Interesting discussion. Now I will chime in with my views, as well as an explanation of them.
Even in its "REVISED" form, I still have some reservations, due tin part to the proposed ADDITIONAL subject matter. Having reviewed the revised "additional material" from the Department of Education, its still concerning to see such material push pre-k to 6th graders to "discuss main ideas from the speech, such as citizenship, personal responsibility, and civic duty."
I totally agree with personal responsibility - but "citizenship" and "civic duty"? And I thought this was simply about working hard in school?
(Source:
http://www.ed.gov/teachers/how/lessons/prek-6.pdf )
What "Civic Duty" does a 4 or 5 year old have? (Unless he wants to mention how much he - and other administrations of both parties have run the debt so big that the kids are going to have to pay for it... but I doubt that will be mentioned.)
The initial announcement that occured back in August (and I am trying to find a link to it again) stated that the President was also going to discuss some of the "educational reforms" he wants. To the kids? Why? They have no control over it, so bringing the issue to THEM makes no sense - unless they intend to use the kids as a way to assist in making such reforms (whatever they are) more palatable to the adults.
Now - its also rather telling that the initial material wanted children to write letters about what "they could do to help the president". Of course, after the rucus has been raised, that has been removed to "clarify" the intent. Uh-huh. Forgive me for being a little sceptical. I mean - help him do WHAT exactly. Funny that didn't get answered in the clarification. In addition, the documentation for older kids - grades 7-12, asks them to answer questions like "How does President Obama inspire me?". They are supposed to answer and discuss this in class - how many have the cahones to say "he doesn't"? C'mon - the question itself leads one to think that we are supposed to be overcome just because he spoke. The way its done, kids are EXPECTED to make it out like they are swept up by the wonderfulness of the CURRENT president. Sorry, I got an issue with that. He isn't the "dear leader" - and such ideals shouldn't be pushed on kids.
Even taking just that - one could say that the cause for concern is overblown.
So its important to remember the "educational reform" part. Why? Because what isn't getting any media attention is what the President is putting out later in the day.
(Source:
http://www.ed.gov/news/events/advisory.html - bottom of the page)
The President will be featured in a 30 minute special on numerous channels at 8PM. The title?
"Get Schooled: You Have the Right"
Notice - yet another RIGHT everyone is supposed to have. This special will be the beginning of an initiative that - you guessed it - focuses on education reform.
Think its coincidence? Again - my scepticism kicks in. Now to be honest, I have agreed with some of the things I have heard from the President on such reform. But without seeing specifics, and they are conspicuous by their absence - along with a number of "inconsistent" statements by OB, I have to say this whole things sits wrong.