oh, and how does one do things in a white way? He seems to me to do things like an educated man,, which isnt really dependent upon race at all. Ask an educated african american and they will tell you the same ( wink )

looked like a fairly good speech. You can for sure tell he used to be a senator they like to talk a lot!!!!

I personally saw nothing wrong with the speech in itself. I saw no indoctrination within its words, but I really do question the motive for such a load of crap.

I'm not ripping the speech itself, just the reasoning for even making the speech... I mean, is it really necessary for the president to fly somewhere just to give a little motivational pep-talk like it's going to make a real difference? Is some kid going to say "you know, I've had dozens of adults tell me I'm going down a bad path, but he's right. I'm going to change my ways."

I also am curious what was originally slated to be on that speech, because that was way too far from being political for any politician, and I'm pretty sure we've established he's no different than anyone else.

The motive is simple, the kids are Americans too and it is commendable for the President to speak directly to them.

People overreacting in such a negative way, it makes me wonder what their motives are.

Peace

He's encouraging children to try hard and do well. He might even peak their interest in politics and history. Anything is worth a try in getting children interested in their schooling.

He's not alone with this idea either. Reagan and both Bushes did it. I think, maybe, Carter did too.

Nothing wrong with the speech nor the message.

Hey, but haven't previous Presidents also gone to Public Schools and addressed the student body there? What is the big to do because he did it?

Kids stay in school, make education a priority, dream big, aim high, heck I say that same speech almost on a daily basis with the hopes that it at least sticks/stays with one individual.

So, just about every president since Carter has addressed a speech to kids in school enouraging them to stay in school and work hard, and suddenly it's an issue. Amazing.

I hear Obama farts too. My god, he must be trying to kill us all.

Run for da hills

I don't know if you have noticed in the last couple of generations at least, kids are often lazy and don't want to study much less care about getting jobs etc. I think it's great that he gave the speech and hope it helps some kids. Obama did talk about education alot during his campaign so it was not shocking that he would go out of his way to make the speech.

I figured some would be suspicious even after the speech was given, saying it wasn't the original speech. I wouldn't have expected that from you my friend, so I am a little suprised.

Another scary thought: Franklin D. Roosevelt did "fireside chats" on the radio.

Yes, Obama is big on education. He's concerned about how many kids drop out of high school. The children are our future.

I don't see anything wrong with the president giving a speech but this is coming off a little weird simply because there is no good reason for him to be giving a speech right now.There is no emergencies,no crisis.Sure past presidents have gone into schools and given speeches. But I have never heard of a president wanting to give a speech targeting young children and asking them to fill out papers on what they learned.This kind of reminds me of Planned parenthood wanting to show videos of abortions at Catholic schools because they feel they need to see it.

Is this the best time to spend tens of millions of dollars on TV stations to give children a pep talk?

Does the President feel the children are so dumb he needs to hold a special televised conference to all the schools telling these kids what to do?

Is it just dumb luck he decided to hold this speech the day after labor day knowing everyone would be back to school?Is it strange he held this the day before the big bi partisan health care debate?

If this ran during election season wouldn't this be more less forcing kids to listen to a political party and creating a favored bias towards your party?

I think a better idea would have for Obama to have held his speech shortly after school was over and if the children wanted to listen to his speech they could choose to do so.

Reagan, both Bushes, and Carter gave speeches to school children.

Of course he would do it when all the children were at school. There would be no point in doing it, if they weren't there.

No, children aren't dumb. It's about motivation. They need all of the motivation that they can get.

School is a good place to see the video, IMO. The teachers can discuss it with them and teach them about civics and politics.

I konw they did but they weren't mandatory and he certainly didn't give them papers asking them what they learned.I also don't remember any of Bush's speeches(including the one shortly after 9/11)being broadcast in every public school in America and having newspapers,radio and tv stations saying he was going to be giving a speech at a certain date and time and only targeting children.

Can you tell me any speeches that Bush or Regan spoke that was more less madatory for the public school children to attend?

Here's Reagan's speech:

http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1988/111488c.htm

Reagan talked about self-government and the important of low taxes.
That sounds political to me. He also sent it nationwide to schools on 3 different days.

Obama's speech urged kids to stay in school and work hard.
Obama is big on education and concerned about our high drop-out rate. We need kids to stay in school. They are our future. The teacher's papers? I consider that to be efficient and helpful to teachers.

I read the link Winx but it was a speech in a Junior high school.It didn't say if it was televised across the nation or did it say it was madatory the children in public schools watch it.If it was madatory the children watch it than I don't agree with it the same as I don't agree with Obama.

First off, it wasn't mandatory at all, otherwise the parents would not have been able to opt out of it, or the schools opt out of it. Second, Obama thought like all other presidents before him that being the president and being available to speak to the kids would be a great motivation for them.

Come on people, it wasn't to create indoctrinated zombie kids like the righties tried to say to cover their real racist reasons.

This link has links to Obama's, Bush, Sr.'s, and Reagan's speeches. All three men had it televised nationwide to schools.

http://www.examiner.com/x-11648-DC-Parenting-Examiner~y2009m9d8-President-Obamas-speech-to-school-children

There are other sources but this one had all 3 links on the same page. lol

It's not that I'm flat out saying that it was not his original speech, it's just that there was absolutely zero mention of anything remotely political... far less than you would ever hear in any politician's speech. I never suspected it to to be an attempt to brainwash the children because as has been said, he's not the first, but I did not expect it to be written so cleanly as to avoid controversy. I just suspect there was extra care there after everyone started to protest.