Just returned my son to School

My 5yo is in an all day program at a school in Chicago's west Suburbs. Our school is one of the very few that completely opted out. Even Wheaton (aka Billy Grahamsville) showed the speech with parental option to have the students be excused.

When I called today to inform the school I would be picking him up at 11AM, the office person congradulated me and thanked me for doing the right thing for my child. They were in shock that all the districts that surround us, even those more conservative, where showing it and we weren't. They didn't sound very happy about it either.

When I picked him up, he gave me a big hug - and I told him we were going to watch the President at home, then come back. He was so excited, "President Obama? The President of the United States? We go home and watch The President, Obama?" When we got in, he rushed right to the couch to watch (tv was already set for tivo just in case, and we made it in just as the young man was introducing him).

After the speech, my son and I briefly discussed Obama's message to him. We settled on three important parts: Pay attention in school, study hard, and be nice. I figure for a five year old, that was more than appropriate. I also gave him a very special tag to wear around his neck that reads:



We were greeted with big smiles as he returned to school, and entered the office. The Principal greeted him, and personally escorted him back to class. On his way in, he told them that, "The President Says: Be nice, pay attention, and do good in school".

I didn't have to tell my child that his school superintendent is a f***wad piece of sh**. All that he cared about was that he got to see the President give a special speech just to kids, and he was thrilled. I love him so much :)


UPDATE: We just received our Robocall that the speech will air on Thursday. The SI claims that the district was thrust in to controversy due to the political and emotional concerns of it's parent community. Children will be able to opt out. He just had to review it first, to ensure it sent the right message.

This is such complete nonsense! This is the President of the United States! Tom Cross, our local rep, and Denny Hastert have been to our schools in the past - that's never been a problem, but they're Republicans. In years past, other presidents have spoken to the students. I'm furious that the SI feels that he has the right to censor the President. Who does he think he is? Parents always have the option to pull their children out, but to take the reigns and attempt to censor and exclude us all for political motivation and out right lies is complete nonsense.

:hug: Good job :toast:.

I listened to the speech, no kid-os... then found a fuckward that kept his kid home... because he could not have a black man in authority speak to his kid.

Sad, the kid got it... his dad is a racist...

Thanks for sharing it here.

Sounds like you have a very smart five year old!!

It was a great speech, and I'm glad you did what you did.

Wish more parents did the same.

He's a very fortunate little boy!

He loves name tags and stickers, so I thought it would be a great reward for participating/paying attention.

He is truly awesome though, both my boys are - the younger one was just more interested in reading his Cars book though (he's 2), but that's quite alright ;)

and that whole schools could refuse to show the speech.

I will be voting against the lot of them next year.

And the fact that they tried to politicize our children in this is beyond excusable.

But I'm attending the Board meeting on Monday, along with several other parents and concerned citizens from the community. Our Superintendent is new, and comes from a very red area of Missouri. I don't want him bringing the attitudes that I've witnessed down there (where my DH happens to be from, and left), up here - or allow it to fester in our schools.

the speech, but why do you care whether or not parents are permitted to keep their kids out of school if they don't want them to see it?

My kids are in Catholic school, and they didn't see the speech at school, although I Tivo'ed it, so they can see it tonight if they so choose. Had they shown it at school, my kids would have been there, but I wouldn't have cared whether or not other parents kept their kids at home.

If they want their brats to get a zero for the day for an unexcused absence, that's fine with me.

However, there need to be negative consequences for bigotry.

That's what this is, of course.

we'll just agree to disagree. I think that parents should have a say in what their kids are exposed to, even if I personally think their ideas are wrong.

I don't see parents keeping their kids home to avoid the speech any differently than I see parents keeping their kids home to watch the speech.

Next I suppose the wingnuts get to censor U.S. history. Or decide which teachers are acceptable in schools. (No Democrats need apply.)

This is the Pres of the U.S. for Christ's sake. It is plain and simple a wingnut blatant act of disrespect for the President and Democracy.

with refusing to support bigotry.

Good luck with that one.

their kids to see the speech. It might be, of course, but there very well may be other reasons, which might be irrational or idiotic but actually are not your or my concern.

And then you probably should bear in mind that it's not illegal to be a bigot, much as we both might like to outlaw it - and the laws of unintended consequences would very likely come back to bite us in the ass if we managed to codify its prohibition.

1) Keeping your child home rather than have him EXPOSED to indoctrination by the POTUS! or ...

2) Keeping your child home to avoid having him participate in the censorship of the POTUS by a bunch of wacko, many of them racist, fringe elements from the far right most likely funded by the most reactionary groups in this country.

I don't like censorship and would definitely not want to support it in any way. Especially by using children to do so.

There is a vast difference between those two choices. Why do you not focus on those who initiated all of this? Children have rights too. Nice of you to point out the rights of bigots and radicals. We know they have rights. What decent people do NOT want, is for their rights to infringe on the rights of other people's children. Which is what this was all about. How dare they think they can make rules for everyone else's children? The OP made her own rules for her own child, depriving them of the power to determine what her child is 'exposed' to or not.

There's a huge difference there.

Regardless, I do think parents should reserve the right to opt out of certain things. But what happens come President's day? Do our uneducated or hyper partisan parents protest the mention of Obama as President, and try to get him removed from the curriculum? Seriously, if he isn't permitted to make a do good in school speech, what makes you think they want him mentioned in school at all? How much opting out will be allowed? If they don't like it - there's always home school or private school. I don't want the narrow, bigoted few to control my child's education. If I wanted that, I'd move to Texas where the bigots and idiots are running their state school board.

But since I'm still paying property taxes out the ass for public schools, I think I still have the right to voice my opinion on the matter.

I think the speech should have been shown in schools, but it certainly wasn't an issue that I was interested in fighting for. My kids can watch at home, if they choose to do so, as can any other child that wasn't able to see it in school.

I can see not allowing students to opt out of curriculum, but a televised speech? Sorry, but I don't have a problem with that, just like I don't have a problem with parents keeping their kids home to watch it.

We pay an unreal amount, but we opt to take advantage of it - you do not, and that is your right.

If you decided that your child had to opt out of all mention or suggestion of religious curriculum in your school - how do you think that would go over? See, I went to private school and public school growing up, and understand the differences. The President gave a speech that was supposed to incorporate students and their peers. It was an opportunity to have follow-up in class/group discussion. It's like building a community. We each have our own goals, but our goals are often part of a bigger community of goals. We learn to work together in fulfilling that, while each being responsible for our own share. If they wanted to opt their child out of sex education - I get that. But the President's message - sorry, that's a bit over the top. Though I do say think they can opt out, I just disagree with it. Furthermore, I think it was wrong of the PUBLIC school district to make that decision for us all, and opt to exclude or attempt to exclude it all together.

Private is not public, and there are differences - so you should remember that.

as to why the fact that my kids are in private school keep coming into the discussion about my opinons vis a vis it being shown in public school - how are the two related? Am I not to have or offer an opinion? I understand that there are differences, very real ones, but those differences are totally irrelevant when it comes to me stating my opinion about what is happening in public schools.

Now, getting back to the relevant part of the discussion, I've said repeatedly that I think it should have been shown in schools, but I stand behind the right of the parents to opt their children out of seeing it.

any other child who's parent has tivo or a vcr and set it... and most parents don't and didn't. So by keeping it out the schools it effectively kept most of the kids from seeing it.

"nice"...

So cool. You are a great mom!

touch!

:applause:

a vivid story you related about you and your son's morning.:)

Incredible that your Chicago school didn't show it! Go Figure.

a State rep prior. It's not like Obama is someone we don't know here. I don't get it.

And that he has a great mama.

I am sure you have one, that one that is free.

It's a weekly edition, and usually has a few pages of LTTEs (very political - in a good way, and community driven). Our local group is already on the LTTE charge, and I'll have my letter in for next week. We also have a School board meeting next monday that I'm attending, to voice my concern over this issue. We never had the option to do so prior, the Superintendent didn't pull the speech until Friday, after school was out/closed. They also aren't commenting or returning calls today.

the beginning. He's got some 'splaining to do.

WTG Mom!

I know the little ones can get lost in all the words, but there was a great message in there - regardless of age (or political leanings).

And a wonderful mom!

Your son is fortunate to have such a great Mom!

:)

great student and citizen!

:thumbsup:

--imm

:applause:

"He just had to review it first, to ensure it sent the right message."

how disgusting...

1984 anyone?

aren't really quite the same thing...we might consider the Supreme Court which has sent down a lot of decisions I find horrible and some I applaud. My next door neighbor feels exactly the same way except his evaluation and mine are exactly 180 degrees out of phase. We both think it's disgusting.

Very well done!!!

You have a lucky kid.

:yourock:

Any time a republican comes to a school (representative, state congress person, dog catcher) we should have our kids "opt out". If they are not allowed to we should raise hell. It is really that simple. The reptilians have made their own beds now they will have to lie in it.

I intend on proposing that going forward, as a parent, I want to be informed prior to the SI or anyone from the district speaking to my child in class, person or via assembly. I'm requesting that they provide the full text in advance, so that as a parent, I can evaluate their message and determine if their intention is to play politics or indoctrinate my child - and opt out if necessary.

Of course I know this sounds completely asinine (and really don't have intentions on following through on this - unless I have to), but that is the point. I want them to understand the slippery slope they're headed down when they start letting hyper partisans impact my child's educational opportunities.

The right wing reaction to the whole speech was absolutely juvenile. Good for you for exposing the slippery slope they decided to start sliding down at full speed!

I am sick of the corporate fascist power and brainwashing in this country.

I just hope the outright poison of all this serves to open MORE eyes.

That was a great thing you did and even better that your son appreciated it so much!

Let's just say it out loud.

and neither are those that complained. I'm quite certain of that.

Really, that is exactly what the "fuckwad" (your term) did.

POLITICIZE A MESSAGE TO CHILDREN.

Call them traitors for refusing to respect the President! Google some of the tactics The Repugs used when Bush was in office (and Reagan's school speech), and throw it right back in their faces, with the same intensity.

See this is our problem: we are intelligent, respectful and value reasoned discourse. They, however are a bunch of intentionally ignorant, hateful irrational sheep. We don't have to scream or threaten, but we have to let it be known that this is it, they have crossed the line into crazy and we will not stand for it. Force them to apologize. Call them traitors. When they say they are not, then retort with" It was OK for Bush and Reagan" and you say it is not now. So it has to be one of two things- Obama's party or his race. Which is it?" and stand there until they answer. DO NOT let them blow you off. If they try to, then say that you will work to get their traitorous, America hating ass thrown out of school, and you have plenty of people to back you up.

is contemplating what illness he wants to cure , while
thinking of a book to write.. He Said .. "The president
wants me to find what I'm good at and I'm good at writing"

and he went on to tell me JK Rowling got rejected and even
the president asks for help .

Thank You President Obama.

Wish I could rec your post. Your 8th grader rocks! If I was near, I would gift him a special journal to help get him started.

:hi:

Kids seem to love President Obama. Just check out one of Jackeen's picture threads sometime. They know he's a good guy...

All the more reason for wingnuts to "protect" their children from him. I saw a clip of Bush Sr. speaking to school children and he was so boring, you know the kids just tuned him out. Whenever I think these nuts couldn't get any more ridiculous, they prove me wrong.

Great story -- recommended! :thumbsup:

Thanks for the thread, Kittycat.:thumbsup:

Fantastic!

Not only did hear get motivated and was excited to see the president address him, he learned to not allow anyone to take his right away to take part in this event.

You did good and he will probably remember this his entire life.

Is this going to escalate? Or will they settle down after looking foolish for so long?

Seriously though, I thought this nonsense had peeked with death panels, but now I just don't know.

and I would love to have him (and your family's interest) in my school. In my school, some of us watched it, some teachers read from the text later (it was smack dab in the middle of lunch in our elementary school).

Such RW nonesense. Even a high school girl interviewed on Fox said something to the effect that there was only a good message there, no politics, in essence, what was all the fuss about? Kids get it. Sadly, some of their narrow minded intellectually challenged parents don't.

Seriously. :thumbsup:

Good for you for actually educating your child outside of the classroom. I live in the Soutwest suburbs of Chicago and am proud to hear of a great parent and human being. Your child will grow up to actually be a great contributor to society (if it hasn't all gone to hell by that point).

I really worry sometimes but people like you make it easier to fall asleep at night.

:hug:

agreeing with me. I said tell him to call me when you can dig him out of the hole he dug for himself that he is hiding in and she started laughing and said she would be delighted to give him the message. Safe to say I won't be getting a call. It hit the front page of the newspaper today. There is an undercurrent that the President is not respected and they are letting our kids know by their actions and don't tell me the color of his skin does not matter because it does. Not valid, not good enough, commie, etc......those pigs.....

She said yes and that some of the kids were complaining about having to watch the speech. She told them to shut up it was time for them to get edu-ma-cated. (I hope that sounds like the way she meant it to sound)


I roared.

learned that she was "in charge of her own destiny" and that by working hard she "would be responsible for her own destiny". I don't think that she knew the word before and impressed that she would take that away from the speech. She may become a Kenyan Muslim Socialist Hitlerian Pinko Communist after all.

I am wonder what the correct response should be the next time a Republican politician visits the school to speak to the students?

If it is a school like this one which "opted out", should parents demand the right to opt out of that too?

You are a wonderful parent and role model.

As an educator, I wish all children could all have parents like you.

And a smart son.

For one day the right wing kids are pulled from school.
For one day the rest of the kids won't need to put up with being called niggers and fags.
Maybe the President will have a daily speach to school children.

He told me all about Rosa Parks and how she wouldn't let the bus driver make her sit in the back of the bus and how that started the the Civil Rights movement. Picture me with my mouth gaping open in shocked surprise at the depth of his knowledge. He said it with such sincere fervor too.

I know exactly how proud you feel.

That's the answer right there..
You get rid of Republicans by
Talking to people...
I call for more speeches
Let's speak to everybody...
Seniors
Middle agers
Kids
Even those in your wombs
It works...