Folks got pretty shook up over the idea of President Barack Obama’s address to school children, calling it everything from “liberal indoctrination” to “fascism.”
Take a look at the text of the speech here if you haven’t already, and look over Dallas ISD’s position on the speech and some of the comments here.
Is concern over this speech – or if not the speech itself, the idea of the speech – justified?
What is the role of public school when it comes to politics? Many of your teachers have strong political views. How might your teachers’ political opinions influence your own? Should they, or the school system in general influence your worldview?
And as always, comments should be signed with your real first and last names.
I think when it comes to politics everyone has a sensitive side to the subject and judging from the controversy over Obama’s speech I see no different side on the other road. Parents left and right were concerned about this speech being a chance to “brainwash” our youth and all sorts of wild accusations. As far as how the educational system should handle such political agendas I strongly believe it is the right of the child whatever age they may be to partake in such agendas. Is that an ethical thing to say? well it comes down to what you believe in, sure the parent is the adult and they have the right to raise there child however they see fit, but I think we owe a great deal of respect to our president rather than stabbing him with negativity and assumptions. Think of how much the school system already influences our prospective as a whole, millions of children attend school almost every single day, isn’t the fact of attending school already an influence of getting up every morning to attend school. We can even go as far as asking ourselves what do we expect to gain at the end our educational journey? we all want the ability to succeed and in my view the school system in itself painted the picture for all of us from the first day we walked through those white plastered elementary school doors until the day we step out from the great oak doors of college. This is my opinion…
I don’t really see where there is contreversy. What did Obama do? He saounded like a guest speaker that comes to school and tries to make sure kids stay good and go to college. I don’t even think he said anything i hadn’t heard from every other guest speaker I’ve ever had, except the cool “don’t let america down” lines. I don’t like either how he talked about those kids like it’s supposed to make me feel better, everyone’s situation is different how does hearing about someone coming up and beating all there challenges help me come up?
DavidRosales: Their was ton’s of controversy over this speech, if you have the time go to CNN.com read past stories about this particular speech, trust me it’s there.
Honestly, I liked the speech. I believe the speech is drawing so much negativity because of tension that existed prior to the speech. President Obama was encouraging students to do better in school. He is also letting them know that there is no excuse in doing bad in school. Whether or not the President had a hidden agenda the speech was still history in the making. Some people in society are getting all riled up because they believe the speech is brainwashing students but where was the brainwashing? Yes, the speech did have some corny parts such as when he mentioned not to let the country down. But almost every guest speaker I have heard has said some things as corny. The speech is basically telling students to work hard because we will make the country what it will be in the future and it is true. Maybe parents are agitated because he didn’t sugar coat the speech or tell the students success comes easy. I have no prior knowledge to any other information on this speech but as far as I know the speech was pretty good:)
The speech itself was something we all heard before in our lifes. “Stay in school and don’t let nothing get in your way of succeding your dreams.” Obama was saying everything a regular other speaker would of told us at our school, so why the big fuss? The whole purpose of the speech was just so us, the students, could have a lilttle faith in our selfs that anything is possable. Other people who had a problem with it should just not listen to the media, because everyone is gonna have their own way of trying to help us and incourage us to stay in school. That’s my opinion.
Yea this speech is what we have basically all heard before. But we need to hear it over and over because there are still people not doing what they are supppose to as students and see it as a game. He makes us seem actually important, that we are the future and what we do now is what decides our future. And i think as students (the ones that havent already) we need to realize that and star working hard and putting our all in whatever we do. I think this speech had a good impact on students because he basically gave you that little bit of encouragement that you dont hear from your parents when you walk out that house for the first day, to keep you from getting in trouble, to know that you can succeed in life no matter what you struggle through.
It was a good speech. It was well written, and well delivered; I’ve also heard it a couple times a year, since about seventh grade. My problem with Obama’s speech was not the speech itself, but when he decided to give his speech. Call me cynical, but it seemed to me as though his speech had alterior motives. It seemed almost comical that he delivered his speech while his healthcare reform is loosing interest, and his popularity has shot down.
I see how people were concern with the Obama speech, and how it could possibly influence their children. To be honest politics should be kept away from schools, and children should shape their own view of political leaders. Though I do also understand that at times children should be somewhat guided when shaping their views. For example you don’t want your children believing Hitler was a wonderful man, so this is where they could use a helping hand. Teachers sometimes due tend to speak about their views on politics and at time do influence their students. In my opinion this is where people should really be worried. The fact of the matter is that there child’s opinions are being shaped by someone else, and later the world will have only one view. I guess you can say if the school system influences a child’s worldview they’re destroying freedom of speech. “And that’s all I have to say about that”
The speech was great and maybe some “brainwashing” (not that Obama was tring to Brainnwash) is exacly what some kids need to hear. They have every oppertunity on earth to come to school in this great country and still most are not taking full advantage of it, doing just the bare minimum to get buy. I think if more students looked at education as a service to their country instead of just a lugery every one would be better off .
President Obama’s speech about education did bring in a lot of controversy. But prsonally the speech was helpful to encourage kids to continue on their education and not to give up. Although it is said that politics should be kept away from schools it hasn’t been thought that it is still in school. Like in high school for example they have a govermant class which teaches about politics or when elections are going on they are talked about in classes and the oppositions of the candidates. So, the speech is an influence to kids because it helps children to believe that they can achieve and become something that for a while felt it was so far away.
the speech was well expressed and it delivered a message for all the youth out there. Some issues come from the speech but in my opinion some people bring issues for any little thing. He shared is personal opinions with us and use examples of people that we are aware of. This helped us understand that succes comes with hard work and determination.
Yes the speech was well, but it was not like we have never heard anything similar to it before. We always have guest speakers come and give us the big picture “stay in school” we all know by know that pretty much if ou do not have a degree you are not goin to be making good money. There is a slight chance you will but reality nowday is the better education you have the more money you will be making. What i did like is that he really highly motivated and let us know that at the end all the hardwork pays off.
I would have loved to see this speech on television, live, with my classmates around me. Not because it’s something I haven’t heard before but because it was a message from a historic president to me and my peers. I don’t remember any other presidential address to the youth of this nation that had gotten that amount of media attention. This was a big opportunity that was lost by Sunset that could have helped some of the children here. Maybe if they would have heard the president of the USA try and motivate them to do good they would have listened. I doubt it but hey it would have been worth a try. With all the pep rallies that are going to happen at school you would think the principal could find an hour out of the day to allow the students to watch this message for them. Well it’s to late to complain about not watching this at school because it’s already in the past. Hopefully next time the president addresses the school children of the nation I’ll be able to watch live. Or just maybe the school can charge us to watch it in the auditorium like they do with everybody else. That’ll be something I’d gladly pay for.
Maybe Obama did have some hidden motive for giving this speech. Most likely it’s because of his falling popularity over the health care issue. Regardless of his reasons, this speech still sends a good message to America’s youth. When I first saw this speech, honestly, I felt inspired to do better in school. Sure I’ve thought about going to college, after all that’s what everyone expects us to do nowadays, but that doesn’t mean I’ve been working my hardest. Really people, why make such a fuss over this? We’ve been told the same message countless times over the past years by different people! America is just looking for a reason to argue about it. The prospect of “Brainwashing” using this speech is idiotic. I know for a fact that I haven’t been brainwashed. If you want to listen to what he says, then listen, if you don’t, then continue with your life as you did before. It’s that simple.
Ok I think we can all agree that President Obama’s speech had an amazing message about staying in school and working hard to achieve our goals. We can also agree that this speech has recieved a tremendous amount of publicity both positive and negative however, the question that always seems to arise is whether or not the presidential speech contained “hidden meanings” or was a tool for “brainwashing us”. I mean come on how naive do this people think we are? They tell us in school that we should learn about the world around us and form intelligent opinions concerning issues which affect us, but yet when we have the opportunity to do so they “shield” us from it. I’ve heard this speech and it was very insightful and inspiring, however as Dominik and Helena commented early it was also a very common speech. This topic has been used so many times throughout the years by many different people but yet none of those people have recieved the same negative publicity that Obama has, why is that? But then again it’s not like this should come as a surprise, I mean Obama’s entire Presidential career from the moment he won the democratic nomination has suffered significant blows, so why should his speech in front of the children of the United Staes be any different? Don’t get me wrong, I believe that Obama’s speech was wonderful and I also regret that we were not allowed to view it, however no matter what Obama does he will always face fierce opposition, I just hope that he continues to try to project positive values to the nation and maybe we might just survive.
President barack obamas speech does not sound as is to persuade the kids but rather giving them a message. In order to become great you must achieve it. In my opinion obmama has done nothing wrong. He has done nothing but give his opinion among our schools situation and public education. Many people take great consideration of what he says for the reason that he is a man with power. Yet, has he obused it? Why such riuet for the sake of one mans point of view. Many of our teachers yes ideed have great ,strong political views as well as our own schools. but yet, why is it so wrong to say what you belive to be done. Your teacher is no different than yourself, he can influence your decisions but your are the one who decideds. Why towards a simple man that stands up and says something is given the shoulder, but when someone in power speaks , scuh as hour president, people listen. We are affraid of change. Affraid that he will gain more power. Politics are affraid. Your view of school education stand upon what you hear,but yet you still have a mind you can still think for yourself. I see nothing wrong with President Barack Obamas speech.
ok so this speech was pretty good and encouraging, but some people have a point, like we hear stuff like this all the time and yet some students don’t care. Its more like its his job to encourage all students, just like it is for the parents, councilors, teachers, ect. to encourage us all, but at the end its really up to the students and what they decide. as for Obama’s speech i see nothing wrong with it, but i see it more as in something we all hear everyday and it might or might not change someones choices but i feel like he spoke this speech because its like he has to in order to be a good president and basicallly its his job to go over all the situations in america.
I strongly agree with Obamas speech…Yes people have different oppinions but what he is trying to do is keep us all going in the right path. Students as individuals should have an oppinion regardless their age. Obama is just encouraging us, he doesnt make the decision for us but he is trying to influence and motivate us to work hard because “in the end it all pays off”.
The speech was great in my opinion. He was simply incouraging us as student to achieve our goals. There is nothing wrong with encouraging students, our teachers and councelors to it all the time so i really didn’t understand why people where getting angry. I guess they were mad because he didn’t baby us, of course success is not easy, you have to work hard and achieve it. If you want a good job that pays you good money (which everyone does) then you have to stay in school. There was nothing wrong with his speech.
I was fortunate to have seen the speech in its entirety what the man basically stated is parents should be telling there children from the beginning work hard and get something done , and the fact that he did not soften his words makes it better kids should know a bit for the real world , but he did not do what Regan did and talk openly about critical world events such as war, as far as I can see this is just your standard encouragement speech and as for the parents who complain the are just upset that the cant encourage there children like that .
Honestly what’s the big fuss about this?I see nothing wrong with him trying to motivate children. Maybe he did have a hidden agenda, but the speech inspired some students to try their best and succeed in school. Like many people in here remember there has always been someone to deliver the same “succeed” “try your best” don’t give up”,from teachers, counselors, pricipals to guest speakers. We always hear it in the classroom and on tv. What is the role at school when it comes to politics? Well everyone has freedom of speech, freedom to express your ideas and just because its being done at a school campus doesn’t mean those rights have been taken away from you. It’s up to the students if they want to beleive in it or not. In the end we us the people have the right to think of what we want. It’s like with the speech and people believing he is “brainwashing” us, which I highly doubt he is, we have the choice of not to listen to it or to take into consideration.
The speech that the president gave apperantly was a contreversy for parents of DISD. Apperantly some of the parents stil can’t get over that Obama won. This speech in my oppinion was great iI saw nothing wrong with it. It was just a simple motivation to students that feel they can’t continue with school that just give up and drop out. If parents of the DISD thought diffrently then they must not be motivating their kids and they are probably the one’s who are bringing their kids to a point where they want to drop out.
Almost everything that the president said, we have heard before. Either from our parents our a guest speaker (don’t mean to reiterate other students’ comments). The president said nothing but encouraging words, I see nothing wrong with that, there was no brainwashing wahtsoever, his speech can be summed up into this saying ” if you put you put your mind to it you can achieve it.” He told us the truth there will always be some type of obastacle but we can over come it. We can get our diplomas and begin our career. The controversy over this speech seems so unjustified because what Obama is saying is just what any of our parents or mentors want for us, they want the best for us.
The speech was alright it’s nothing to be bragging about. That’s something i hear from my parents,teachers, or counselors every now and then. I felt like it could’ve been better. I still give him props for trying to motivate us,the students. Specially, because it’s my first time hearing it from a president. It’s good to know we have a president that cares and wants the best for the students. Thanks for the encouraging words. It’s really up to us if we want to be successful and reach our goals. We just have to stay motivated.
This Speech Is Verry Convising, Verry Encouraging, And I See Nothing Wrong With It! In My Opinoion The Fact That He Put His Personal Experiances iN hIS sPEECH mAKES a sTUDENT rELATE mORE tO hIM.
Unlike Other Presidents In The Past, He Was Not Afraid To Say He Has Done Wrong In His Past!! iN mY oPINION hE mAKES a gREAT pRESIDENT, & I Like The Fact that He iS Conserned With Americas Future, wich is Us!
well this speech to me is just like any other movation speaker that goes to schools in the united states, obama realizes that education is one of the keys of not letting this country go down hill. I remember when i was a kid and one of my teachers mr.graza always told me to do good in school and at the time i wasnt takeing school serious but when he gave us a speech about how school is the key it really hit me, from that moment on i put my self to the books. I think he’s trying to motivate the whole youth of the united states, just as many other presidents have in are wrost of times. Obama sees that the young kids of today are the key to the future of this country and its great findings.
Honestlly I See Nothing Wrong In This Speech!!
Anyone Who Is Judges It, Is Not Judging The Speech They Are Oviously Judging The President!
This Speech In My Opinion Is Verry Convinsing, Sounds Really Encouriging!
& The Fact That He Put His Past In The Speech Really Makes The Students Relate To Him. He Didnt Try To fit into The “PERFECT IMAGE of The President”
He admitted He Has Done WRONG in His Past, Which He Regrets Because Now He Is Thankfull That His Mother Pushed Him!
-It Makes Me As A High Student Look Up To Him A Little More!
I loved Obama’s speech. Like i said on my previous comment, this is nothing we haven’t already heard. For some reason it has not posted so I’m doing it again. My mom always tells me to stay in school and do good. I pretty much have it down, i will go to school and graduate and eventually pursue a career as a dentist. I didn’t have to hear Obama say this to have my mind straight. But I still loved this speech, and it was well written and well said.
i think Obama’s speech is very inspiring just like every other speech i have heard in my past!
But at times it takes a STRONG person to get to peoples HEAD & HEART!
& I belive the president got to most of us; just by looking at my fellow classmates comments about it:) && i dont see why anyone would have anything negative to say about this speech because everything he says is TRUE:)
-just like he went thrue a lot of obsticles to get were he wanted to be. we are also going to go thrue that. & Will end up going were we want to be just by taking his or other STRONG peoples advice:)
[I LOVE My PRESIDENT OBAMA]
I think obamas speech was good specially since it was bout us the future. Is good that he cares bout us and our education . With education we can get anywhere.I like that obama gives speeches that way we learn bout politics and know whatt our president is doing for us the people.
I dont see what is the whole big deal about Obama coming on TV to speak to the country an try to inspire the students. He came on to tell everyone the importance of education. He gave examples of different students an about his life that but the effert to improve them self and not just giving up an putting them selfs down. Some of those comments that teachers put were just plain dumb and did not know what the speech was about an what it was telling us. But ur president should not becoming on TV an try to inspire us an telling us what we should be going, we already need to know what we are to suppose to do. Some people these days are just plain lazy an want everything just to come to them but when u get into the real world your going to be expected to work hard if you want something. Thats what Obama is trying to say that life is not easy an its not aways what we expect because if not learn anything when ur young life its going to hit in the stomach. The speech gave pretty good ideas of how many of the students are these days and all that needs to change because we are falling back on the education compare to other countries.
Obama’s speech was well organized and also well given. Although, many of us have heard this speech quite a few times, what’s with all the controversy? I think that his speech was engouraging and inspiring, but why now, why all of a sudden? In my opinion I think that since Obama has made history he now wants to control as many things. I’m not trying to say that his speech was bad and brainwashing but why try to get involved in the students lives now?
I believed the speech was good but now in days the media(liberal) blow things out of proportion and find any reason to criticize obama. He just wanted to tell the students and inspire to do good in school because you need education in order to be successful. He meant no harm but someone in his position will receive criticism for every reason. For people to believe he is trying to to be socialist. He wanted to encourages us so we won’t struggle in the future. ^_^
I don’t see why it would matter if president obama had a hidden agenda or not. most of what he said, if not all of what he said, was pretty inspiring. regardless of the fact that he is a politician. i don’t like the idea of students being influenced by their teachers. personally, i think students should just grasp their teachers opinions and ideas, they should understand them and shape them into their own ideas. they shouldn’t automatically think that a teacher voiced their and its 100% right. thats why its called an opinion not a fact. of course a lot of our teachers (a lot not all) are older and wiser than we might be. so they might know a thing or two more, than what we do.
In my opinion i think Obama does not beleive himself and does not really care about the students. In fact if he would really worry about us he would be acting and not only saying spechees.There are many students motivated which are willing to contribute and help the country and their community become better but sometimes people do not appreciate or either don’t notice these people and don’t see beyond to what their needs are.
I think Obama means well with his speech but it’d help if we saw action not talk. He promised a lot of thing when running for presidency and people believed him because he’s our president. I agree with David i personally could careless what things he over came everyone is dealt a different hand. I don’t think he can relate to half the people in America. Maybe this speech was the first step of his plan but if he doesn’t do anything next what was the point of his speech? Is it all talk, no walk?
I agree with Jonathan Lopez the speech was probale not wanted, but i feel that the speech was said to reinterate the fact that kids do drop out of high school. So i think the “Stay In School” speech was very much needed.
I Belive Obamas Speech Well Set;
But I Would Also Like To Agree W/ One Of My Fellow Classmate;
I Belive Talk Is Cheap & Agree w/ the Fact That The President
Showld Take Action And Do Something About It;
i respect the fact that He is trying to inspaire The Students
& Belive it took courage for him to set aside the fact that he is the president antd let us into his past !!!!
I Belive Obamas Speech Well Set;
But I Would Also Like To Agree W/ One Of My Fellow Classmate;
I Belive Talk Is Cheap & Agree w/ the Fact That The President
Showld Take Action And Do Something About It;
i respect the fact that He is trying to inspaire The Students
& Belive it took courage for him to set aside the fact that he is the president antd let us into his past !!!!
I understand that some parents were worried that the president giving a speech to all the schools in America because it might be relating more to politics than anything else. But once you have read the speech it’s really clear that all he’s trying to do is motivate the kids into doing better because they might someday be the next president. He gave his stories on school and how it’s understandable that not every day is going to be the best day in school but he still kept trying and now he’s the president. It makes the kids that have given up realize that they too can make something out of their lives, and how you don’t always have the richest parents or the nicest cars etc. to become successful in live. All it takes is their hard work and they can someday be as great as Obama. Some of the other comments say that it’s like every other speech they’ve heard but you also have to understand that coming from the president is on another level compared to all the other speeches. It makes them feel cared for and makes them realize how important their efforts will be to the society.