"The White House has said the speech will emphasize the importance of education and hard work in school, both to the individual and to the nation. The message is not partisan, nor compulsory, officials said."
"A direct channel from the POTUS" -- this dumbass "engineer" is afraid the president might convert his kids to communists?
i was fortunate enough to meet Ronald Reagan when I was a kid. I was too young to understand politics -- as are, no doubt, the kids of Brett Curtiss -- but I was well old enough to appreciate the rare opportunity to meet a person of such lofty position.
I'd like to think my parents would have also let me meet Jimmy Carter or Bill Clinton, had I been born a lot earlier or a lot later.
But hordes of tards in Texas are keeping their kids from the chance to be inspired to political careers out of some idiotic fear that the POTUS is going to use communist mind control rays on their brainwashed kids.
The notion that just listening to the elected president of this country is dangerous to children is pretty offensive.
The Republican Party chairman in Florida, Jim Greer, said he "was appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama's socialist ideology."
Uh huh, because Obama's teh first president ever to tour the country and speak to people. What?
And don't forget, smarty pants, President Obama's socialist ideology got him elected fair and square. He's already converted half the country to his socialist ideology! Oh dear!
And Chris Stigall, a Kansas City talk show host, said, "I wouldn't let my next-door neighbor talk to my kid alone; I'm sure as hell not letting Barack Obama talk to him alone."
Well now, KC, you might want to go consult your dictionary, I don't think you know what "alone" means -- I do believe it does not involve a gym full of kids and teachers.
School officials in Wylie decided to record the speech, review it and then let individual teachers show it, offering students the opportunity to avoid listening if they wished.
will they issue earplugs for the students who don't want to hear that if they study and work hard, one day they can be president?
Some Houston parents, however, said telling children they should not hear out the president of the United States, even if their parents dislike his policies, sends the wrong message -- that one should not listen to someone with whom you disagree.
I think there just might be some merit in listening to people who have climbed to the top of their field, even if they hold views your parents don't like.
Of course we would let you (encourage you to) meet the President, what ever your age (but we're not buying you another suit) and whoever the President. For all the reasons you mentioned, as well as we have and would always teach, whoever we happen to be teaching, to respect and honor the President of the United States. Actually, I'm sure you would be granted audience with him if you wrote to request a meeting. Having said all the above, what really bothers me (as a teacher)is that while he espouses the importance, etc. of education and staying in school (!!!!), he reportedly encouraged the American people to keep their children home from school so they would be sure to hear his speech. No matter how well or advanced a student may be doing in school, there is always important teaching that the child will miss and cannot "make up."