Julie Parker
SOC 313
Olson
09.07.09
Yahoo News published an article on September 7, 2009 about U.S President Obama’s plan to address school-aged children (during school hours) on the importance of education and motivation. Obama wants to provide a speech that emphasizes how it is ultimately dependant upon the student to use the public education provided to them. Obama believes that it’s not the teachers, but the students that our future USA is reliant on. He claims that the speech will motivate the children to stay in school and help the economy stay productive, thriving and competitive.
Several parents are outraged by this speech as many are concerned this is for Obama’s personal agenda. Many parents have reported they will be pulling their children out of school because of the speech. There seems to be an underlying fear of, “brain-washing” and I compare this to a faucet of social control. Since children are deemed highly influential (by popular psychology), parents panic at the idea that their children might pick up a political value that they do not acknowledge at home. Most of the parents are Republican.
Previous presidents such as (R)George Bush Sr. and (R) Ronald Reagan have delivered school speeches (which I actually remember). I don't ever remember such controversy, so I am inclined to conclude that it is a political party issue. However, there is a legitimate argument here. Sure it is great to motivate children to stay in schools, but because parents are not prepared on the full script— they are apprehensive to whether the president will sway children on a level of awareness that influences religious, moral and political ideologies. Except, if parents are so concerned about how their children are influenced at school, perhaps they would be homeschooling those children.
Nevertheless, many families have resorted to both parents working full-time or single parent homes, which rely on the support of public education. Tax dollars pay for the education and we entrust public school officials with decisions to provide the best education ever. In Bakersfield, CA, several schools are not airing the speech, because they are cautious on who addresses the children. They claim the pressure is from local conservative media surrounding them. This in conclusion is a form of social control from the conservative party, from parents, from the state and from the schools. All parties are fighting for that control and freedom of speech, viewing and choice.
References
“Obama exhorts kids to pay attention in school”
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