School Speech Controversy

Education White House Furor over President Obama's speech to students is "just silly" says U.S. education secretary.

by Associated Press

Published: Mon, September 07, 2009 - 2:53 am CST Last Updated: Mon, September 07, 2009 - 2:59 am CST

WASHINGTON (AP) - The nation's education secretary says the furor over President Barack Obama's speech to school children
Tuesday is "just silly."

Arne Duncan tells CBS that Obama plans to give an 18-minute speech "about personal responsibility and challenging students to take their education very, very seriously."

And he says watching it is "purely voluntary."

Duncan dismisses claims that Obama will try to indoctrinate children with a "socialist" agenda.

He says the text of the speech will be posted on the White House Web site today, so people can have a look ahead of time.

The Education Department has also taken heat over proposed lesson plans to accompany the speech. Duncan says the guides
distributed to schools "were put out by teachers, for teachers."

He says one section, on writing to the president about how students can help him meet education goals, was poorly written and
has been changed.

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sheltiedad Says:

Mon, Sep 07, 2009 at 12:51 pm

Hey Ickthus, my sheltie (shetland sheepdog) has been barking like crazy every time Obama shows up on TV.

rmseek1234 Says:

Mon, Sep 07, 2009 at 11:31 am

WKRG now has it up also.

rmseek1234 Says:

Mon, Sep 07, 2009 at 11:29 am

There is a copy of the speech on WLOX-on the sidebar next to this discussion. I am not an Obama fan,but I personally didn’t find anything wrong with the speech.jmo

ickthus Says:

Mon, Sep 07, 2009 at 11:21 am

southfan you are the one who didn’t pay attention in class. Never said anything about his works, who he might be, what you think. Just that he is and we thank him. This country was founded on this very point. May haps you are in the wrong country? Don’t let the door hit you.

southfan1981 Says:

Mon, Sep 07, 2009 at 10:58 am

Ick,I am truly ROLLING MY EYES. A bunch of nutters who are afraid of our President yet they want some lay person(with their own agenda) in a classroom talking about the works of God? I give up on trying to make sense of people.

ickthus Says:

Mon, Sep 07, 2009 at 10:22 am

Very good southfan! Yes socialism and communists have been active and an underlining fester in our schools for more than 50yr and which obama was active in with his friends of the 60’s. As our history shows, we will not put up with it. It is not you better pay attention, it is you better look out or you will be sold out. The sheep never see the wolf. That why you have sheepdogs, you sheep better hear the dogs ah barking!!

claycitymadness Says:

Mon, Sep 07, 2009 at 8:45 am

no child left behind is an excellent example that we are seeing the end result of here in baldwin and mobile county with our school deficits. an unfunded mandate

southfan1981 Says:

Mon, Sep 07, 2009 at 8:28 am

I don’t know what all the fuss is about. So far, the new democrats have not shoved a mandate such as No Child Left Behind down the throats of school districts while requiring them to meet criteria without resources(MONEY) to drive the bus!

People using the words, socialism and communism should have paid attention in school and read their history. GOOFS!

BamaBob Says:

Mon, Sep 07, 2009 at 6:20 am

Ironic that you would lecture others about hate while bashing Bush and Palin. lol

Did Obama’s apology tour abroad bolster respect, or demonstrate leadership?

debbie4 Says:

Mon, Sep 07, 2009 at 6:04 am

applauds to the president. There are those that will make America better, and those that will continue to hate, criticize (maybe because they have been used to being lied to for 8 yrs.) that wouldnt know the truth it it hit them on their heads. some people just like to hate for the sake of media attention…been to Alaska lately? We have a president that is involved and speaking to our kids about education, but people think he’s going to turn them into little communists…its so funny that some are still living in the McCarthy age. Dont you want America to return to the status we once held, respected and in a leadership position? It will take time to restore what the past 8 yrs. have ruined in our country, stop complaining and help fix it.