September 2, 2009 11:56 AM
Loudoun Schools: no Obamacast September 8
[September 17 Update: A lot has happened since this blog entry - and there has been much misrepresentation in the media. For an up-to-date and factual summary of the background of this controversy, see Loudoun Public Schools, Obama address - a summary.]
Dr. Hatrick has responded to my emails (first time in seven years - thanks, Dr. Hatrick!):
Mrs. Curtis, Our schools will not be participating in the viewing on the first day of school. We have too many activities already scheduled. The speech will be a webcast that can be accessed by individuals or the public after it is given. Hope this clears the matter up for you.
Dr. Edgar B. Hatrick, III
Superintendent
Loudoun County Public Schools
Phone: 571-252-1020
Follow-up question from me:
Thank you for your prompt response.Since Arne Duncan's letter was sent to principals, I am wondering if you are sending each principal a directive to this effect?
And please know, I appreciate your putting our children first.
His response:
Yes, Mrs. Curtis, we have sent a memo to all principals.
Dr. Edgar B. Hatrick, III
Superintendent
Loudoun County Public Schools
Phone: 571-252-1020
Note that there is room for teachers to show the webcast later at their own discretion, but I find that less alarming - since we have so many conscientious and fair-minded teachers in Loudoun County - than the idea of 50 million school children simultaneously receiving glued to the tube as though Our Glorious Leader were somehow the center of our universe.
Please be aware of the following questions and talk with your children and friends about why they pose a danger to a constitutional government:
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? [I kinda thought that in a representative government, they were supposed to listen to us.]
What is the President trying to tell me?
What is the President asking me to do? [mind-control, anyone?]
What new ideas and actions is the President challenging me to think about?
This is unusually narcissistic and self-serving. Substitute the word "God" for "the President" and it should be clear why something that sounds okay to leftist ears is clearly exploitative and dangerous to those who teach their children to put God first.
Also - parents across the nation need to know that you can make a difference. Write - be diplomatic but firm. Know where you will draw the line.
(I will finish these thoughts in a more general post next up).
Posted in Activism, Loudoun County, Obama Nation, Propaganda, Public schools | Permalink
Comments
Hey Barbara,
I wrote up a page with links to the activities as well as info on the live web broadcast so parents can see it for themselves.
Note that the activities encourage teachers to read books about Obama to prep the class!
Posted by: Milehimama | September 2, 2009 12:32 PM
I know I am old, but shouldn’t the POTUS delegate speaking and the importance of education, to lets say, the Department of Education and Secretary Arne Duncan, or was this speech just a pre-emptive vote of no confidence for the DOE?
Posted by: Resident Old Married Man | September 2, 2009 12:52 PM
I'll be curious to see, during this speech, if President Obama incorporates some form of HYPNOSIS, as he was reported to do during his campaign...
Posted by: private school supporter | September 2, 2009 1:18 PM
Good job Barbara!
Posted by: Sarah | September 2, 2009 2:21 PM
Barbara, thanks for letting us know!
Posted by: Donica | September 2, 2009 2:36 PM
Thanks for sharing this!
And good for Hatrick, assuming that his response is the actual policy of the county. As noted in a previous comment, I'm not a fan of any public schools, but it's good to see that Hatrick doesn't feel the need to march in lockstep with the DoE's dictates, even if he does resort to the "too many activities" excuse rather than responding directly to the concerns about the attempted politicization of education.
And to "private school supporter," there are enough rational and legitimate reasons to be concerned about the current administration without resorting to bizarre accusations such as attempts at hypnotism. Assuming you're not a lefty poseur hoping to tar Obama's opponents as nuts, do consider opposing something the President has actually done, like taking over the auto industry, wasting trillions of dollars and dramatically increasing the national debt, or attempting to take over 1/6th of the U.S. economy. More than enough to oppose his policies.
Posted by: Andrew | September 2, 2009 3:52 PM
Hypnosis?
I don't think anyone accused Obama of hypnosis but what I think happened is we have a large number of the populace who have been so trained to look on only the surface of matters and need the constant feeling of being entertained and and mentally "petted" like animals that they reject anything that denies what they are initially hearing and seeing, such as the smooth talking and numbing platitudes of Obama. When so many people don't bother to read books or understand history this is what we get.
Posted by: Susan | September 2, 2009 7:13 PM
Barbara, the outcome was good for you...this time...but his e-mails sounded awfully patronizing.
[yeah, well. . . . he's a big guy around here: the highest paid superintendent in the DC Metro area :) Things like that tend to go to men's heads. ]
Posted by: Marie | September 2, 2009 9:01 PM
Thanks Barbara! I love the feeling of being so informed and able to stay on top of things like this. I was able to ask the principal in person today at my son's middle school for his response to this and he confirmed that he would not be showing the pres. Thanks be to God!
Posted by: Wendy | September 2, 2009 9:16 PM
Thank you for finding this out and for sharing it, Barbara. Now I don't have to figure out what to do with my "Perfect Attendance Child".
Posted by: sandra | September 3, 2009 8:09 AM
Barbara,
Thanks for the heads up on this. Here's the email I got back from our MS principal....another reason we love our school district.
"As a school district, we will not take part in the airing of the program. We believe that parents reserve the right to oversee and teach their children in regards to political matters."
Posted by: Lari | September 3, 2009 8:22 AM
I am sure you've seen! But they came to their senses and have canceled the speech! In the explanation by one of Obama's aides he said it really came down to a misunderstanding of the words used to describe the event...it seems like I have heard that too many times before since this election!
[They have not canceled the speech. They have agreed to reword some of the curriculum so it is less blatantly calling for Obama worship]
Posted by: Malissa Coy | September 3, 2009 9:36 AM
