I was just thinking how thankful I am that our kids don’t start back until the 10th.
Check with Kevin Murphy. I think he’s got dibbs on that.
Wow! Y’all DO start back late!
He's asking the kids to lobby their parents for home-schooling?
It’s sad to even have to say that..I would have loved to have heard Reagan in the classroom once a month. But then, he was an American Patriot.
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I was in university during the time.....and had the absolute privilege to see President Reagan speak. I sat right up front with the law school peeps (dated one at the time). It was awesome.
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