"...an important key to teaching children ethical behavior is learning to recognize teachable moments through which your children can develop the habit of being aware of ethical challenges." Steven Carr Reuben
On September 8, 2009, President Obama (D) gave a motivational speech to schoolchildren across America. Many Rs were unhappy that the President used his office to talk to school children. Do you think they were as upset when George H.W. Bush (R) addressed public school students on October 1991? Do you think Ds demanded a special GAO probe of President Obama as they did in 1991 when they ordered a special probe by the GAO in response to Bush's speech?
The President's message was one of personal responsibility. He called on students to stay in school and take personal responsibility for getting their education. The message was one that a parent might deliver to a child, and some parents were upset about the President assuming this role. A news commenter in this NBC video, revealed his bias, declaring that parents who were upset about Obama speaking to their public school children "aren't smart enough" to raise them. One thing is obvious, those parents aren't smart enough to realize that they're supposed to love Big Brother.
To help students benefit from an address by their leader, the Department of Education prepared an online letter with some classroom activities for school teachers about President Obama's speech. One of the Department of Education-prepared discussion questions (pdf) for pre-K through grade 6 students included these questions:
- Why is it important that we listen to the president and other elected officials, like the mayor, senators, members of congress, or the governor? Why is what they say important?
Both of these questions start with one extra word which prejudices the question, presenting a false choice to the student.
Department of Education discussion questions (pdf) for grades 7 through 12 included two questions that started with one extra word to prejudice the student by presenting a false choice again:
- How will he inspire us?
- How will he challenge us?
The following Department of Education discussion question stresses the apparent main point of the President's speech:
- We heard President Obama mention the importance of personal responsibility. In your life, who exemplifies this kind of responsibility? How? Give examples.
Here are some additional questions for parents and teachers to consider:
- What article in the US Constitution authorizes a department of Education?
- Where was "personal responsibility" when the President and Congress forced taxpayers to bail out the banks?
- Where was "personal responsibility" when the President and Congress forced taxpayers to bail out automakers?
- Where is the "personal responsibility" when the planned healthcare reform forces taxpayers to pay for all citizens to have health insurance?
- When the President ended his speech he said:
"I’m working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books, equipment and computers you need to learn."
Does he mean he's taking personal responsibility and spending his own money to pay for all the things a student needs to learn? Or was he channeling Ted Kennedy?
And finally, an extra credit question for all Americans:
How does President Obama inspire children to learn personal responsibility when the policies of his administration reward the irresponsibility of some at the expense of others?
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