EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

Pres. Obama will be addressing students on Tuesday. Information can be found at http://www.ed.gov/index.jhtml

What this could lead to? Is it right for him to talk to YOUR kids with out YOU knowing?

Pull the kids out of school on Sept. 8 to keep Obama away from them and to send a message to the current regime. We don't have to put up with this. A clear message can really be sent on the mid term election. Need to start working on it now. Contact your local Tea Parties and 912 groups ASAP!!!!!

i will let mine skip that day

That was the whole issue. It was on talk radio today and the people were calling principals and telling them if they show this, their children will be absent that day.

Absent children makes districts loose money. Hopefully it will get some ones attention. IF you kids come home with govt issued uniforms and have been practicing marching at school... don't wonder why.

My girlfriend is a teacher and didn't know anything about this until yesterday afternoon when parents came to her class room at the end of the school day.  Apparently an email went out to the parents and teachers about an hr earlier and she hadn't had time to check her inbox.  None of them were happy about it at all.  She went down to the principles office to get the details but there was a huge line of pissed off parents waiting to talk to her.

She said it was pretty crazy and the reoccuring response from parents was if they don't get a detailed outline of what BO is planning on discussing their kids they won't be in school on the 8th.  Her best guess is that would be at least half of the students. 

When you show that you will try to indoctrinate people with your liberal agenda every chance you get people become skeptics and don't want you talking to their kids....... 

My daughters will not be attending school on Tuesday.   I don't know what Obama plans to say to my children, but they won't be hearing it regardless...

Circle C, I don't have kids but I agree with you 100%. 

They should reschedule it for a day earlier.

Wow. This is the president of the United States, not the anti-Christ. But you all think that just looking at him will brainwash your children?

It says right on the web site what Obama will talk about:
"During this special address, the president will speak directly to the nation’s children and youth about persisting and succeeding in school. The president will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning."

It then goes on to say that:
"To further encourage student engagement, the U.S. Department of Education is launching the "I Am What I Learn" video contest. On September 8, we will invite students to respond to the president’s challenge by creating videos, up to two minutes in length, describing the steps they will take to improve their education and the role education will play in fulfilling their dreams."

I think that actually engaging children, treating them like their future and their dreams matter, is a phenomenal step forward for our government. I don't think there has ever been a president who actually took the initiative to do that. Remember, all the laws and bills and policies passed today will effect their generation far more than they effect us. Yet you want to shelter your kids from that process? Would you all have a very different reaction if it was George W. making that speech?

Julie, its this simple......kids go to school to recieve an education, period, end of story.  BO may be the president but he's not an educator and I'll handle the message of how important a good education is at home through the family values we share.  

Maybe while BO has their attention he should take the time to apologize for the generational poverty he has willing created for all of them.   >:(

Federal goverment was created to serve two functions and two funtions only.....national security and oversight of the national monetary system.  Anything more than that is result of a progressive push from the left.  Everything else should be handled by the states.  

I would like to see proof hahaha

Julie,

    As a parent, I have a choice in who interacts with my children. From other adults, to their teachers, even the POTUS.  I choose to let them attend public schools, as I think they need the social interaction with their peers. I meet with their teachers, and I meet the parents of their friends. If I am not comfortable with any of them, my kids do not deal with them any more.  I should also mention that my mother, their grandmother, is a UT alum, liberal, hippie ;D They get to hear plenty of leftist propaganda from her ;)  So it is not strictly right wing/left wing....It's more than that.  I have to respect someone myself before I will let them have an influence on my kids. I also realize that, in time, they will make their own decisions, but until then, I will make those decisions for them.  When it comes to Obama, I have little to no respect for him as a person. As far as I am concerned, he has done nothing to earn my respect either. He and I do not seem to have common goals. Gun control, healthcare, economics, etc.  We just don't see eye to eye...

    On Tuesday, my kids will have a history lesson. They are going to learn a little about how the Hitler Youth ;)

   For the record, I don't like the idea of a presidential address to school children regardless of who is in office. GWB or Obama.

I dont want to say what I think...just looking at him.

(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r154/gatorbell/368510028v3_240x240_Front.jpg)



(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r154/gatorbell/hydrogenbarackside.jpg)

I guess I see this simply as a way to reach out and engage kids. Not just to encourage them about the importance of a good education, which many kids sorely need to be reminded of, but to encourage civic engagement. I know there are several people on this board that are very involved with legislation and their communities, but overall our country is the definition of apathy. We can't continue to sit by and let our citizens disengage, it is dangerous no matter what your political beliefs are. And unless we start showing children how important voting and our government is now, we'll just have another apathetic generation. The only developed nation with a lower voter turnout than the U.S. is Switzerland. Even the Italians, who are a mess at organization and have lost my luggage every time I've visited, have a 90% turnout at the polls. I find it impossible to imagine that the usually lazy Italians care more about their rights than we do, but maybe they are teaching their kids something different in school ;)

I don't believe America's problems are so much the school's, as what should (and is not) being taught AT HOME before a kid even hits the school door.

You see, that's the problem.  Schools are there to teach history, mathematics, science and the such.  HOME is where morals, and values, and life's principals should be taught.

If parent's don't see (and teach) the importance of education, I doubt seriously a few minute prepared speach by Obama's really going to change anyone's mind.

My .02

Some of life's most valuable lessons are learned outside of the classroom.These photos are from spring of 2009 to current. More time spent outside, and less time inside playing video games.  That's how we roll ;D

Each of these photographs represents a lesson learned.  I have a feeling Obama has not learned very many of them, otherwise he would have a different outlook in some areas. 

Compromise:  My two girls and two nieces spend a week at the farm each summer. Usually an argument breaks out, and they have to reach a compromise.
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p204/ccoughran/5494_1197086530609_1331856846_53466.jpg)

Work:  It might look like fun, until you have to clean out a bucket packed in mud ;)
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p204/ccoughran/DSC_0269.jpg)

Kindness:  This was a wild pig...with kindness (and food) it became a friend.
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p204/ccoughran/DSC_1135-1.jpg)

Conservation/management:   This hog was caught, and released (on the same land with landowners consent), in order to reproduce hogs with similar genetics. Had we killed him, it could have been the end of that line...
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p204/ccoughran/DSC_0267.jpg)

Ethics:  If you kill it, you eat it... Ask Kailey how HER axis does tastes. She'll tell you.
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p204/ccoughran/DSC_0235-3.jpg)

History:  Read about it in a book, then see it in real life.
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p204/ccoughran/DSC_0150.jpg)

(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p204/ccoughran/DSC_0084-1.jpg)

http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/92974

tbl i can't name one thing that the goverment has said they would do that has really happened so it kind of makes me wonder if that would be all he would say.  the way i see it this was just another plan by BO to reach out to ppl like the whole gov controlled insurance and this has blown up in his face just like that.

Chris, I'm sure you already know it, but your family is the exception to the rule. The rule is that most parents just couldn't be bothered one way or the other. And in my opinion that does have a lot to do with the apathy of Americans.

As long as people would hold the same opinion whether that video came from Obama or Bush, I have no problem with it. But I have a feeling most people taking their kids out of school will do it over politics, not principal, and that just seems wrong to me.

But I'll back out of the discussion now. I know better than to open up the political can of worms on hunting sites, it rarely wins me any friends rolleyes

Our School is not going to air this! And i am Glad cause now my child will not have to miss a day of school because of it ;D

Julie,

We all have differing opinions - if we didn't or if opinions were one sided, this wouldn't be any different than Nazi Germany or Red China. We are all friends here whether we have differences of opinion or not. I believe our country is great for the simple reason that you and I can disagree and nobody gets beheaded.

I am hopeful that our president doesn't have a political agenda for his speech to the kids. That said, there ALWAYS seem to be political undertones to any presidential speech that I can remember. If not in this speech, in a subsequent one for sure. If this address were to be well received, it's not a far stretch to see it made into a monthly or weekly occurrence. Once the proverbial foot is in the door (no matter who you are), you can start to slip other things into your message <see the "I Pledge" video shown to Utah elementary kids>. I would feel the same if it were a republican president who wanted to address the children directly. In my own personal opinion, the president should not be addressing school children. Does our lazy society need a swift kick in the tailfeathers? You bet. However, I don't think presidential addresses to children is the way to motivate.

Cheers!
M

Talk to my kid?  The hell he will.  My rugrat won't be there.  The president has no business in a classroom.  what's next, Obama Youth?  I don't let my kid hang out with people I don't trust, and I don't let him watch garbage on TV, and this deal fits the bill on both. 

Julie,

Don't bow-out. You may be a left leaning rabbit-food lovin’ photog, but you've got your head screwed on straight for the most part ;) I actually agree with you on this one. The President makes a short, challenging and motivational address to the kids, fine by me. But I share the concern of the poster that talked about it being a 'foot-in-the-door' for a monthly address. That would take it into a realm that calls into question what the head of the exeuctive branch should be doing with his time.

You really want to shake things up Julie? Let's talk about the unconstitutionality of a federal department of education.  :D :D :D

For alot of people it has nothing to do with Obama really. Any time they bring some thing out of the norm into the school... parents expect a letter from the school. The parents may want to talk about it with their children before and after... or just not let them see it. That is the parents decision. They can't do that if they do not know its happening.

In most cases this would air to the public the night or day of... then they would bring it back in thru Channel One or some thing so that parents get to preview it before their kids see it.

The original lesson plan from the Depertment of Education involved having the students write an essay on how they can help President Obama. THAT is political Matt and Julie. Due to the outrage of concerned parents across the country, the lesson plan is being changed. Public schools, who are funded by OUR tax money, have no business exposing our to children to political propoganda from ANY President. Part of my outrage was my kids' school planning on airing this address without informing us. That is hogwash. The role of parents in choosing a future for our children is being eroded and I will not stand for it. Ever. Politics, ethics, morality, religion, etc. should remain the sole responsibility of the parents to teach. That is worth fighting for to me.

Sean

You can't expect involvement when the citizens have NO viable choices set before them. Picking the lesser of two evils only propogates further evils. That's just how I see it.

Well, Sean, there were lots of posts before yours, and no one had posted that part of the story. That is a completely different story. A presidential address to school children followed by a "how do we help the president?" lesson plan in the classroom is blantantly political, partisan, and deeply disturbing. Under those circumstances, I would pull my kid out of school that day too.

Well I am going to check with my kids school and if he is going to speak then that day me and my kids will site guns in or go catch a hog!!I have no use for the man and will protect my kids from his so called goals that he thinks is right!! 

Funny thing, I started this same thread on the Pointing Dog Journal BB today, and there is a young guy there that completely echos Julie's argument, til he got enough and ducked out.

A speech would be bad enough. But there are a lot of left wing teachers that are going to carry the ball further. with no parents there to intercede. My kids are grown, but if I had pre-K thru 6th graders, I  would want to make the decision on what they see and hear the prez say and what the teachers have to say about it. I dont need a left wing teacher pushing their BS ideas into my family.

Matt, what bothers me gravely is that the department of education was complicit in this. The State (as in the Federal Govt and its departments) encroaches further into the lives of private citizens with every passing year. Here they are making a concerted push to get a foothold in our school systems. Both major political parties in this country push a stronger nationalist agenda each time there is a transfer of power. Sickening. They are nothing but tares in the wheatfeilds of American society.

I do not see why an address to the youth of the nation cannot be aired in the evening so that we can watch it as a family. The only explanation for wanting to pipe the address directly into classrooms and out of the eye of parents has to be a nefarious one.

Sean

That is what raised alot of questions. As a whole the teachers groups tend to support Obama. There for when this speach, the "How can I support my Pres" discussions in schools, the neglect of schools to tell parents, and the placing it right after a holiday all came about it threw up ALOT of red flags.

It gave the appearance Obama was trying to pull one over on the parents.


The point is... no matter who it is... parents need to be involved and know who and how things are presented and taught to their children. That is why we have ratings on movies, filters on the e-net, and alot of other things. For parents, we know how hard it is to keep control of what our children are exposed to as it is so when the govt tries to go behind our backs... it really hits a sore spot. That may be a little difficult for non-parents to understand.

Furthermore, it is absolutely against TX law to introduce any curriculum in to the classroom that has not been approved by the TX State Board of Education. No sir, this whole thing reeks of political chicanery!

sean

I agree, that if he wants to address the school age kids, he can do it on national tv, in front of everybody, with me in the same room as my kid so that I can throw the BS flag if need be.  The whole "how can I help the president" deal is the reason why I made the comparison to "Obama Youth".  It's not that bad, of course, yet, but no need for that door to even be opened.  Ever.   If it was a "how can I help my country" essay, I would be less against it.  I support the saying of the Pledge of Allegience in schools, the rendering of courtesy to our flag, and patriotism in general.  I do not support oaths, essays, or anything that directs patriotism to one individual.
Chicanery is a good choice of words.

As of this morning, 3 school districts here close to me will not be showing it, and the largest has hinted the same.  :P

The following is a district wide email here at Shallowater I.S.D. that I received this morning.....


I love it, although I do not feel it should be anywhere in school, at least the high school students have the choice.
With enrollement at the high school at about 340 students, I'll be curious as to how many choose to watch it.....I'm guessing only a couple. ;D

Ill tell yall what i will defently not show up 2 school on tuesday everything that I have heard come out of BO"s mouth is a damn lie and thats it >:(

Politicians should only be allowed to address registered voters...period. Leave the child rearing to parents. I'm glad that my son is 18 yrs. now. Last year his school had a congressman come to the school and give an "educational encouragment" speech and I happened to be at shool that day... it was all propaganda b.s. hidden under a few encouraging statements. Politicians are highly trained to pursuade people into believing them. Chidren cannot filter out the b.s. yet. jmo

this is definitely a step in the wrong direction.  this just further proves the ever encroaching governments hand on our civil liberties.  i'm glad my children are not of school age YET.  but they'll definitely be attending private school, where god is still allowed and the government doesn't have as much influence (tax money).

i don't care if it's a republican or a democrat, no politician has a right to speak directly to my children, especially at school where their time is supposed to be focused on education not propoganda.  never in my life have i been more afraid of the future that lies ahead for my children and grandchildren.