JISHOU, HUNAN — Maybe I can stop foaming at the mouth now. Two polls by Survey USA of Verona, New Jersey, shows people overwhelmingly favor President Barack Obama speaking directly to schoolchildren.
In fact, the people surveyed said it was entirely appropriate for any president to speak to schoolchildren. Most said they would want their children to hear the speech. And most said school districts should make the decision whether students should watch or listen.
Two identical polls were taken of 500 adults each in Fresno, California, and statewide in Missouri. Here are the results of the Fresno poll. The results of the Missouri poll are almost identical; you can check them for yourself.
Question 1: President Obama plans to deliver a national address to school children on the importance of them taking responsibility for their own success in school. Do you think it is appropriate? Or not appropriate? For President Obama to deliver this address?
Question 2: Do you think it would be appropriate? Or not appropriate? For ANY President to deliver this address?
Question 3: If you had a child attending a school that was going to show the address, would you tell your child to pay attention? Would you tell you child to NOT pay attention? Or would you keep your child home?
Question 4: Who should decide whether to show President Obama’s national address to school children? School districts? Or individual teachers?
While many school districts have been cowed by the noisy wingnuts protesting Obama’s speech Tuesday, two school superintendents are standing their ground.
Students in Broward County Public Schools in Florida will in fact watch the president’s talk, although the super there says teachers have the final decision. From the district website:
According to Superintendent James F. Notter, there have been several calls into the Superintendent’s Office suggesting and/or requesting that alternative space and activities be provided for those students wishing to “opt out” of this activity.
“As one of the premier major school systems in America, we have consistently encouraged civics education in the broadest sense, e.g., Kids Voting, elected officials participating in Career Days, countywide broadcast of Inaugural address, etc.,” said Notter. “Therefore, providing for a separation from this Address does not align with our practices and responsibility to provide a well rounded, quality education for all students. This is the first time an American President has spoken directly to students on the importance of education and the challenge to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for one’s learning.”
Meanwhile, up north, the superintendent of the Westport, Connecticut, school system sent a similar message by email to parents. Here’s an excerpt:
As the integration of the President’s speech into our instructional practice will constitute a vital learning experience for all our children, it is my expectation that any child in any class where the president’s speech is incorporated into instruction will be a part of that instructional activity.
What a contrast to other superintendents who say Obama’s speech cannot be shown in class because it doesn’t “fit” their districts’ curricula. Note also neither superintendent is suggesting students can go do something else — an alternative activity — if their teachers choose to show the speech in class. If parents want to keep their kids from such pernicious influences as presidential talks, they’ll just have to keep their kids at home.
Maybe these superintendents’ courage and the poll results will encourage other school bosses to have some cajones and stand up to the tiny wingnut factions in their communities.
Figures. The nifty pie charts did not copy over from my blog. Click "View original post" or go to http://www.wheatodgg.com/ to see the post in its full Technicolor glory.
Figures. The nifty pie charts did not copy over from my blog. Click "View original post" or go to http://www.wheatodgg.com/ to see the post in its full Technicolor glory.
I'm excited that I get to actually fact-check this one!>>>"This is the first time an American President has spoken directly to students on the importance of education and the challenge to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for one’s learning.”George H.W. Bush addressed schools nationwide in 1991, telling them to take control of their own education. At the time, Dems did protest, and Republicans defended the right for a president to address students. Also, Ronald Reagan took questions from high school students at the White House in 1986, and nationally broadcasted the Q and As.Still though, good article. I'm encouraged!
It is ironic that Survey USA of Verona NJ said that people were overwhelmingly in favor of the president speaking directly to the students. By directly I assume they meant when he was giving the speech. It is ironic because the superintendent of Verona schools said they would leave it for the teachers to decide.
Well, at the elementary school, where my children formerly went, none of the teachers decided to let them see it, real time or later. At the middle school my daughter said that she saw it on Youtube in one of her classes. My son never did see it.
I heard that in one district in Orange County, Calif., parents packed a school board meeting demanding to know why the board voted (in a quasi-secret meeting) to ban the speech entirely. Of the five board members, two apologized and said it was the wrong decision, the third sort of apologized and said he believed it was illegal for a president to speak directly to students. Parents called him on that, but he stands by his vote.
Locals are predicting either a recall election or a demand that the three resign. Most of the parents there are hopping mad.
Without district support, few teachers will go out on a limb and do something potentially controversial. So I am not surprised the teachers in Verona wimped out. I can understand it, but I don’t approve of it.