President Barack Obama's plans for a televised back-to-school address to students next week are drawing fire from some conservatives, who say he's just trying to indoctrinate them to his political beliefs.
The Obama administration is rethinking its course recommendations for students, [now] rewriting its suggestions to teachers for student assignments on how to "help the president,"
After two days of firestorm among Americans, with few exceptions the mainstream media continues to hide this story.
-- From "Right blasts Obama speech to students" by Nia-Malika Henderson, Politico 9/3/09
In the Sept. 8 speech, Obama will challenge students to work hard, set goals for their education and take responsibility for their learning, Education Secretary Arne Duncan said in a letter to principals.
The Education Department is encouraging teachers to create lesson plans around the speech, using materials provided on the department website, that urge students to learn about Obama and other presidents.
But already, some conservatives are crying foul. The chairman of the Florida Republican Party is condemning Obama's speech as an attempt to "indoctrinate America's children to his socialist agenda."
Texas school districts are discussing whether the president's speech will be shown — some districts are leaving it up to individual teachers with an opt out parents who don't want their children to view the speech, according to the Houston Chronicle.
In his letter to principals, Duncan said viewing of the speech is encouraged, not mandatory. It's the first time a president has ever given a speech addressed directly to students.
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From "Arlington Pulls Up a Desk For President, Entourage" by Michael Alison Chandler and Debbi Wilgoren, Washington Post Staff Writers 9/3/09
The speech, which will be broadcast live on C-SPAN and the White House Web site, is intended to motivate students and underscore the president's commitment to education, even as the country is engaged in two wars, an economic crisis and a tense health-care debate, the White House said.
But some of Obama's harsher critics have denounced the effort, saying the White House is trying to indoctrinate students politically. They are especially opposed to suggestions by the U.S. Department of Education for classroom activities that could be linked to the speech, such as group discussions of what Obama is asking children to do and whether the speech left them feeling motivated.
Jim Greer, chairman of the Republican Party for the state of Florida, issued a statement blasting the speech as an effort to "spread President Obama's socialist ideology." Although Obama will focus on themes such as setting educational goals and taking personal responsibility for learning, Greer speculated that the president would use the address to "justify his positions" on health care, the economy and taxes.
At the same time, administration officials appear to have responded to some of the criticism, changing a suggested activity from having children write letters to themselves about "what they could do to help the president" to writing about "how they can achieve their short-term and long-term educational goals."
[White House spokesman Tommy] Vietor said aides decided the new language was "clearer" than the original. There was never a political -- or policy -- component intended as part of the effort, he said. The speech will be released in advance and posted to the White House Web site, he said, so parents or teachers can review the text before the broadcast.
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From "White House Withdraws Call for Students to 'Help' Obama" FOX News 9/3/09
The Washington Times reported Thursday that presidential aides acknowledged they helped the U.S. Education Department write the suggested assignments, which stirred criticism by many who say Obama is trying to indoctrinate the education system.
White House aides said the language was supposed to be a inspirational, pro-education message to America's youths, but its unintended consequences were evident.
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