My wife and I sent this to our son's junior high (we're in a suburb of Detroit):
(Dear Principal X)
Do not let our kids be highjacked by politics. People are attempting to sabotage the speech by the President of the United States. He is addressing kids to discuss topics that are not partisan. Please do not give in to the ridiculous pressure. We need our children to hear about citizenship and hear it from the highest office in the land.
An independent review of the speech and materials found:
“The pre-K through 6th grade materials said the main ideas of the speech would be "citizenship, personal responsibility, civic duty." The materials for high schoolers mention "personal responsibility, goals, persistence.”- PolitifactRead more at
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/sep/02/republican-party-florida/republican-party-florida-says-obama-will-indoctrin/-- (The Octafishes)
My wife and I received this from our son's junior high:
Mr. and Mrs. (Octafish) -
Thanks for your e-mail. I didn’t show the speech today for a variety of reasons; first day of school, lunch time for half the kids, technology difficulties we are experiencing in regard to a tech upgrade which we are still waiting to complete. My intention is to have our kids see the President’s speech within the next couple of weeks in advisory. I did watch the video stream and certainly, I believe, kids can’t hear the message the President sent today often enough.
(Principal X)
Three quick points:1. Although the speech wasn't carried live in my kid's school, the administration will show it in the coming weeks. The same story might hold elsewhere.
2. The educators and the administrators -- the educated ones -- are on our side. They answer to school boards, all too-often filled with the ill- and the mis-educated.
3. Obama took the high road for a reason: It's the way to real progress with the confused parents who listen to Fox and the rest of Corporate McPravda.
If you get a moment, please let us know your points and thoughts.