Open Letter to Mark Parent regarding President Obama and School Speech

[OscodaGirl]

I wanted to let you know that as a parent I am hoping that the Speech that President Obama is planning on making to the schools on September 8th will not be played in the Oscoda Schools...I know school opens on Sept. 9th...but it can still be played on DVD...I also have seen a "Pledge of Allegiance to Obama" that I am not happy about either...my husband and I do not want Socialism in our schools here...politics do not need to be in our school system...whatever happened to the basics...reading, writing and arithmetic?...Education...NOT indoctrination...would like to know other parents opinions on this subject also...thanks

[The Guy Who Moved Away]

"politics do not need to be in our school"

I guess that's why they have the "government" class, huh?

[0sc0da 0bserver]

A call your child's school Tuesday. Just ask if they plan to show the President's Speech Wednesday or anytime after and if they are, just excuse your child for the day and mention that Sept 30 is count day and your child may have an unexcused day that day and the loss of funding

[Oscodadreamer]

President Reagan spoke to students nationwide via C-SPAN telecast in 1988.

In 1991 President Bush (#41) addressed school kids in a speech broadcast live to school classrooms nationwide.

Bush 43 spoke to the nation's children as well.

In November of 2008 we had an election.
Barack Obama was the elected leader of this nation with a clear win.

Barack Obama is the 44th President of the United States of America- it's a big deal that our president is speaking to students about the IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION. Obama's message described in a press release will stick to topics like the need to work hard and take responsibility for one's own success (Isn't that a Republican value?)

If you want to keep your child home from school so you can make a political statement about an apolitical speech,that's your choice and your right. But to demand we block all of our children from any contact with or knowledge of a president you personally dislike? That's unAmerican.

[Oscodadreamer]

Why not read the suggested activities for yourself?

http://www.ed.gov/teachers/how/lessons/prek-6...

http://www.ed.gov/teachers/how/lessons/7-12.p...

[former Oscoda resident]

"Indoctrination." C'mon. Do you really believe that Barack Obama wants to brainwash our kids--like some cult leader? Do you really believe that such a thing is even possible in a short speech delivered over a television set? Do you also beleive that Obama's proposed health plan calls for "death panels" and that he is going to kill your granny?

And, there is no "Pledge of Alligence" to Obama--just a proposed sentence in his speech that kids think about how they can help our president. Exactly what is wrong with that? Kids of all ages should be encouraged to be civic-minded. But, b/c of the over reactions of people like the first poster above, that sentence was removed.

It is precisely because of short-sighted, knee-jerk, close-minded, unbending, ill-informed people like the poster above that nothing much of importance gets accomplished in this country anymore. Which, of course, leaves this country's overwhelming social problems all unaided: sky-rocketing unemployment rate, lack of health care reform, more working poor, failing schools, etc...

READ what our president plans to say to our kids and then THINK for YOURSELF.

[Mark Parent]

Oscodagirl,
Here is an email that I received from the superintendent after I inquired about the President's address to the nations school children.
"At this time, we do not have any plans to record the event. This is very convenient for parents who want their children to see the address because they can see it at their own homes. This way, if their parents want their children to see the address, they as parents, can make sure they do."
As you correctly stated school doesn't start until Wednesday the day after the speech.
I believe the "Pledge of Allegiance to Obama" that Oscodagirl is referring to is the video of celebrities such as Aston Kutcher and Demi Moore pledging to work towards a better country and planet.
Some of the pledges may offend some people and should be reviewed before exposing all children to it.
The video can be seen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch...
Hope this answers all of your questions

[Just wondering]

Why waste a good worry, people? Of all of the things that really should be worried about on the planet these days, THIS is what people are choosing? Seriously? Take a breath, people...
Thanks, Former Oscoda Rsident, and Oscodadreamer...I was hoping for some of that.
And, as far as threatening to keep your kids out of school on count day, that is just absurd, and completely short-sighted. Talk about cutting off one's nose to spite one's face. Do you really think that is the best way to express your discontent? Deny already struggling schools the money required to fund your child's education? Come on...think about it...who are you really hurting there?

[former Oscoda resident]

Yes. We all should worry that our kids--like those free-wheeling and unthinking radicals Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher--may pledge to work to make this a better country and planet.

Geez. It is ok if every kid in America is carrying a Hannah Montana backpack, dressing in clothes with a celebrity's name on the tag or wearing a replica of some sport star's jersey. But, ask them to make a simple pledge to aid the planet--like Demi Moore apparently did--and, BOOM, people are outraged.

Talk about silly.

[Oscodadreamer]

The complete speech has been released.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/Prep...

[Got The Picture]

I don't have a problem with the speech as written. Who can argue with the point that education is important and that students need to stay in school and owe it to themselves to do the best they can. I'm an Independent and I do not agree with everything this administration says or does but this is one point everyone should agree is important. That being said I think everyone should take a step back. Saying others ideas are silly or unfounded doesn't help. The kids of this country have enough to worry about without the added burden of believing the earth will implode because they somehow didn't follow Aston Kutcher's advice. We can teach civic responsibility without guilt and we can do a much better job of protecting our most precious resource; our kids. Have a happy holiday and here's hoping that President Obama's speech does touch some student life as it should.

[former Oscoda resident]

Sorry, Got The Picture. In this case, those who object to the speech being shown in school are silly. MORE THAN SILLY. Stupid, even. It is an inspiring speech with nothing controversial in it. A speech, by the way, that many under-performing and unmotivated Oscoda students could seriously benefit from.

[The Guy Who Moved Away]

People are just freaking out about it because they hate Obama so much that they freak out about everything he says and does. The guy could say that drop kicking kittens is a horrible thing to do, and the Obama haters would go out a punt every feline within a 3 mile radius and say how much better they feel. Why? Just to try and prove to the nation that the president isn't a real american and all that other bullshit people are making up everyday about him.

Some people would rather see this country fail rather than hope the president does a good job in office and helps the country out. If you spend 4 years objecting to every little damn thing the man does and make a huge deal out of a fucking speach about staying in school, then you're just making yourself look like the idiot you've been trying to make the president look like.

[OHS Alumni]

Wow, calm down Marty.

[The Guy Who Moved Away]

My name isn't Marty. Care to share anything constructive?

[OHS Alumni]

Do you???

[Old Soldier]

I didn't spend twenty-two years in uniform just to watch this country slip into Socialism. I have nothing against the President personally. I just don't like his Marxist views or his politics. Race has nothing to do with it. It's the political views I have a problem with. That also doesn't mean I don't agree with all of his ideas. If he did say it was wrong to drop kick a cat, I would agree with him. I also believe that politics do not belong in the classroom. As for the Government class referred to above, it's called civics and was originally designed to teach about forms of government and not politics. It has been said that The American People would never accept Socialism but under the name of Liberalism, they would gradually accept Socialist programs until one day America will be Socialist and everyone will wonder how it happened.

[The Guy Who Moved Away]

OHS Alumni wrote:

Do you???

I already have. You, on the other hand, have not. But then again, I wouldn't expect anything more from someone who thinks graduating from Oscoda High School somehow earns them the title of Alumni.
And to Old Soldier,
This thread was started because people were scared that the President would try and brainwash their children because he gave a speech about staying in school. How that's socialism, I haven't the first clue. We could talk all day about the other policies that the president has and the views that may Americans are concerned with. I have no problem discussing them at all. As a matter of fact, you and I seem to share some of the same views. I am an Obama supporter, but that doesn't mean I agree with everything he does. But a speech about staying in school doesn't strike me as some sort of secret plot to brainwash the children of the United States.
My comment above was directed at, and only meant for the subject about the "stay in school" speech. NOT everything the man has done since taking office. I hope this helps.

[Oscodadreamer]

Thanks for bringing it back to topic, Guy.

[OHS Alumni]

My hero!! The Guy Who Moved Away for President!! You strike me as an overly educated, needs to be right or somehow understood person. Lighten up or you'll have an early coronary, Guy. It's pretty easy to sit back in our chairs looking at a screen and firing off insults and knowledge under anonymous or false screen names. In reality if we were face to face sitting around a table the conversations would be much different. Sorry that this is off subject back it's my two cents worth. I enjoy reading most of these posts and find humor and even things that stir thought, but tell someone to calm down and all hell breaks loose and I've somehow insulted your honor. As I said, lighten up!