Part of a well-rounded education would be studying government, social sciences, economics, etc. Part of the curriculum would be looking at Presidents past, and the current administration. I understand that, and I think most reasonable people understand that. My primary concern when the President spoke to students directly was the accompanying curriculum.
I didn’t think that President Obama was going to say anything outrageous, but I wasn’t too sure where some teachers would take this. With many current and future educators coming out of liberal colleges, and are card carrying members of the National Education Association it doesn’t take much of a leap to be concerned about what may take place in the classroom.
If I were teaching government in high school I would have likely had kids watch President Obama’s healthcare speech. It would be a great opportunity to discuss policy and the role of government, and to get kids exercising critical thinking skills. I wouldn’t, however, give them a pop quiz like this:
Now initially giving the teacher the benefit of the doubt I thought that perhaps these questions were an attempt to make sure kids were paying attention because it wanted kids to answer based on what President Obama said. Question #10 seems to be the one question where there could actually be some discussion, and perhaps debate.
Not so. According to Stacy Mott, Founder and President of Smart Girl Politics who had a member share about an experience that her daughter had in school:
Her daughter, a senior in high school, had come home upset because, although the speech was not shown in her school, her anatomy teacher had made the class watch the President’s health care speech. After the video was shown, the students were given a short quiz about the speech. The questions asked gave the assumption that the answers provided in the President’s speech were fact and not opinion. The students were given no opportunity to discuss opposing views or have a debate on the topic. In fact, when one student stated that the President had lied, the student was told that kind of talk was unnecessary. Students in the class with opposing views were forced to remain silent or whisper amongst themselves.
That isn’t education folks, it’s indoctrination. Kids deserve better than this.
Update: Hot Air and National Review have another Obama praise video up. This is from an elementary school in New Jersey. If anybody finds any context behind this video (like the school, was it after school?, etc.) drop me a line.
Why do they think this is ok to do? How would they feel if conservatives did this when President Bush was in office? I mean seriously!
HT: Kate
2nd Update: Angela emailed me said that it is B. Bernice Young Elementary School in Burlington, NJ. Fox News is reporting this as well. Apparently this was recorded in June. Burlington Township School District officials are not commenting, which in my mind is confirmation – if it didn’t happen there, you’d think they’d deny it right away. Fox News also has the lyrics if you couldn’t quite make all of them out from the video.
Song 1:
Mm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein ObamaHe said that all must lend a hand
To make this country strong again
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein ObamaHe said we must be fair today
Equal work means equal pay
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein ObamaHe said that we must take a stand
To make sure everyone gets a chance
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein ObamaHe said red, yellow, black or white
All are equal in his sight
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein ObamaYes!
Mmm, mmm, mm
Barack Hussein ObamaSong 2:
Hello, Mr. President we honor you today!
For all your great accomplishments, we all doth say "hooray!"Hooray, Mr. President! You’re number one!
The first black American to lead this great nation!Hooray, Mr. President we honor your great plans
To make this country’s economy number one again!Hooray Mr. President, we’re really proud of you!
And we stand for all Americans under the great Red, White, and Blue!So continue —- Mr. President we know you’ll do the trick
So here’s a hearty hip-hooray —-Hip, hip hooray!
Hip, hip hooray!
Hip, hip hooray!
