Like others, I am angry that President Obama's planned speech to children tomorrow has created such a firestorm of criticism among conservatives. Of course I am angry at the rightwingnuts who are spewing this nonsensical vitriol about "indoctrination." Really? If a 15-minute speech is enough to indoctrinate your kids then President Obama is a fucking Svengali. More power to him.
I'm also angry that superintendents, school boards, and principals around the country have acquiesced to a relatively small number of parents who have complained that President Obama is going to be speaking to their kids. Might I remind you parents that this is President Obama and not Candidate Obama? He is OUR president. Just as President Bush was OUR president for better or for worse. Sure, I didn't vote for President Bush. I didn't like President Bush's policies. I didn't like President Bush. However, I would have given him a pass on giving a "back-to-school" message to our kids (had he chosen to do such a thing). I would have trusted him enough not to give a partisan speech.
So, in kowtowing to these small-minded parents some school administrators are not allowing the speech to be shown at all. Some are allowing it to be shown at a later date so as to be able to "warn" parents in advance should they choose to excuse their kids from class that day. Others are going the more rational route and actually allowing it to be shown live on Tuesday, but are still giving these wingnut parents an "out."
That "out" is what has really riled me up. The fact that school administrators are posting statements to their web sites, e-mailing parents, or using robo-calls that include language that implies that there might actually be something controversial in the speech has gotten my dander up. Language such as the following:
Waterford (MI) School District:
It will also allow us to provide advanced notice of the airing and provide an opportunity for parents to excuse their child from watching the address if they wish to do so.
Rochester (MI) Community Schools:
We have also received a few calls from parents who are concerned about elementary and middle school students viewing a message parents have not had the opportunity to preview
Rockford (IL) Public Schools:
Teachers will provide alternative assignments for students who choose not to participate or whose parents request they not participate.
Austin (TX) Independent School District:
Parents will be advised by their campus principals to alert the school if they have a specific desire to have their child included in, or removed from, the viewing of the President’s remarks.
Bozeman (MT) Public Schools:
If parents do not wish for their student to hear the President's message, they may opt out. [Teachers,] Please provide meaningful curricular activities for those students who have opted out.
Why, why, why? Giving credence to these parents' political or racial biases that President Obama is going to convey a dangerous message to their kids is absolutely ludicrous. Instead, I wish this type of language had just been left out. If the parents want to keep their kids home when the speech is shown, well they'll just have to be the ones to find out when and how their kids will be exposed to it.
My question to these school administrators: Will you (or do you currently) provide this same "opt-out" policy when you have politicians visit your school as guest readers during March is Reading Month? What about Career Day? Do you have politicians come to talk to kids on Career Day? Do you have politicians speak at graduations? Do you participate in health and fitness initiatives that are sponsored by politicians? What's that you say? You would expect these visitors to your school to be non-partisan? Of course you would! It is too bad that you did not trust the President to give a non-partisan, non-threatening speech and, instead, thumb your noses at these parents who think the worst of President Obama because he is an African-American Democrat.