The White House today dismissed as pointless the furor over President Barack Obama’s plan to deliver a televised back-to-school speech to the nation’s students. “I think we’ve reached a little bit of the silly season when the president of the United States can’t tell kids in school to study hard and stay in school,” presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters. “I think both political parties agree that the dropout rate is something that threatens our long-term economic success.”Obama’s planned address to students has prompted a surprising push-back from some quarters over what the White House sees as an important but innocuous topic.
Some conservative critics say Obama is trying to promote a political agenda and overstepping his bounds, taking the federal government too far into public school business.
Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, a potential presidential contender in 2012, said Obama’s speech is “uninvited” and that the president’s move raises questions of content and motive.
Many school districts have decided not to show Obama’s speech, to be delivered at noon Tuesday, partly in response to concerns from parents.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, today defended Obama’s plan to address students.
“The bottom line is we need the president of the United States of America to use his bully pulpit to talk to kids about the importance of education and to help inspire kids,” she said on “The John Gambling Show” on radio station WOR NewsTalk Radio 710 in New York.
Gibbs said former Republican presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush delivered similar speeches to students. He said Obama’s speech will not be partisan but rather a chance for children to get “a little encouragement as they start the school year.”
The White House spokesman said he couldn’t speak to the motivations of some school districts.
“Look, there are some school districts that won’t let you read ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ ” Gibbs said.
He said the administration understands that some districts have logistical concerns with the timing of Obama’s speech.
The White House plans to release the speech online Monday so parents can read it. Obama will deliver the speech at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Va.
{NPR News/Noam Amdurski-Matzav.com Newscenter}
You mean, we should take the word of the White House on this issue? Remember the White House represents Obama.
We have every reason to be concerned about Obama’s speech to the children.
He is trying to make our country into socialism, piece by piece. It’s nice that some actually get it!
I’m sorry “mazel tov” (comment #1). Your attempt to tie this issue into creeping “socialism” is rather silly. Presidents throughout history have addressed all types of groups. That’s part of the job. There is absolutely nothing wrong with addressing students in an attempt to encourage them to do well in school. (Parenthetically, I don’t think he’s going to be talking about health reform or Israel).
As a recently retired NYC public (middle) school teacher I easily recognize the tremendous value of this speech. My own school (as is true of the NYC public school system in general) is largely minority. Sadly, too many of these students are woefully lacking any positive values for education. In their naive fantasy worlds, they imagine becoming famous rappers or NBA stars, truly believing that education is nothing but a waste of time. Statistically of course, their futures are dismal, being that large numbers will drop out along the way.
Now, finally, there is a true role model for these kids in the White House. For the president NOT to try to reach out and positively influence them would be a shonda! My personal abhorrence of Obama’s Israel policies have nothing to do with it. If I was still in the classroom I would, nevertheless, take every possible advantage of the President’s address, and continually use his race and educational background to motivate as many kids as I could.