September 1, 2009 1:05 PM
Open Letter to Loudoun Schools re: Obama's September 8 address to students
[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.]
Following up on my report of Obama's unprecedented demand for face time with 50 million public school children September 8, I have written this letter to Superintendent Hatrick and Loudoun County Public School Board members:
To Dr. Hatrick and the Board:Evidently, through Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, President Obama has reached out personally to all public school principals across the United States to enjoin their participation in giving him access - unprecedented access - to the minds of public school students on September 8 at noon.
If you haven't already seen this letter, dated August 25, you can find it here : http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/academic/bts.html
You will see that it includes Classroom Activities for before and after his address.
I believe many parents would be concerned about giving a president who seems to be in constant campaign mode this kind of potential control over impressionable minds in a public school setting. As Secretary Duncan states in his letter, no president has ever done this before. That's because it smacks of propaganda and Big Brotherism.
No matter what side of the political fence you personally fall on, I ask you to consider not leaving this to the discretion of individual principals, but instead creating a county policy to address such political intrusions into the public schools.
I am hoping for a timely response, as there is less than a week - including a major holiday weekend - before this occurs. Without some clear statement of LCPS intentions in response to the August 25 directive, I will not send my kids back to school until September 9 - and will urge others to do the same.
Please keep in mind that despite specific issues, I am a great supporter of Loudoun Schools. How you handle this will not change my ongoing support. But I will do my job of informing parents, analyzing precedent and making conscientious recommendations.
Sincerely,
Barbara Curtis
If you live in Loudoun County and would like to write, you will find email addresses at the LCPS website. Wayde Byard, Public Information Officer, can be reached at wayde.byard (at)loudoun.k12.va.us. I have been unable to locate an email address for Dr. Hatrick - which I find very strange.
If you live elsewhere and will be contacting your school board, please feel free to make my letter your own. Also contact your local newspapers. And share this latest outrage via Facebook and Twitter.
This is a DANGEROUS precedent and must be stopped.
I will let you know if and when I receive a response.
Posted in Obama Nation, Parental Rights, Propaganda, Public schools | Permalink
Comments
I just called my children's Catholic schools and they haven't even heard of it. Thank goodness. If they haven't even heard of this, does this mean that the public schools are doing this without any kind of notification to the parents? I'm going to ask you a dumb question, ok? What do you see this morphing into? I'm trying to picture this but it's hard to believe that this country could end up being that bad. And yet...
Posted by: Sue from Buffalo | September 1, 2009 1:46 PM
Barbara, I've been reading Mommy Life for at least a year but have never left a comment. (This might be called lurking--I'm not blog savvy enough to know--but I've never felt like I'm doing anything as bad as lurking: I love Mommy Life!)
Anyway, this morning when I saw the report on Drudge about President Obama speaking to school children next week, I was horrified. My immediate thought was, does Mommy Life know about this? I went to your blog and here it is! Thank-you so much for catching this.
I've never been a mother but I'm a taxpayer and a concerned citizen who realizes that this abuse of power must be stopped. I'll get in touch with my elected representatives--for all the good that seems to do (here, in liberal Washington state).
Thank you for your continuing efforts to inform and educate. You have been a real blessing to me.
Posted by: Anne | September 1, 2009 2:18 PM
My children attend a Catholic school; I asked the principal if she received anything. She said that she did, but they were not going to participate. I'm not sure if it was sent directly or an interested parent sent it to her, though. I am appalled at the suggested projects! They will stop at nothing. Thank you for informing. If not for you I would not have known about this, and I read and watch many conservative media.
Posted by: Deb | September 1, 2009 5:32 PM
Wow! Another reason I'm glad we home school!
Posted by: Angoraknitter | September 1, 2009 6:55 PM
Wow! Another reason I'm glad we home school!
+1. Said exactly the same thing to my wife, shortly before reading this.
Loudoun's schools may be better than other public schools, but they're still run by the government, and subject to all that entails. No, thanks!
Posted by: Andrew | September 1, 2009 10:20 PM
Our schools here in Kansas have been in session for almost 3 weeks already, and K-6 is out of school next Tuesday for a teacher inservice. My thought regarding our grade school, as well as those who are boycotting it there, is what's to stop them from just recording it and showing it another day?
My 8th grader will be in his algebra class when the speech airs, so I don't know if they plan to show it then, or tape it and show it just in social studies class, or do anything with it at all. His school principal is pretty liberal (as in he couldn't understand why we would object to a school dance with a theme of boys dressing as girls and girls dressing as boys), but his social studies teacher is a Christian, as are a few others. My son's problem would be getting in trouble for saying "yeah right" too loudly while watching the speech and then starting debates with the Obama supporters in the room.
Posted by: Susan | September 2, 2009 10:51 AM
Why is Obama being so discriminatory? As far as I can tell, his speech and the special activities are not being made available to homeschool parents. He's leaving out everyone but the NEA members, it seems, since I've heard some private schools also weren't aware of it. I'd definitely DVR it!
Posted by: Milehimama | September 2, 2009 11:48 AM
Can you stop for a moment and think about all of the kids from families that have No positive role models at home? There are soo many out there and it is sad.
We need to look at the big picture and not just think about our own children. There are definately children out there who will benefit from seeing someone in power actually take the time to tell them that they ARE cared for. They are the ones who need support and encouragement. Do you realize how many drop outs we have in our country??
It is great for those of us who have positive role models and family...but we need to take our blinders off and look around us. Kids can never have enough encouragement!!! Especially in the older grades when it is easy to fall into other things that may seem more important than education at the time.
Please tell me specifically what harm will be made by this. Really...think about those kids.
Posted by: Lisa | September 2, 2009 12:56 PM
Lisa,
I don't think Obama is a postive role model ! I don't think he cares about the students, he wants them to think about how they can help him, how they should listen to him, what they can do for him . . .
Maybe all of the families of kids that have no positive role models at home are liberals who support him. That is sad. This president is intolerant of other viewpoints, he attacks, insults and judges private citizens (i.e. tea party and health care reform protesters, the police officer who arrested his friend, Rush Limbaugh . . .) and Fox news or any other conservative news outlet. He's arrogant and juvenile and I wouldn't want any young person to be influenced to have his attitude. So, Lisa, please tell me specifically what good will be made by this. Really . . . think about those kids.
Posted by: dee | September 2, 2009 2:08 PM
Lisa, I agree with you, it is sad that most inner-city at risk children have no good role models at home to encourage them to stay in school and fight the good fight. However, should the office of the Presidency be lowered to the level of "rap star" or "athlete" that many of these kids look up to?
Instead, shouldn't we look to their local community for people who have genuine concern for these kids? What about their own teachers too? My own mother (as many issues and disagreements we have between us) teaches at risk kids and often is their only source of encouragement and, some days, comfort. If President Obama truly wants to reach out to individual children and really change their hearts and encourage them, perhaps he should spend his time actually visiting these school districts, reading to the children (like Bush did) and in general making time and effort to truly get his hands dirty and meet the people who most likely voted for him.
Grandstanding in a webcast preceeded and followed by canned activities designed to promote what amounts to cheap hero worship only cheapens his stated intentions of improving their lives.
Perhaps if we truly care about providing positive role models for at risk children, we need to hit the pavement and do it ourselves. Try volunteering, tutoring, being a scout leader in an impoverished district, Boys and Girls Club, YMCA- the opportunities are waiting for you! GET INVOLVED. It's a bit foolish to wring our hands and say, "Think of the disadvantaged children, surely the President MUST do something!!" and not pull our own weight to truly take care of these kids.
After all, you're right about one thing Lisa, these kids aren't getting the good stuff at home.
Posted by: Sarah | September 2, 2009 2:21 PM
Bush Jr. spoke to the school children (via televised) about the dangers of drug use.
Ronald Reagan handed out his speech and a workbook on the Challenger space shuttle disaster.
Obama is speaking about working hard in school at the beginning of the school year.
So, why the hating?
[Secretary of Education Arne Duncan's letter itself says this will be the first time in history. Also, Bush (not Jr.) and Reagan did not have a whole curriculum designed to turn children's hearts toward them as cult leaders. they were celebrating specific events which made people proud to be Americans.
Obama uses familiar religious phrases, replacing "God" with "the president" - as in "What does the president want me to do?" Liberals themselves should find this creepy.
Also, I there is no hating. Just principled, informed and passionate opposition. The Left seems to call anything even vaguely opposed to Obama's extreme policies and power grabs racism and hating.
You need a larger vocabulary and a larger view ;) ]
Posted by: theih | September 2, 2009 2:38 PM
"Can you stop for a moment and think about all of the kids from families that have No positive role models at home? There are soo many out there and it is sad...."
Lisa - If Pres. Obama wants to 'make a difference' in the lives of kids and insists on initiating this change from the White House, perhaps he should focus on changing the parents' behaviors of which you speak. Why the need to circumvent or bolster the roles great American parents play in teaching their children to be upstanding citizens? Pres. Obama and the government should be focusing on keeping Americans safe and getting out of the way of businesses so they can build a stronger economy. That's their job. Teaching my children how to be a better American? That's my job.
Posted by: Jan | September 2, 2009 5:09 PM
"Can you stop for a moment and think about all of the kids from families that have No positive role models at home? There are soo many out there and it is sad."
I don't think the government, especially the federal government, is an appropriate replacement for parental involvement. We already have enough of a problem with people looking to be parented by a massive nanny state, which they hope can solve all of their problems. This is NOT the proper role of the government.
Instead, those kids need real people like you and me. They need friends, extended family, neighbors, church members, and just regular folks who care to become those positive role models.
Posted by: Michelle Potter | September 2, 2009 10:04 PM
One of my good friends found and used your letter for his children in Houston and already has received a response from one of the board members stating that they were in complete agreement with the sentiments he espoused and asked him to call him if he has the time.
As someone else put in another blogsite: My child’s pediatrician must first obtain parent’s permission before talking to my children, and the school requires advance written permission to participate in a school field trip.
President Obama believes he’s exempt from those provisions in using his platform to speak directly to minor children without parental permission, without parents in attendance, and the school district management seems eager to put the public school system at his disposal at Obama’s whim.
Totalitarian regimes around the world have sought to spread their propaganda and entrench their power by brainwashing the children. I guess it's easier to indoctrinate a young child instead of fighting a 26-year-old or being challenged by a 46-year-old in the voting booth.
I'm just superglad that I have my daughter in a Christian private school where they will not be exposed to this back-door indoctrination tripe.
Posted by: Nicole Kelso | September 3, 2009 4:29 PM
Thank you for your letter, I forwarded a similar one to my superintendent & got a response right away. First he said, "unless otherwise directed" it would not be mandatory and that they weren't sure what they were going to do. Then a friend sent a similar letter & got the response that it would not be used/shown during elementary school & would be used/shown in hs & ms if it fit into their curriculum.
Posted by: Renee Kilgarriff | September 4, 2009 10:31 AM
Thank you Dee!!!
[Just to avoid confusion, I need to interject, Ginger, that Dee was not in support of Obama speaking to public school parents - and I think you are.]
At least you have an idea of the "whole picture".... Come on, people!!!! Most of the Loudoun County parents are PRIVILAGED beyond belief... especially you home school CRAZY parents!!! How does a parent stay at home and live in Loudoun County and home school??? MONEY and privilege is how.
[I don't think many people commenting on this thread are homeschooling. My kids have been in Loudoun County publid schools since we moved here in 2002.
{Not to stray too far from the topic, but many homeschoolers scrimpa and save so that one parent can stay home to educate their children. Really, with the cost of daycare and commuting and extra taxes as your income climbs, it is a lifestyle choice in many instances to have two jobs. Homeschooling families have just made a priority of homeschooling. And they are not CRAZY. That's an unnecessary insult.]
It is about time that a president spoke to the children about what it takes to become productive, taxpaying citizens. It's education, teachers, community, and yes... parents.
[Gosh, I guess we should be grateful to come in last.]
How do I know this...I am a teacher, a parent, a taxpayer, and a NEA member.
[That explains a lot about your attitude toward parents.. See http://mommylife.net/archives/2009/07/national_educat.html]
In my 30 plus years of teaching, I have taught children with NOTHING that smelled so badly that I had to bring clothes for them to change into when they came to school, while we washed their clothing for the next day. These same students would eat two meals a day and it was what the school provided.
[It is sad that parents aren't caring properly for their children, but I'm not sure that a 15 minute pep talk in which the president uses the word "I" over 60 times will help. And the issue here also has to do with breaking federal statues to send down a curriculum with a heavy element of glorifying the president.]
How dare you speak about the teaching profession when most of you have NO IDEA what it is like because you are worried about taking little Sara to dance or her class on manners.
I have spent over thirty years working with mentally, physically, and health challenged students and they NEED all the inspiration that they can get. So put of your “phobic thoughts” aside and think about ALL children and not just a few of the rich, smart, and well tended Loudoun County kids.
I am angry and dismayed, Ginger
[I appreciate your sharing your thoughts, Ginger. But you obviously have stereotyped parents and think we have no right to comment.
[As someone who grew up dirt poor - back when poor meant no TV, no car, an empty refrigerator and oatmeal for dinner the last few days before my mother's paycheck - in a single parent home with a mother who worked three jobs and left us alone most of the time to fend for ourselves, I can say from experience that I can't imagine hearing a president's speech would have had any impact on me at all. What did have impact on me was the dierect relationship I had with my teachers and the hope they gave me that I could rise above my circumstances.Not to mention God.
[We don't need a president to do this. And it's just an excuse to brand his image into our children's minds.]
Posted by: ginger | September 7, 2009 8:35 PM
It saddens me to hear this thread. When my daughter brought back her folder and told me that I had to sign a form to decide if we would opt out of watching the speech, I was downright speechless. My first though was directly to those of right wing vitriol, which this thread has only solidified. The vehemence with which those opposed are speaking is disheartening and quite literally mind boggling. Your narrow minded and partisan rankor is ill informed ( as to say that you are neglecting great chunks information which are highly, highly important to the function and forward thought of this country in the new paradigm) and highly contradictory to those things your sides view of the executive branch. If this was President Bush reaching out to the nations youth, I am sure you would have looked on this an ideal opportunity for your commander and chief to impart his words of wisdom. When somebody does not fit into your mold of what a leader should be, it does not necessarily mean what they say is any less valuable or important. Perhaps it requires opening your ears and minds. Children have their own opinions molded by YOU at home. External stimuli from view points other than that of your own builds character and a sense of individuality. No need to shield your children from this "propaganda" so long as your able to guide their thought process in a mature and holistic manner. After all, isn't that what parenting is about?
[Christina, it is not good logic to assume that I would be thrilled with Bush injecting his presence into the public school system. You do not know my mind.
Also, it sounds as though you did not read and absorb anything that was said here. The Obama image has been injected into our daily lives in a way that no other president's has before - very much like a dictator in a Third World country. Parents concerned with his attempts to brand his image on our children should be respected for their opinions, just as you expect respect for your own. I thought liberals were big on choice. We're just operating our own.
[Additionally, the Obama administration violated federal statutes in sending a curriculum directly to school principals without any prior approval of local officials. And it was the vigilance of conservative bloggers who made sure that Obama finally wrote a rather benign - if characteristically narcissistic - speech. Had we not been on to his game, I'm sure it would have been much worse.
[I hope this helps you understand and appreciate the other side. No reason to judge and hate - just give us the freedom to choose.]
Posted by: Christina | September 14, 2009 8:51 PM
Ginger is awfully quick to brand us, isn't she? I don't believe for one minute that she's got the clear picture that she thinks she does.
We're not wealthy, Miss Ginger. We live in upstate New York. Land of high taxes. I don't homeschool because I wasn't called to. (I believe it is a vocation, too). I have the highest regard for homeschoolers. You have no idea of what they go through, how hard they work...and struggle...and save...
You have no clue, lady. Get off your high pedestal and take a real honest look at what these good people do. Do you feel threatened with your job from homeschoolers?
You dare to talk about the neglect that your poor students have to go through (and glorify yourself) and then you have the audacity to attack people who are going above and beyond with their children. People who have done their homework. Who have high standards...not necessarily a lot of money as you are anxious to paint them with.
I think you thrive on class envy. Real or imagined. Shame on you, Ginger.
Posted by: Sue from Buffalo | September 14, 2009 9:46 PM
