It has been a while and I apologize. I have been busy, but really haven't felt like blogging. Crazy I know, but true. Today I got myself into a really great topic that has me pretty fired up. It's been all over the news, but not until I Facebooked about it. Before you know it that will be a verb you know, as in: I Facebooked until my fingers fell off and I couldn't see straight. But now, on with the show.
Last night we were driving home when hubby called and said to put it on an AM station he was listening to. It was Lou Dobbs and normally I don't listen to talk radio. As manic as I am, I think it would really make me crazy. They were talking about a planned speech that Obama was going to make to the schools in the country. It was going to be pumped into the schools and the Department of Education was sending pamphlets for teachers to use as a teaching tool. My ass, that's what it was for. It was to indoctrinate our children into the Obama Regime.
Let me clarify a point before I continue. I do not have a problem with the President showing up at a school and giving a speech. I don't think that it should be political. Do elementary kids really understand the difference between a Republican and a Democrat, left wing versus right wing, rhetoric or true, heart felt words? Except for the occasional political savant, I'm going to say no. I have a huge issue with the President being pumped into schools and students being made to listen to his speech and then having to do an assignment about it. Specially one that was geared the way this one was. On to the ranting and raving.
The speech was supposed to be about education and the need for kids to stay in school. I personally think kids need to be out of public schools. Public schools have taken a socialist stance that has just gotten worse over the years. Bring school supplies for everyone to share. Make sure you buy the requested 3 boxes of crayons and bring them in the first day so little Jimmy can have some, too. His family is poor and can't afford them. They are freakin' 12 cents a box before school starts. Are you telling me that little Jimmy's mom and dad can't afford one box of crayons? Dig in your couch cushions, clean out your change cubby in your car, and you can probably afford a few of those supplies. But I have to tell you, we can't afford 3 boxes of crayons for every kid in class. I know they are only twelve cents, but there are at least 18 kids in a class. Multiply 12 cents by 3 boxes by 18 kids and you have $6.48. Still not a lot of money, but if we did that for every school supply that is on the list, we would break the bank. Kleenex, hand cleaner, notebook paper, pencils, pens, stupid planners that you can only buy at school. Why does a third grader need a planner again? Oh, yeah, the schools are preparing the kids to be good little government workers.
The pamphlet itself is what I have issue with. The questions were worded in a way that made Obama seem like we need to worship him. What can you do to help President Obama? This may just be hearsay, but from what I understand, the teachers were supposed to follow up with the students and make sure they had done the things they wrote about. What? The other questions were worded in such a way that it made it seem like the kids were being told that if they disagreed with the president, they were wrong. The questions were leading and I don't like where they were leading. If anyone has a copy of the original pamphlet, I would love to see it. If you have a copy of the new pamphlet, I would love to see that, too. The questions were changed because of public outcry. Yea for public outcry. They are much less leading but there are still protests.
Then of all things, ABCNews's Jake Tapper, in a story he did for World News Tonight, stated that there was outcry about the indoctrination of children, for which there was no evidence. You could have knocked me over with a feather. With questions like "How can I better serve the president?", he is going to ask that question? Where has his head been? I normally like him. I really enjoy Charles Gibson, but I don't know what to think now. Is Jake Tapper on the payroll now? I would be better with questions like "How can I better serve my country?" or "How can I help my family during tough economic times?" or something not aimed at the president.
Many families have called schools and voiced their opinions about this speech. There has been a grass roots campaign that has gone nation wide in keeping kids home from school on Sept 8. I know several families that will keep their kids home that day. Many schools have said they will show the speech, but participation will not be mandatory. Where are you going to send the kids that they won't see or hear it when the whole school is wired? Yet another reason we homeschool. I may watch, since it is supposed to play on C-SPAN. We'll see. I would like to have the pamphlet. Just something else I can gripe about.
Obama's staff is putting out the word that this is a speech about education. This is a speech about kids staying in school and setting educational goals and sticking with them. The rub is that the schools are so focused on test scores, that educational goals are almost useless. Sure I can want to take as many science courses as I want, but when all I learn is what is on my state's standardized test, I'm not learning what I should. I'm being left behind. What happened to "No Child Left Behind"? Its a crock, too. My niece is being left behind. It's not pretty, either. Educational goals would be great if they were based on a system that allowed them. The current system doesn't. Obama's staff says this shouldn't be about the left or right wing, or even be political. When kids are singing songs praising Obama set to the tune of the Star Spangled Banner, I have issue. Check out YouTube. You'll see it. A friend of mine posted it on Facebook. When the President opens his mouth, it's political. He's the President.
Hubby says I need to not be so vocal. I need to start looking over my shoulder for the black SUVs following me and guys who talk into their shirt sleeve or collar. I say there are too many other fish to fry right now. I posted on Facebook and got great response from my friends. I think I may scare some people. I just want this country to start running on the principles that it was founded on. I want a President that doesn't have an agenda set for him by those who donate the most to his campaign. I want a leader that will lead us into the future with hope and happiness. I want a leader that will stand up for what is right and just. I don't feel that now. I certainly would rather have God back in our schools than the President making a speech via satellite.
We need to be more careful than ever. We need to make sure that our representatives are doing exactly that. We need to be on the look out for black SUVs.
1 comment:
I haven't been following this story completely, but from what I've heard and read, the Department of Education's suggested post-speech activities were distributed before the text of the speech was distributed, which contributed to the controversy. I didn't have an issue with the speech itself -- it was admirable, based on the text I read -- but what were they thinking with those activities suggesting that students write a letter to themselves telling how they were going to support the President?
And as for school supplies, I didn't know that's how districts were handling it now. We always just had to provide our own. We just shared the Kleenex and construction paper.
I'm not sure what else to say, but I think it's because I'm just tired. Or 'tard' as we sometimes say here in Texas.
Love you,
S.
PS - Pay no attention to the black SUVs. :)
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