Patterico's Pontifications

9/2/2009

Obama’s Education Department Wakes Up

Filed under: Education,Obama — DRJ @ 5:32 pm



[Guest post by DRJ]

Via The Campaign Spot, it seems the Education Department has removed the section of the instructional materials regarding Obama’s 9/8/09 speech to students that asks them to write letters detailing how they can help the President, and tells teachers to hold the letters to use later “to make students accountable to their goals.”

Jim Geraghty sees this as a good news, bad news kind of story:

“It looks like somebody at the Department of Education woke up, smelled the coffee, and realized they would have a lot of angry parents on their hands if homework assignments included requirements to pledge to help the Obama administration. In light of this, I expect the president’s remarks will be pretty uncontroversial. But this legitimizes quite a bit of conservatives’ skepticism and wariness, because it means some folks in the Department of Education didn’t realize what an atrocious and inappropriate idea it was.”

I think parents need to know as much as possible regarding how their children’s schools handle Obama’s speech. Hopefully schools will welcome parents on Tuesday or, alternatively, choose not to show Obama’s speech if some parents object. After all, Obama may very well continue his recent focus on religion and morals, and we all know that’s not allowed in today’s schools.

H/T no one you know.

— DRJ

50 Responses to “Obama’s Education Department Wakes Up”

  1. Yeah…

    Amazingly, that isn’t the only part of their packet that has parents pissed off.

    Scott Jacobs (d027b8)

  2. This is rich. From the linked 2nd version of “Menu of Classroom Activities – President Obama’s Address to Students Across America” – It’s nothing more than a simplified training manual for small-fry community organizers. LOL. Someone should really be ashamed of himself.

    Create posters of their goals. Posters could be formatted in quadrants, puzzle pieces, or trails marked with the following labels: personal, academic, community, and country. Each area could be labeled with three steps for achieving goals in that area. It might make sense to focus first on personal and academic goals so that community and country goals can be more readily created.

    Write letters to themselves about how they can achieve their short‐term and long‐term education goals. Teachers would collect and redistribute these letters at an appropriate later date to enable students to monitor their progress.

    Write goals on colored index cards or precut designs to post around the classroom.

    Interview one another and share goals with the class to create a supportive community.

    Participate in school‐wide incentive programs or contests…

    Dana (863a65)

  3. 1972. My son came home from 4th grade with the newsflash that we desperately needed to elect George McGovern cause he was the only person who could save us from hellfire and whatever. Nothing new here.

    glenn (2d382b)

  4. Wonder what Obama would think if (when) I taught my son(s) to create his own business, become financially independent, support his family, give back to the community, employ other hardworking Americans and live the American dream.

    Will there ever be another Microsoft? Starbucks? Apple?

    “Menu of Classroom Activities” – is there NOTHING else going on that this man has to dip into the classroom as well?! Holy crap on a stick.

    Em (e98579)

  5. The worship of O’Dumbo ‘the chosen one’ is illegal in school. The same dumb liberals made it so. How many liberal school officials and teachers can we get canned over this? I’ll bet a lot. They don’t fire them we don’t pay property taxes. With Rangel’s tax problems there’s no way a real judge would convict anyone of tax evasion. Just use the Rangel and SOT rule, it (tax) don’t apply to me.

    Scrapiron (996c34)

  6. I wrote to my sister-in-law, a public school teacher in the Inland Empire, and asked about her plans for Tuesday.
    Her reply:
    Thankfully my fabulous state-run curriculum program (“Obamanable” as it may appear to be at times) leaves no time for such shenanigans! Whew! Got out of that one.

    So maybe the CA students will luck out and not have to participate.

    CardioNP (dbdee1)

  7. A caller to Hugh Hewitt made the same point. The Obamatron will not be allowed in California schools, unless of course they suspend the education code.

    Mike K (2cf494)

  8. According to Michelle Malkin the White House went straight to the school Principals and cut out the School Boards, you know the elected officials in charge of the actual schools.
    Silence=Acceptance
    Don’t be silent, tell the con man to keep his hands off our children …

    Jeff (faa0ee)

  9. is there NOTHING else going on that this man has to dip into the classroom as well?!

    He’s taking the loooong view. You know, as Van Jones put it, giving up the thrill of the moment for the long term goal.

    And they can grow up and get NEA grants for their Obama posters!

    Patricia (7aaa75)

  10. I sent email to my kids school and the district thatI wanted to be aware if our schools were going to show this in class.

    Rowanda (7b9a19)

  11. […] Posted on September 2, 2009 by sharprightturn Michelle Malkin, AllahPundit at HotAir, and Patterico are now reporting that the Dept of Education has now whitewashed the original supporting […]

    “Scoring” the Obama School Speech: Propaganda wins convincingly « Sharp Right Turn (bb1783)

  12. […] Obama’s Education Department Wakes Up over “skool-aid” speech Posted at September 3, 2009 Obama’s Education Department Wakes Up […]

    Obama’s Education Department Wakes Up over “skool-aid” speech (aa5200)

  13. Exactly! Indoctrination at its worst!
    http://elect-sarahpalin.com

    Palin backer (5f02ac)

  14. I call BS on that last one.

    JD (274275)

  15. “A” is for “Autobmatron.”

    Alta Bob (e53677)

  16. And, after the school video on Tuesday how many teachers will make it a “homework assignment” for the kids to watch their new buddy Barack on TV Wednesday evening as he addresses the congress? And, won’t the kids be encouraged to have their parents watch along with them (to beef up viewing)? And how many kids be told to write a report on what the president said about healthcare? I bet THIS is what the “what can I do to help the president” stuff was really getting at.

    elissa (71680c)

  17. “And how many kids be told to write a report on what the president said about healthcare?”

    elissa – The kids will probably be told to write a report about what their parents said about what the president said about health care.

    daleyrocks (718861)

  18. The remarks of US Marine David Hedrick to U.S. Congressman Brian Baird have taken a new urgency:

    “Stay away from my kids”

    Pons Asinorum (39c941)

  19. Comment by Jeff — 9/2/2009 @ 6:59 pm

    Scott Jacobs (d027b8)

  20. Comment by Jeff — 9/2/2009 @ 6:59 pm

    I can support that. Local Principle knew about this before the superintendent did.

    Scott Jacobs (d027b8)

  21. This post, and my #18 can both be deleted, pretty please.

    Scott Jacobs (d027b8)

  22. “I pledge allegiance, to the FLAG…and to the Republic for which it stands.”

    Not to the President.

    Steve B (5eacf6)

  23. “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your President.”

    Or words to that effect…

    Steve B (5eacf6)

  24. “The kids will probably be told to write a report about what their parents said about what the president said about health care.”

    daleyrocks–that could actually turn out to be quite interesting (albeit not necessarily safe for school) reading considering the strong feelings on this topic currently held by several sets of parents I know and love.

    elissa (71680c)

  25. Is this site just a cesspool of ignorants? Especially comment number 4…Em. Clearly, one of the child’s goal posters couldn’t be self employment or entrepreneurship leading to the employment of others. Clearly that would be unacceptable. (really? This is what you all believe?) Are you also going to tell your sons that if one of those companies they start fails that they are going to be uninsured? Or that if they can’t afford to give their employees benefits, their employees will be uninsured? Are you also teaching him that the majority of the uninsureds are slackers or that they are full time employees holding on to the only job they can keep that still doesn’t make ends meet or provide benefits?

    Are you also teaching them that taxation is part of giving back to the community and that the government is only a collective of people in office put their by people like you and I and if we vote for people who don’t believe in quality government you are going to get failed government programs? Or do you just believe everything Fox News tells you because its easier than thinking?

    Are you also telling him about how unpredicted deficit records were broken by Reagan, Bush Sr., and Bush Jr, and not liberal agenda? Or how Reagan’s tax cuts (followed by multiple tax increases) nearly bankrupted the nation? Or how Reagan’s final tax increases were higher than the proposed tax increase on the wealthiest by the Obama administration?

    Are you also teaching them that every “liberal” nation in the world from Canada to the European nations have currency that are outperforming ours (less now than under Bush when dollar to euro was near 50%)?

    If you want to hear a story about real classroom intrusion, let me take you back to yesteryear where I was forced to listen to Bush’s supported ideologically driven abstinence only lectures (which lead to more STD’s and pregnancies in sexually active teens).

    I have owned companies under three administrations now and Republican agenda promotes big business and does nothing to advocate entrepreneurship in their policies. Also, I didn’t like Bush but he was the president and therefore, I gritted my teeth and dealt with him popping up on TV and in the High School classroom rattling off his incoherency. Had I been asked to outline ways to help the Bush administration I would have come up with ideas that were opposite of their policies but still would have participated in the activity and neither my parents or I would have been offended. He was still the president as Obama (like it or not) is yours.

    Please, inform yourself. Ignorants is bad for America’s health.

    J (08deec)

  26. Setting up the strawmen and mowing them down, with a flamethrower. I was going to go through that rant lie by dishonest lie by distortion by obfuscation, but that was just a puking out of 2 decades worth of Leftist memes.

    I thought it particulary rich while proclaiming its intellectual superiority, it spelled ignorance, ignorants. I work here is done. I can haz cheezeburger?

    JD (14b6c9)

  27. Ignorants is bad for American health. Priceless.

    JD (14b6c9)

  28. Well forgive me for pulling out the urban dictionary. Ignorance is a state of mind whereas Ignorants refers to a group of people who are ignorant.

    Wow, you all really don’t read anything outside of your echo chamber.

    J (08deec)

  29. JD “I was going to go through that rant lie by dishonest lie by distortion”

    I love responses from conservatives. They all go very similarly. “Oh you are wrong! Lies! Evil! Its not worth my time to argue because its much easier just to be angry and uninformed, Sean Hannity will set you straight!”

    Please, bring forth some real information.

    J (08deec)

  30. J – responses from liberal trolls are all the same. “Glenn Beck! Sean Hannity! Rush Limbaugh!”

    Yawn.

    No one here brought up Hannity but you.

    SPQR (5811e9)

  31. I really want my high school Freshman to hear his ramblings so he can see for himself that the guy is in way over his head. I just want him to count how many times Obama says ” make no mistake about it”,or ” let me make my self clear”. Then when he is done all of his advisors clearing up things with the words he “mispoke”.
    Even a 15 year old Freshman knows this is no time to worry if you are going to flush after number one or two, or if you use a plastic bag at the grocery store.
    Also, a 15 year old can’t make a decision on healthcare, becuase he hasn’t the knowledge (because he thinks about homework, football and his cell phone), there is no reason at all for him to listen to him ramble on and on about healthcare.
    So I say turn on that TV and let these teenagers listen to him ramble on and on. I see a good topic for a South Park show.

    Ann (9b532d)

  32. Still waiting for facts (never happens).

    J (08deec)

  33. Parents should definitely watch what schools are doing since its their tax dollars. The school has the responsibilty to provide the necessary curricular and extracurricular activites for a normal student career.
    LET THE STUDENTS BE THE STUDENTS. NOT THE PARENTS AS WELL.

    anthony (21a02a)

  34. If you intended to use “ignorants”, then your grammar is atrocious.

    Still waiting for facts? It pukes out decades worth of Leftists memes, lies, and distortions, and we have some kind of burden to do some work for it? Good Allah, these trolls are douchenozzles. This one may pass imdw for the sheer volume.

    JD (f4934f)

  35. Yep. They all end the same. Conservatives never deliver facts.

    Now who’s pulling out the urban dictionary? Douche nozzle is two words 😉

    It has been fun, this is probably my last journey here… it has been amusing reading the other side.

    J (08deec)

  36. It has been fun, this is probably my last journey here… it has been amusing reading the other side.

    If history is any guide, you will come back under a different moniker and continue to shovel out your leftist talking points.

    JVW (d1215a)

  37. See ya, Mister fact-less person. Don’t let the door hit ya where the good Allah split ya.

    JD (6ed147)

  38. Oh boy, the Leftists are out in force. I guess it’s useless to have them Google Images “Stalin with Children” or “Mao Zedong with Children” because it would prove that Ovomit is just another totalitarian despot.

    Ernesto Mundo (36b54e)

  39. I guess it’s useless to have them Google Images “Stalin with Children” or “Mao Zedong with Children” because it would prove that Ovomit is just another totalitarian despot.
    Comment by Ernesto Mundo — 9/3/2009 @ 2:33 pm

    That’s just silly. Google Images of “Reagan with Children” or “Bush with Children” wouldn’t prove anything at all, why would yours? Just stop.

    Stashiu3 (ed6467)

  40. BTW Liberals suck a** and are mentally ill craphead sociopaths, which Adolph Hitler–a Socialist as was Mussolini–would have recruited.

    Ernesto Mundo (36b54e)

  41. Should have realized you were a Moby sooner. Go back to Kos and show them how ignorant those “wingnuts” are.

    Stashiu3 (ed6467)

  42. Are you also teaching them that taxation is part of giving back to the community

    And we know just how much Barack Obama and the Obama Party [object].

    Do you tell your children that, as long as they vote for and support Obama, they don’t have to pay taxes?

    Are you also telling him about how unpredicted deficit records were broken by Reagan, Bush Sr., and Bush Jr, and not liberal agenda?

    Actually, the record for deficits is held by Barack Obama, who has managed to create the largest individual budget deficit in US history in a mere six months in office.

    Do you tell your children that? Or do you simply tell them, as does your Barack Obama and your Obama Party, that [object]?

    [note: fished from spam filter]

    North Dallas Thirty (416e07)

  43. I feel very sorry for whoever wrote on #25. The Wall Street demise and the housing crumble was put it motion by President Clinton. His last bill signed in 2000. Please be intelligent enough to research this. When Wall Street took a tumble in the early 1900’s a bill was put in place to not allow “illegal gambling with the market, where bets were placed on the demise of stocks, gambling without ever buying shares”. Clinton signed the deregulation of such oversight which allowed the “bets” on the demise of fallen stock to be legal without buying stock. That is what has led to the housing crumble and Wall Street. So your slander of Bush and Regan is a little off.

    murphy (41ab77)

  44. #25 — Comment by J — 9/3/2009 @ 9:16 am

    Is this site just a cesspool of ignorants?

    No, clearly you are in the wrong place; go here for the aforementioned cesspool (you will fit right in)– good luck.

    Clearly, one of the child’s goal posters couldn’t be self employment or entrepreneurship leading to the employment of others.

    Clearly education should have nothing to do with developing skills or knowledge that would allow a child to become independent (next thing you know, they won’t need government to take care of them for all their needs. It also makes them more difficult to control, clearly).

    Clearly that would be unacceptable.

    Clearly, what a great explanation you just made – loved the lack of logic, the use of opinion as fact, and your non-existent facts to support your position.

    (really? This is what you all believe?) Are you also going to tell your sons that if one of those companies they start fails that they are going to be uninsured? Or that if they can’t afford to give their employees benefits, their employees will be uninsured?

    No. Clearly, (and I am only speaking for myself) I would seek government officials who want to reform health care in a real, viable way to improve the system; this as opposed to the Democratic Plan, which is to degrade it while expanding the deficit.

    BTW: excellent use of the Strawman Fallacy.

    (Okay, I’m not going to use “clearly” any more on this comment. I trust the point has been made — i.e. a statement or opinion is not clear merely by claiming it is. Proof, sources, logical reasoning and even anecdotes are much better at supporting an assertion.)

    Are you also teaching him that the majority of the uninsureds are slackers or that they are full time employees holding on to the only job they can keep that still doesn’t make ends meet or provide benefits?

    Did something happen to my sons, because first you use the plural (“sons”) now you use the singular (“him”).

    I would teach any child to work hard and to respect fellow citizens who provide honest labor. I would also teach him to vote for politicians who will not further break the current system, but who will find ways to improve it. I would further teach this child to be aware of politicians that insist on the need for speed, or incomprehensible documents that have been written by unknown authors, or a President who insists on his plan despite the fact he has never read it. Mostly, though, I would teach him or her to beware if a person asks a question about the plan and is immediately attacked not on a factual basis, but on a personal basis (called a brownshirt, terrorist, hick).

    I would teach such a child not to blindly follow the philosophy of any political party or President and then logically derive conclusions based on facts that are supported by evidence — even if it is not cool.

    (I know, given your need and desire to use strawmen, I probably lost you on the “logic” thing — so don’t worry about it.)

    Are you also teaching them that taxation is part of giving back to the community…

    My sons have returned (back to plural, “yay”).

    Taxes are not charity contributions. The more money American Citizens have, the more they can provide for their families in terms of health care, education, elderly support and the more they can spend on their homes, cars, etc that in turn provide jobs for other citizens, which because of low taxes, they will have more money and therefore…

    …the more they can provide for their families in terms of health care, education, elderly support and the more they can spend on their homes, cars, etc that in turn provide jobs for other citizens, which because of low taxes, they will have more money and therefore…

    …the more they can provide for their families in terms of health care, education, elderly support and the more they can spend on their homes, cars, etc that in turn provide jobs for other citizens, which because of low taxes, they will have more money and therefore…

    …the more they can provide for their families in terms of health care, education, elderly support and the more they can spend on their homes, cars, etc that in turn provide jobs for other citizens, which because of low taxes, they will have more money and therefore…

    …the more they can provide for their families in terms of health care, education, elderly support and the more they can spend on their homes, cars, etc that in turn provide jobs for other citizens, which because of low taxes, they will have more money and…

    …so on.

    Of course when tens or hundreds of millions of people do that, free market efficiencies skyrocket because statistically, millions upon millions of people tend toward optimizing the system and form a giant feedback mechanism.

    As long as the system can resist socialistic methodologies (and concentrated, centralized governmental power to operate and force such methodologies) the people will prosper over time.

    …and that the government is only a collective of people in office put their by people like you and I and if we vote for people who don’t believe in quality government you are going to get failed government programs?

    The Country is what is important, not the government. They serve us and we pay them. They are not supposed to take power, only borrow it for the term given. There are many ways to give to the community: charity, volunteering, serving in uniform, raising children, raising crops, providing jobs, honest labor, providing for the elderly, etc. Giving to the government is not the same thing as giving to a community. Using such mechanisms as government for that purpose incurs an immediate inefficiency penalty above any other means of distribution. Not to mention an increase in centralized power.

    Or do you just believe everything Fox News tells you because its easier than thinking?

    Although I do not believe anything at face value, as a former news junkie, IMO FOX has been much more objective than the others. Of course, you don’t have to take my opinion of it, here is a study — just stupid academics though, what do they know (and sorry for interjecting facts, feel free to ignore).

    Apparently they actually insist on two) sides of an issue to be presented. Outrageous! I can see why you hate them.

    Are you also telling him about how unpredicted deficit records were broken by Reagan, Bush Sr., and Bush Jr, and not liberal agenda?

    Clearly two wrongs makes a right!! Good call and great defense of your rant. I see your point; I should teach him that since they were wrong, then it is okay to do the same thing.

    (I keep losing my sons).

    Or how Reagan’s tax cuts (followed by multiple tax increases) nearly bankrupted the nation? Or how Reagan’s final tax increases were higher than the proposed tax increase on the wealthiest by the Obama administration?

    I am ignoring your inability to support your assertions (well not really, I had a good laugh first). However, I am marveling at your ability to ignore pertinent facts; things like inflation indexes and GDP/ deficit ratios. Oh no, here is another one of those pesky facts. As always feel free to ignore (stupid CBO).

    Are you also teaching them that every “liberal” nation in the world from Canada to the European nations have currency that are outperforming ours (less now than under Bush when dollar to euro was near 50%)?

    (my sons have returned!)

    I would teach them that any President that crafts or encourages policies that devalue the currency are bad, bad polices — and here is the part that you may not understand — regardless of party.

    (uh, you do know that President Obama is well, President, right?).

    If you want to hear a story about real classroom intrusion, let me take you back to yesteryear where I was forced to listen to Bush’s supported ideologically driven abstinence only lectures (which lead to more STD’s and pregnancies in sexually active teens).

    HS or Middle school? You are young– explains a lot; sources to support your assertions please. I know facts are hard, but you can do it.

    I have owned companies under three administrations now and Republican agenda promotes big business and does nothing to advocate entrepreneurship in their policies.

    Companies — plural (?)! Wow, and just yesteryear your HS school forced you to listen to “Bush supported ideology”. Congrats on your time machine.

    Also, I didn’t like Bush but he was the president and therefore, I gritted my teeth and dealt with him popping up on TV and in the High School classroom rattling off his incoherency.

    Did President Bush insist on homework assignments that forced you to write a letter to yourself explaining how you would be of service to him (with the understanding that these letters would be collected and analyzed)? If so, source please (I know you hate to support your assertions with facts, but try).

    Had I been asked to outline ways to help the Bush administration I would have come up with ideas that were opposite of their policies but still would have participated in the activity and neither my parents or I would have been offended.

    Yeah I can tell, phrases like “gritted my teeth” and “dealt with him popping up on TV” and “rattling off his incoherency” just ooze eager participation.

    He was still the president as Obama (like it or not) is yours.

    Capital “P”.

    The thing about hatred is that despite your best efforts to disguise it, it always comes out in one’s writing, even if you don’t see it.

    Pons Asinorum (39c941)

  45. Thank you #44 for writing an intelligent and educated comment. One more thing I will add: if your sons would grow up, start a business, and be a productive part of society would they really gain if the social agenda grows as some in government would like to see. Wouldn’t their hard work, (especially the incredible hours it takes to have their own business be successful) be a wash because they would have to “share the wealth”? That scares me for your sons.

    murphy (41ab77)

  46. To #44. Thank you for your intelligent comment. I would add: If your sons were to get the education to be able to start their own business and be successful (which would take incredible hours of hard work) to do and be a productive part of society would it do them any good. If those in government that want the USA to become a social country your sons hard work will be mute, they would have to “share the wealth”. That scares me for your sons.

    murphy (41ab77)

  47. More Pons, less asshattery is always a good standard to strive for.

    JD (48a9d6)

  48. Thank you JD. Everyone already nailed it before I got here.

    (@37) See ya, Mister fact-less person. Don’t let the door hit ya where the good Allah split ya.

    Thanks JD, lol

    (@45) Wouldn’t their hard work, (especially the incredible hours it takes to have their own business be successful) be a wash because they would have to “share the wealth”?

    (@46) If those in government that want the USA to become a social country your sons hard work will be mute, they would have to “share the wealth”.

    Well-put Mr. Murphy (and thank you for you kind words); I totally agree with your analysis.

    Socialism, wherever it has been tried, fails to provide the same level of prosperity. More than that, socialism tends to confine and limit the individual potential innate in each human being. Aside from the market inefficiencies, the inevitable corruption, and the inherent unfairness of such a system, it imprisons those in it to little chance of rising above the system.

    It is a horrid economic system, one that can expect fierce resistance in our Country.

    (Please know that I do not have any sons. I was just using the strawmen “sons” given by J.)

    Pons Asinorum (39c941)

  49. I have owned companies under three administrations now and Republican agenda promotes big business and does nothing to advocate entrepreneurship in their policies.

    I bet you’re similar to this person I know who manages a medium-sized company and is a big liberal, a big suck-up to the Democrat Party—eg, he can’t even tolerate a squishy “centrist” Republican like Arnold Schwarzenegger. He is a devotee of Obama, almost to the point where I want to stick my finger down my throat.

    This person is the epitome of a limousine liberal — one big phony — as he’s always trying to craft the best deal possible, which is fine when done properly and ethically. But not if it means — particularly in the case of a two-faced liberal — doing back flips to avoid paying sales taxes, income taxes, payroll taxes, which the person I’m describing appears to get a cheap thrill out of. He also tends to be a flake.

    Moreover, he certainly doesn’t strike me as being any more honest and generous than the average person, rightwingers included (or perhaps I should say, especially compared with conservatives, since they’re statistically more generous than “leftys” in donating time, money and even blood to the Red Cross).

    The more I observe the mindset and behavior of the typical “progressive,” the more disgusted I become by them.

    Mark (411533)

  50. Mark, it does not appear possible for him to have owned any company during three administrations, much less two or more (unless he is claiming not to have been a student in HS during the Bush term, which makes his argument disingenuous).

    Lets do some math…

    a) I have owned companies under three administrations now…

    b) …let me take you back to yesteryear where I was forced to listen to Bush’s supported ideologically…

    c) I didn’t like Bush but he was the president… and dealt with him… in the High School classroom…

    So, more than one company, owned for three different administrations, was in HS during part of President Bush’s term…

    4 yrs — Bush Sr
    8 yrs — Clinton
    8 yrs — Bush Jr (in HS)

    That won’t work, at best he owned his first company in elementary school, at worst prior to pre-school. Lets try another:

    8 yrs — Clinton
    8 yrs — Bush Jr (in HS)
    1 yrs — Obama

    That won’t work, at best he owned his first company in elementary school.

    Pons Asinorum (39c941)


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