Maybe the Republicans should demand equal time, and let Limbaugh talk to the kiddies for a while.

I would PAY to see Rush's rebuttal of the O.

Rush would do a better job.

I pretty much agree with all your points but not your conclusion.

Why is he doing this and why won't he release what he's going to talk about?

People are freaking out over health care, seeing themselves and people they know being told to shut up and now Obama is going to bypass them and talk to their kids.

Whatever his intent, the release of the questions for afterward and refusal to tell what he expects the kids to "help" him with makes it pretty wrong.

Also, think about having teachers push the kids to do what Papa Obama says to do. That's messed up too.

There are times when a futile gesture is called for. You have to let the powers that be know that there are places where they have no right to go.

If he's surprised by the reaction, that's because he's not paying any attention at all to anything.

If he's not surprised, that says something worse.

This is egregious conduct. Those children are required, by law, to watch a speech by an elected politician.

Man I am glad my children do not go to a public school.

Keep children home? Perhaps, but not out of fear of the power of Obama to persuade young minds. There are other reasons that are more compeling:

1) If your school is foolish enough to allow this, particularly if their implement the White House suggestions for study and activities (substitute "Dear Leader" for "President Obama" and they're identical to Marxist primer propaganda) you've learned beyond any doubt that they're prone to left wing political indoctrination and untrustworthy.

2) Make it clear to your school that such things are improper and have no place in subverting scarce teaching hours. Make it clear that there will be consequences for such malpractice.

3) Make it clear to the White House that you won't stand for Marxist indoctrination, anywhere, in any way at any time.

At the very least, make your views about the anti-America, anti-democracy nature of such idiocy known in clear and forceful--but polite--terms to any educator who would foolishly allow this, or anything like it.

Has there ever been a President so addicted to public speechifying as the Big O? I used to think Clinton was a publicity whore, but Obama makes him look like a Trappist monk.

Whatever his speech is about, this is not appropriate behavior. I know I'm pissing into the wind here, but education is most logically a community function, and there's no good argument for making it a responsibility of the federal government.

Well, when I say "good" I am discounting the rightness of state sanctioned indoctrination of children. But that's just me, bitter clinger that I am.

I'm thinking you could turn this into a "teachable moment" either way. If you elect for your children to sit through this, you could send them along to school in the appropriate uniform complete with armband. After, of course, showing them where you are drawing the references from. If you keep them home you can tune in together and have your child watch the President's address with real adult supervision again noting historic similarities, constructively drawing distinctions and coming to conclusions. I would hope that as a parent you would be capable of educating/ innoculating your child.

If Teleprompter Jesus was planning on giving a 20 minute speech on staying in school, studying hard, avoiding drugs, or doing pull ups, or hell, even 'getting active in your community', I'd not have a problem with this.

It's the worksheet that is being given out for this. It's not JUST the 20 minutes of talking, there's suggestions that kids make this an all day, everyone help each other out type event. Crap like "Have the children write letters on how they can help the president" is what I'm irked over, not the speech itself (as if any kids will give a leaping crap about what he says).

Nowhere in the laundry list of suggestions does it promote children to *question* the president's policies. Nowhere are kids encouraged to "Discuss the pros and cons of the PResident's course of action". It's blanket genuflecting to authority. "Why is it important that we listen to the President and other elected officials, like the mayor, senators, members of congress, or the governor? Why is what they say important?" is one of the questions on the sheet. What it should say is "Why is it important for our representatives to listen to the citizens". They way it's written, it gives kids the impression that government is a one way street - They speak, you figure out how to follow their directions.

If my daughter's school is going to show the speech and nothing else, she'll stay. If they're planning on doing this 'community organizing' BS, then I'm keeping her home. I will be MORE than happy to show her the video at home, but if they're going to waste her day with stupid group activities where they discuss how Community Organization helps prepare you to rule America, I have better things we can do. Like watch Spongebob Squarepants.

Sweet Jesus, people, this is the president.I've watched Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton and Bush talk to school kids. To think the message - you are responsible for your education, work hard, you are the captain of your destiny, etc is somehow leftist brands you as crazy crazy.

"Have the children write letters on how they can help the president"

I wrote a letter to Eisenhower. I liked him. My father, a hard-core Republican but with a sense of humor, suggested I make a reference to Gary Powers.l didn't. I had no idea what he was talking about.

Still, I liked Eisenhower, and still do.

David, the lesson plan is the problem. Not the speech.

Robb,

I found a copy of the lesson plan and don't see why everyone's knickers are in a twist. I guess the most controversial piece is after the speech when students are asked what was it that the president said that inspired them.

That's hardly indoctrination. And it shows how little you trust your kids to think for themselves.

But if I missed what it is that you object to in the lesson plan, you point it out. I'd be happy to learn why you all are so angry about this.

Because as it is now, this just makes you seem crazy.

"...this just makes you seem crazy."

Seems? Nay, this is not seems.