I am making a small departure from my usual blogging topic…
I hear rumors that some people are not sending their children to school today so their children will not be exposed to Obama’s “socialist” speech to school children. Aside from the fact that this shows a lack of understanding as to the definition of socialism, and that his speech will not contain much more than the controversial message to stay in school, spend more time learning, your parents and teachers are your partners, etc., this saddens me. And not just because those same people most likely would have been outraged had a similar disrespect been shown for Bush. I am saddened because it means these parents do not trust their children to be critical thinkers.
These women didn’t sew flags for a country that suppresses the dissemination of ideas.
Even if you do not agree with Obama’s political leanings, why not discuss it with your children? Ask them what THEY think. Ask them to discuss what they hear in the speech. Did they agree with what Obama said? Did they disagree? WHY? Ask them what THEY think BEFORE you tell them what YOU believe, if they ask you.
I have certain political and cultural leanings. So does my husband. There is no reason why Kiddo has to have the same. Sure, I will share my thoughts with him. Sure, I will tell him the reasons I have for my way of thinking. But I will also tell him what others believe, and I hope he will ask why, explore the issues, remain open minded and come to his own conclusions. The last thing I want his for him to simply mimic my beliefs.
So go ahead, send your children to school today. Or if you homeschool, watch, listen, learn and discuss. Do not hide your child from the world. And if you’re feeling reckless you could send them to school with a note like this.
There is so much talk about how schools don’t teach our children how to think. Well, why should they, if parents don’t allow their children to be exposed to ideas other than their own.
Fanny Harville says
I completely agree with you and appreciate your posting on this topic. As parents we should expose our children to all sorts of view points and have ample discussions with them, being careful to listen to their responses. It is truly a threat to democracy for parents to suggest that it is dangerous for their children to hear an address by the duly elected president of the nation.
Steph says
Well said, thank you for posting. My husband was approached by one of his sixth grade parents requesting that his daughter not watch the speech. My reaction upon hearing this was exactly as you put it.
Anonymous says
A similar “disrespect” already was shown to Bush, you can read about it here:
http://mommylife.net/archives/2009/09/when_bush_spoke.html
Having refreshed my knowledge regarding socialism, I fail to see how Obama's economic policies are not socialistic.
However, since socialism is a type of economic organization I can see how applying the word “socialist” to his speech may bother you. However, I will point out that the word “socialism” has been used interchangeably with “communism” for more than a century. It may be more accurate for people to say they were rather concerned about possible exposure to communist or fascist ideas (such as government control over labor and business and the suppression of criticism and opposition for the government).
As for the content of the speech, we'll never know what that would have been. The speech text was changed and released AFTER the complaints were made. The real concern for parents was the text of the “classroom activities.” The sentences that bothered me were:
“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? …What is the President trying to tell me?
What is the President asking me to do?
What new ideas and actions is the President challenging me to think about?”
I fail to see how these sentences encourage the kind of “critical thinking” you refer to. These statements are also counter to “asking the children what THEY think” as you mentioned. And I DO think it is dangerous for teachers and the President to represent a “representative government” in this way.
There are those who believe that a communist or fascist government IS dangerous. There are those who are familiar with how communist or fascist governments are begun and are familiar with the role of schools and the indoctrination of children in those types of governments. Those people will think it is dangerous for their children to engage in these “classroom activities.”
I don't think that five-year-olds have a thorough understanding of the nuances of democracy versus communism. They would be incapable of the type of dialogue you suggest on this issue. They ARE at a time in their lives where what their teachers have to say about the role of the president will effect their understanding of how our government works. It is truly a threat to democracy to foster a misunderstanding of the role of government versus individualism.
Julie says
Good thoughts.
Shan says
Mom and kiddo, I agree with you 100%.
Alycia in Va. says
Glad to see the majority of your commenters agreed with you. As a civics teacher- I have a hard time believing that statements such as:
“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? …What is the President trying to tell me?
are damaging. Shouldn't we ALL listen to the President and our elected officials? Shouldn't we ALL try to analyze what their messages are?
My students will be watching it next week and their assignment will be to come up with their own educational goals list for this year and a plan to be successful. I sure hope I'm not fired for being too radical with this lesson 🙂
Anna - Three Sneaky Bugs says
Couldn't agree with you more. The verbose anonymous commenter on the other hand….
Jenell says
8 years late, I just came across this post. I had no memory of Obama’s speech or the controversy surrounding it. I was curious, so I just watched it online. It was the most inspirational and noncontroversial speech I could have ever imagined. It’s ridiculous that this was even a thing people were upset about or fearful of.
Erica says
He gave great speeches!