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President Obama: Watch Your Language

on September 10, 2009
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If he was my neighbor, I wouldn't trust him talking to my children. Be VERY concerned regarding his intentions. BE VERY VERY concerned regarding...
If he was my neighbor, I wouldn't trust him talking to my children. Be VERY concerned regarding his intentions. BE VERY VERY concerned regarding his will for education and our children,
on Sep 15, 2009

Let the record show: The sun came up on the morning of Sept. 9, 2009. Once I heard the president was going to speak directly to kids, I wasn’t sure this would happen. After listening to educators obsess about this speech for more than two weeks, I was convinced this was the end of the world as we know it.

I hadn’t been this frightened about the future of humanity since 2001. That was the year the NFL had the brainstorm to pair Aerosmith and Britney Spears at the Super Bowl halftime show. The horror: Britney Spears on the same stage as a band with talent. I survived that — barely. Although I must admit, my ears did bleed ever so slightly. It took me 8 long years to get over that, and then this happens. I’m not sure how much more I can take.

The idea was borderline insane: Barack Obama talking to our kids. Who does he think he is? The president of the United States? Oh, he is? Never mind.

Begrudgingly, schools (some) allowed the president to address their students.

Just the thought of him encouraging kids to work hard, take responsibility for their education, and listen to their parents and teachers was almost more than I could handle. He even told them to wash their hands.

In my estimation, the speech was almost perfect — encouraging but no political. He spoke to younger students as well as to high school seniors. He was positive while being demanding. It was far better than I could have imagined.

Except for one thing: Mr. President, you can’t say “stupid” when talking to kindergarten students. I didn’t graduate from Harvard Law School, but I do know that’s a curse word to 5-year-olds.


To read more blog entries by Michael Smith, visit his site PrincipalsPage.com.


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on Sep 15, 2009
If he was my neighbor, I wouldn't trust him talking to my children. Be VERY concerned regarding his intentions. BE VERY VERY concerned regarding his will for education and our children,
on Sep 15, 2009
wow, nice rant we have here. thought the article in general is very contradictory. Whats wrong with the president, someone all students should look up to, giving advice? stuff like brainwashing doesnt exist. I cant tell if the article was made as satire or if the person who wrote it was serious, but if it was serious i congratulate them for getting a few laughs out of me, as some of it is highly comical.
on Sep 16, 2009
To be honest I think we made a mountain out of a moehill. I teach High School students so many of them come from environments similar to the President. Why is it so bad that he (the President) encourage these students to stay in school. Not to be racial but I'd rather see black males in college rather than jail. Please, please lets work together to DECREASE the High School dropout rate.
on Sep 22, 2009
@Louie and @Michael Smith. I would be leary too, because the last time we had a President (Bush)speaking with children, the U.S. lost the WTC and thousands of lives. I guess it's OK to let Bush speak and people die, then to let President Obama speak positive messages?
on Sep 22, 2009
Obama's speech was not not a problem, but the homework was questionable. The real point of concern should be his followers. I have been to schools where there are virtual Obama shrines. I never saw a Bush shrine or a Clinton shrine. Remember in a different life he was a liberal college professor, they have a poor reputation for one sided behaviors. Be on guard.
on Sep 22, 2009
To Michael Smith: great tongue-in-cheek! Mr. Obama's speech should be required reading. If some dissenting adults had read it ahead of time, maybe they wouldn't have acted like a bunch of scared children. And to louie, If the Obama's were your neighbors, I'm sure the feeling would be mutual.
on Sep 22, 2009
This is all so over the top. People are running scared about a man sending a positive message to our future leaders. Someone needs to tell them to listen to their parents.

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