Obama Address to Public School Children – Parents Growing Opposition Cause Schools to React – It’s a Matter of Public Trust.

School districtsacross the nation have been fielding calls from parents who would prefer their children not view the President’s speech next week. According to Politico’s article, the problem lies in the fact that “Conservative” parents feel that they would prefer to vet the speech prior to allowing their children to participate.

First, it is unprecedented that the President of the United State’s would make a speech for the entire United States Public School System. Barack Obama has, to date, failed to instill trust in the general public as regards to financial, health and welfare and foreign policy issues – therefore, it is no wonder that parents who are not politically left of center might be a bit suspicious of this type of address; viewing it more as political indoctrination rather than a simple “message from the President”.

Perhaps a better, and less costly to the taxpayers, method would have been to send a memo to public school teachers encouraging their students to watch the Presidents address before Congress, while taking this opportunity to teach a bit of civics, and include the opposition response/remarks at the end, for perspective. Students would then be able to discuss the speech (message) in class.

The charge is that the President might try to indoctrinate the children (although they are already indoctrinated as most educators are of a liberal mindset and teach politics in every class, regardless of subject or age – ask a child, any child.) and the most recent “evidence” came from Utah. The Salt Lake Tribune recently reported on parents who were upset because a video was shown to students in the public school system in Framingham. The video, featuring the President and several A and B List Celebrities, had the following theme: “Service to Obama, as the President”, rather than Service to the Country. It goes without saying that if this video were shown in Salt Lake, it is also being shown in municipalities and towns across the nation, with children most likely not talking with parents about the content. (Video available with SLTribune Article and On You-Tube). This, followed by an address to the nations children by the President, would appear to be – indoctrination of sorts, asking American Children to offer allegiance to a person, not to the nation (see John F. Kennedy: “Ask not what your country can do for you….”).

To be fair, the video will be broadcast on C-Span, which would allow the parent to tape, and or watch the speech, and discuss any and all aspects with their children.