Schools take different approaches to Obama speech
Alternative content
Local Reaction To Obama Speech
Two schools take different approaches with President Obama's education speech.Two schools take different approaches with President Obama’s education speech.
NBC 10’s Mario Hilario reports.
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
tman.. u r the MAN! couldn’t have said it better. 
“If we fail to learn from our mistakes from the past, we are destined to repeat them” Seriously folks, there are bigger fish to fry than protesting presidents speaking to school children. Can we stop the madness and put an end to such ridiculous discussion and focus on bigger issues. p-u-l-e-a-s-e!
Not at all true. The General Accounting Office, at the urging of William Ford (D), chairman of HOuse Education and Labor Committee, instituted a full investigation of the intended “speech”, and found it was NOT political, but meant to urge students to remain in school. It was with great dissention from the ranks of the Democrats that Congress “allowed” Bush to make his intended pep talk at the Alice Deal Junior High School. It was not a political speech at all, but that is simply indicative of the truth-twisting that we deal with. If you notice, the Republicans did not issue a probe into obama’s talk. It was mostly parents who were concerned because obama’s “transparency” and motives are extremely questionable. I don’t blame them. I think EVERY president should be able to inspire kids in school - not just the Democratic ones.
I can tell you why the Bush speech was put under fire. It happened in an election year. Bush planned on using clips of the speech in his campaign ads. The Dems thought it was nothing but a boost to his campaign at taxpayers expense.
Absolutely no problem with presidents speaking to children; however this particular president had the Department of Education send out an agenda for teachers to follow, which means an agenda is to follow. Originally it was not planned as a pep talk. The theme changed when people started complaining. The problem is two-fold. There is clear double standards set here, when it is okay for one president to talk, not okay for his predecessor to talk. Second, it’s a PARENT’S job to oversee what education their children are receiving in school. To button up my discussion for today, if prayer is NOT allowed in schools, then neither should politics. And that was the original plan for obama.
Pollynana: I realize there was much criticism, as I believe others do also. With respect to the 1991 ordeal you referenced, I think that was quite unfortunate. But realize this…there’s nothing you, myself nor anybody else can do about the past…except of coarse bring it up, re-live it…It’s about what can be done, in a positive way, help shape the future for all. I believe the speech was one of those steps taken to do just that. Encouraging the students to be the best they can be is what’s needed.
Maybe, and just MAYBE, there’s an alternative motive to the complaints aimed at the speech of encouragement to the students.
In your opinion Pollynana…what amount(cost of Obama’s speech) would be TOO much of a cost to taxpayers, to encourage just one child to stay in school and be the best they can be?
Although you might not,I stand by my 1st post.
I am not being sarcastic or anything like that. But why do people think that the President’s speech was inappropriate. Someone explain that to me please. Thanks
Either way it is stupid. Dem or Repub a President should have the right to make a speech to school children. I think it’s horrible that parents & everyone else protest this. If he is giving kids a speech on trying harder in school what it the problem with it? I just don’t get it. Kids need encouragement everyday.
Incidentally, the Bush “speech” cost taxpayers $25,000. How much did it cost us this time?
And I can only hope that people realize he received a lot of criticism by speaking to the children directly without input from parents; that the Department of Education issued a “blueprint” of how to prepare the kids for the televised event; and I can only hope that people realize that President Bush did this in 1991. Oh, you didn’t? I wonder why. Oh, I know. The democrats were outraged and said Bush was using the media as a publicity stunt saying they were very much “interested in the justification, rational e for giving the White House scarce education funds to produce a media event.“ The Democrats ordered a full investigation by the General Accounting Office to probe the production of the speech and summoned top Bush officials to Capital Hill for a Hearing. Why? Because Bush was a Republican, that’s why. My, what has changed here? Why the double standard? Why is it okay for obama to talk to the kids, but it was not okay for Bush to do the same?????
Advertisement