BRAINWASHING!
So, I was not aware of this until someone on my Facebook posted a link to the ridiculous protest video for it. Aparently President Obama is giving an address to students nationwide on September 8th. Conservative parents are flipping their biscuits because this is clearly an attempt at brainwashing children with progressive values, or causing them to be ostracized from their peers and teachers if they don't agree with the president. I was reading some of these comments, and was stunned at the asinine comments (although why they surprise me anymore? I don't know). This is manditory? Teachers will be accompanying the Address with a pro-left lesson plan given to them by the Obama Administration? Really?!
As I said, this was the first I heard such a thing existed. Far from making it manditory, the Department of Ed hasn't even made it known. Here's Obama's announcement of the event:
"I'm going to be making a big speech to young people all across the country about the importance of education; about the importance of staying in school; how we want to improve our education system and why it’s so important for the country. So I hope everybody tunes in."
That evil socialist bastard. No wonder parents are terrified. I would be if my children ran the risk of being exposed to such pernicious lies.
So, to sum up my rage:
1) Any teacher worth their salt (or smart enough to realize that attempting to influence their students towards a certain philosophy will result in their dismissal) would automatically prune out any overt "leftism" from the lesson plan.
2) Barack Obama is like Shaq and Superman rolled into one for my students. He is the MAN. And he is (so far, anyway), a positive roll model. Why would you begrudge him the opportunity to make a positive impact on children?
3) Any teacher worth their salt has no time for teaching a bloody "suggested lesson plan" anyway, as they are too busy teaching stuff that's been government-mandated by the previous administration. It's going to throw a massive wrench into my plans for next week just taking time out to watch it. However, having just witnessed the hysteria this address has caused, I feel it is my duty as an educator to present it to my sudents. It's historic.
But to be be fair...
Would I have shown my class GW Bush giving an address to students? I must be honest - maybe/probably not. It really boils down the the role-model status. Bush was nobody's role model, he was a terrible speaker, and he was the poster child for appealling to the lowest common denomentator. I would have shown a speech from his father, however.
As I said, this was the first I heard such a thing existed. Far from making it manditory, the Department of Ed hasn't even made it known. Here's Obama's announcement of the event:
"I'm going to be making a big speech to young people all across the country about the importance of education; about the importance of staying in school; how we want to improve our education system and why it’s so important for the country. So I hope everybody tunes in."
That evil socialist bastard. No wonder parents are terrified. I would be if my children ran the risk of being exposed to such pernicious lies.
So, to sum up my rage:
1) Any teacher worth their salt (or smart enough to realize that attempting to influence their students towards a certain philosophy will result in their dismissal) would automatically prune out any overt "leftism" from the lesson plan.
2) Barack Obama is like Shaq and Superman rolled into one for my students. He is the MAN. And he is (so far, anyway), a positive roll model. Why would you begrudge him the opportunity to make a positive impact on children?
3) Any teacher worth their salt has no time for teaching a bloody "suggested lesson plan" anyway, as they are too busy teaching stuff that's been government-mandated by the previous administration. It's going to throw a massive wrench into my plans for next week just taking time out to watch it. However, having just witnessed the hysteria this address has caused, I feel it is my duty as an educator to present it to my sudents. It's historic.
But to be be fair...
Would I have shown my class GW Bush giving an address to students? I must be honest - maybe/probably not. It really boils down the the role-model status. Bush was nobody's role model, he was a terrible speaker, and he was the poster child for appealling to the lowest common denomentator. I would have shown a speech from his father, however.