I am not sure what was going on with the comments, but I totally agree with your post. My mom, a strict Catholic, told me to keep the kids home and tell everyone I know to keep their kids home...

first of all, kid are for more intelligent than we give them credit for. second, ever notice the more you keep kids from something you don't want them to see or hear, they find a way to do it?

a note came home the other day w my girls that needed to be filled out if you didn't want your child to view the president's speech. i definitely did not send that in. i believe that since kids are fairly intelligent that they should be able to view, read, hear, etc. things that could impact their lives, the way they think, etc. if we, or any part of society, force opinions on this kids and tell them that there is some agenda to everything one person does, wouldn't we kind of be guilty of the same thing that others say obama will be doing: brainwashing??

i often wish that people would do research or at the very least think for themselves. i, for one, have read the text for tomorrow's speech. he isn't saying much more than what i've been telling my children for awhile now. work hard in school, take responsibility for your actions and the things you do in school, and that a good education will help them out later in life.

some of those comments on that nascar vid make me laugh. ridiculous.

Spiny - like you, I'm a political moderate. I don't care for much of what Obama is doing policy wise, but that isn't the point of this address. As someone that doesn't have school age children, I outlined this issue in my Examiner article today and asked a few questions of dads. Check out the one response I've received so far:

http://www.examiner.com/x-18847-Charlotte-Fatherhood-Examiner~y2009m9d7-How-do-fathers-feel-about-Obamas-address

All I can say is WOW!

I think it's great that we have a President that is willing to give the youth of America a pep talk to stay focused on school. Whether you like Obama or not isn't the debate. I read his speech and the content is something that a parent would or should tell their kids. So, are the people that are not in favor of the speech not in favor of education? Crazy.
Proudpoppa
I blogged about it as well, www.proudtobeapoppa.blogspot.com

btw-when i said i def did not send the opt-out note in, that was only after asking my kids if they wanted to view it or not. after i had asked was when my daughters decided to tell me that they had a paper to opt out of seeing the speech. they said they didn't want me to sign it. it will be interesting to see what they think of the speech.

Ugh, I'm glad you wrote about this but can't wait til the whole controversy is over.

I read the speech when it was released yesterday and, just as I thought it would, it was fine. One reporter on the Chicago news made the great point that over the past however many years, we have seen a downturn in the respect of the actual office of the President of the United States. If you look back to the mid-20th century, people looked at the President very differently. (To be fair, there was no CNN capturing every one of his moves, but...really, who could survive the scrutiny of CNN--unscathed--anyway?) I think it would be great if people would just let the man speak: the speech being released ahead of time shows that it's not anything Socialistic as so many are worried about*, and the assignments that the White House has come up with for post-speech are ENCOURAGED, not required.

Unfortunately, the high schools my sons go to are not showing it, and I think that's terribly sad.

*BTW, many of the people who claim that the speech is a socialist act (ahem; I live with one as I'm in a mixed political marriage and yes, that's one of the reasons why I can't wait for this controversy to be over...of course there will definitely be something else around the bend!) don't seem to know that there is indeed a difference between respecting the office and being subjected to some socialist plot.

"just as I thought it would BE". Sorry.

There is no logical reason for opposing the speech. The problem we have today is that when it comes to opposing political parties, people disagree first and think later.

Pres. Obama has become such a lightning rod because of the health care reform bill that conservatives take any opportunity they can to trash him. And if it pertains to the health care bill, then fine. But this is different. This is a message to kids and a positive one at that. The reactionary wingnuts who are not allowing their kids to watch our president encourage education and staying in school need a serious reality check.

I couldn't stand Pres. Bush but if he was going on the air to promote education then I would have absolutely no problem with it. I think everyone just needs to calm the (bleep) down and remember to have a little common sense.

Daddy Files: WELL SAID.

I am ecstatic that he posted the content of his speech on the web. I think that was a critical component that took away many of the arguments being used against the speech. I think a singular address to students encouraging them to take school seriously is perfectly appropriate and a much-needed message. He is not the first, nor undoubtedly the last, president to do so and I support this speech. That said, I can understand how parents would want some comfort in the content of the speech prior to its delivery. In these times, with so much information and misinformation out there on so many partisan issues provoking visceral reactions, the fear was that this was ostensibly about education, but would turn into a more general speech giving presidential gravitas to his admittedly liberal positions.

Good comments. For my disclosure, I have lived in Arizona since I was 5, and I have been voting for Senator McCain since I was old enough to go to the polls. I did so again in the last Presidential election.

However we feel about the sitting President's political positions, I do feel that we need to teach our children to respect the position. How can they learn this respect of the office if we keep them from listening to the man who holds it?

Dismayed...that was the only word I could come up with...regarding the "hoopla" surrounding this speech. When I was a kid, it was a "WOW-FACTOR" when the President wanted to talk directly...to anyone...and even more so, when we kids knew, he wanted to talk to us...We looked up to our President then...sometimes, you just miss those times...I for one, would have never even questioned the intent...instead, I am eager...and Yes, I respect the office of the Presidency to this day!

the big hoopla is all about some optional preparatory materials that were written by the DEPT of ED(written by teachers for teachers) asking kids to 'write letters to themselves about what they could do to help the President.' something that was not worded correctly was definitely open to misinterpretation. it's now been changed to writing letters to themselves on their short term and long term education goals. oy!

Like you, I'm a political moderate and not an Obama follower in any sense. That said, we've seen Presidents reading to and addressing school kids since Reagan. GW was in a classroom in Florida when the U.S. was attacked by terrorists. I don't think it was his addressing schoolchildren that had so many upset. I don't see a problem with his giving a "Stay in School" speech. I think what really set the firestorm off was the White House sending out curriculum to the schools to follow. That was a first, as far as I know. The WH has never said, "OK, Reagan is going to speak and this is what the schools will do. All the kids will write a letter saying how they can help Reagan out." If the WH had addressed this in a completely different manner, stating that the President was going to give a "Back To School Address" and suggested that kids should write letters to themselves outlining their goals, none of this backlash would have happened.

I seem to be echoing the crowd, but I thought it was much ado about nothing. We have high school students viewing speeches that Hitler made in an effort to understand history. Could my kids 'opt out' because we don't like Hitler? Of course not! The Obama speech was history and about education. The most controversial statement was about washing your hands and staying home if sick.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but when Reagan spoke to students as president, he included the topic about how taxing families is wrong. That was a direct political opinion directed at students. the double standard and gritch'n and groan'n about 'the other guys' is just getting unbearable these days. (Say it Rodney!! "Can't we all just get along??"

I think it is great that the president was willing to go to the school and talk to the students. Kids hear a lot worse from their peers, regardless of the topic that Obama was planning to talk about. Also, in public schools, our kids experience multiple views and opinions from their teachers and friends. I think the president talking about staying in school and working hard can be inspiring, regardless if it was Obama or Bush. I feel that there is a group out there just trying to shake the cherry tree, no matter the topic.

Speaking as a non fan of Obama, I thought his speech to the kids was right on the money. He spoke of hard work and not relying on excuses. He spoke of dreams and the work that goes into making those dreams a reality and that success in the world in all in the hands of the individual and that education is key. This is something all parents should be teaching their children.

I agree that it's appropriate for any sitting president (funny term, but precise) to address school kids directly. Leading (everyone) is part of his job, for crying out loud.

Obama in particular is very careful and deliberate about what he says to whom. He clearly values the trust of the American people. I knew in advance that he would not abuse this speaking opportunity by trying to 'indoctrinate.' As if he could 'sneak' something in -- as if the whole world wouldn't be listening live and then reading the transcripts.

I propose not to hold off until you get enough amount of cash to buy all you need! You can take the loan or auto loan and feel fine