What do you think.


On September 8, in what the Department of Education is touting as a "historic" speech, President Obama will be talking directly to students across the U.S., live on the White House website. But some parents and conservatives are blasting the president, calling the speech an excuse to brainwash American children.

Last month, in an interview with 11-year-old student reporter Damon Weaver, the president announced his big back-to-school plan:

"I'm going to be making a big speech to young people all across the country about the importance of education; about the importance of staying in school; how we want to improve our education system and why it’s so important for the country. So I hope everybody tunes in."

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan sent a letter to the nation's principals, inviting schools to watch the speech and included suggested classroom activities. But Jim Greer, the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, came out swinging against the planned speech. An excerpt from his statement:

"The address scheduled for September 8, 2009, does not allow for healthy debate on the President's agenda, but rather obligates the youngest children in our public school system to agree with our President's initiatives or be ostracized by their teachers and classmates."

NBC spoke with Katie Gordon, a spokeswoman for the Florida Republican Party, who said the party's "beef" is with the accompanying lesson plans. The guide for pre-K through grade 6 suggests questions students think about during the speech, such as "What is the President trying to tell me? What is the President asking me to do?"

The plan for grades 7-12 includes a "guided discussion," with suggested topics: "What resonated with you from President Obama's speech? What is President Obama inspiring you to do?"

The Cato Institute, a public-policy research foundation, issued a press release entitled "Hey Obama, Leave Those Kids Alone," criticizing the "troubling buzzwords" in the lesson plans:

"It's one thing for a president to encourage all kids to work hard and stay in school – that's a reasonable use of the bully pulpit. It's another thing entirely, however, to have the U.S. Department of Education send detailed instructions to public schools nationwide on how to glorify the president and the presidency, and push them to drive social change."

Across the blogosphere, comments covered the spectrum, from critical to supportive, and from one student, a little anger:

"I sent my children to school to be educated NOT indoctrinated." — justamom

"The fact that people want to keep their kids from hearing the President of the United States encourage them to do well in school shows a true level of ignorance." — Firefey

"As an [sic] 9th grade student, I'd like to say that 1. I'm not sure why everyone is so scared that we'll all be brainwashed by the President ... 2. My school is one that is not allowing us to watch the speech, and quite frankly, I'm pissed." — Willbw

Both Presidents George Bush and Ronald Reagan both gave speeches aimed specifically at students that were nationally televised. In 1989, Bush delivered a televised anti-drug speech, and Reagan's 1986 commencement speech and Q&A session was "beamed over public television into 171 school districts," according to the L.A. Times.

It's worth noting that schools are, encouraged, not required, to air the speech. The Houston Chronicle reports that one Dallas school district is leaving the decision to individual teachers. Susan Dacus, spokeswoman for the Wylie school district, says parents who don't want their children to see it can opt out.

In an ironic twist, one Missouri school won't be airing the speech because of a lack of funding. Michelle Baumstark, spokeswoman for Columbia public schools, told the Columbia Daily Tribune, "We don’t have the funding or the equipment to support that type of broadcasting.”

I think that parents should be given a choice....after all it is there children. If they don't want their children to participate without knowing what is on the agenda then I don't feel that makes them ignorant.

I don't actually know what his stance is on education reform so I can't say for sure whether I want my kids to hear it or not at a young age....once they reach middle or high school they need to hear things so they can decide on things for themselves..

see I agree with you chelle. Now if he wants to talk about education and staying in school and about them being responsible for there education. Then I think thats great. But the parents should have a choice whether their children should or shouldn't watch it, especially pre-k to 8th.

I think they should be able to hear it at school, after all it does apply to them there. I don't think they should have to do a lesson plan on it or work sheets, maybe jsut an open discussion or debate. But do they really think Obama is trying to ruin America's children by saying stay in school and get good grades??? Come on anyone and everyone should tell their kids that. I think Obama just doesn't want another group of idiots coming out into the world. Not saying that all students are but with the drop out rate in America over 40 percent, I think a speech from the president to the students may help.

I think that the problem that some parents have is that that is not JUST what the speech is about......it's about education reform...not just about staying in school.....it's HIS views on reform.

I think that they should not do it live and allow the parents to view it first. However I dont like the fact that they are telling the schools what worksheets and such to use. I am a very "go republic" at times and some times I am more for change. However the basis of his speech does not completely fit in with what they are saying it does.

Many people say they dont reccomend it to children under the 5th grade so what does that tell you. I think kids need to know about the president and his rols. However I dont feel this president has their intentions at heart. I just hope my kid has a reason to graduate from school after he is done with America.

I'm not for it, and am sooooo happy with my school district, they will NOT be making our kids watch it. They feel it's the parent's choice, and if we want them to watch it,then they can watch it at home.

My kids school is going to show him. But my 2 will not watch it. They will have something in the media center for the kids that are not watching the president on TV. Plus I agree us as parents should have been informed about this before now.

well Jordyn and Maddy won't be watching it, because ironically I forgot until they called on friday to remind me that both of them have a dental appt between 1125 and 1pm, so they will both miss it.

Well Alex school will be showing it. So he will be a chance to see it. It is no different than when Ex Pres Bush and Reagan gave a speech to the kids...

i think tyler's school is showing it too...i told him if he wants to watch it he can, but its up to him if he wants to discuss it during class or not. it should NOT be mandatory.
however, i'm wondering what his speech WOULD have been if the school board did not make him change it.

Our school district decided as it seems many have, to review the speech first then they will play it at a later date for the kids who get signed permission slips to view it. They are setting up an alternative option for those who wont be allowed to watch the speech when they do decide to show it. My kids want to watch it, I plan on watching it myself at some point today but from everyone who has seen it so far it seems to be very tame. I know Alisyn has already told me she wants to watch it, Erynn really hasnt said, she probably doesnt have a clue really either way and Austin hasnt said much. I had planned on seeing if they want to watch it too before signing the slip to let them go. I dont think I will have any problems myself but if they dont want to go I will not force it on them either.

i actually was happy that the schools here showed it!! so my girls got to watch it and they came home telling me obama wants them to stay in school and not drop out it was cute to hear them talk about it!!! i dont think its a big deal personally....

Alex did watch the speech at school and his homework yesterday was to write about why education is important to me... he said that education is important to him so that he can read and count his money so that he can be a productive person. But to let me know he got it after he had his homework he played his DS for about 5 min then he said momma i think i would rather learn something so I'm going to put my game up and write... I was so proud of my baby he got it...

See I think that is just great! Thats all Obama wanted he wasn't trying to brainwash anyone, just inspire them. Good job Alex!

I haven't researched it and haven't paid a lot of attention to it, Nicholas' daycare obviously wasnt showing it so i wasn't real concerned lol, I think there is absolutely nothing wrong with parents wanting to know what was said before it was broadcast, when Sept. 11th happened I was in school, we watched it for an hour but when we went to our next class the principal made an announcement that all tvs should be shut off and we couldn't watch it, just like with the other presidents some ppl. are against him and if they don't want their children subjected to his views, if he expresses them, then so be it, I don't like Obama and personally if NIcholas was in school i wouldn't really want him watching something that we've heard so much about what MIGHT be in it, i would personally rather the schools record it, give the parents time to watch it so I could decide if I felt it was appropriate for MY child, from what I have seen of it i would haven't minded but I haven't watched that much on it at ALL, if Nicholas was in that group i would have watched it, then have the school do a viewing of it for the children who are allowed by their parents to watch it, no biggie

The school I teach at didn't broadcast it due to parent complaints. Quinn's school made it optional. I let him watch it. I have my opinions, but I'm not interested in getting into a debate with anyone so I'll keep them to myself. Let's just say I had no problem with Quinn watching it.

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See I think that is just great! Thats all Obama wanted he wasn't trying to brainwash anyone, just inspire them. Good job Alex

Thanks. I was very proud of Alex to be in the 1st grade and to get the message. When I told his teacher She was elated.