Here's hoping that as many of Minnesota's K-12 students as possible are able to watch President Obama's speech on education as classes open Tuesday (Sept. 8) across the state. I've read the alleged "concerns" of some parents, conservative critics and even our own governor and I can't for the life of me understand why a brief speech from the president on the values of education and hard work should cause such consternation.
Obama is not delivering a speech about politics or the health care debate or his views on foreign policy. He's talking to students about how important education is. He's trying to encourage America's students to do the very best they can as they prepare to compete in the 21st century. Whether you agree with his policies or not, his message is important and his personal story is inspiring for America's students.
We only have one president at a time and his words, especially ones that reflect widely held values, should count for something. What better subject matter for the opening day of classes?
Previously, Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush, made similar non-political speeches to students, with not nearly the reaction that Obama's scheduled talk has created. Talk about politicizing a non-political event. Even former Republican Congressman Joe Scarborough, now a host on MSNBC, criticized conservative talk radio hosts for attacking Obama about the speech.
I heard a Minnesota Public Radio listener the other day recall a time in the 1950s how his class was dismissed so students could watch President Eisenhower's motorcade drive through the Twin Cities. How times have changed. The mere announcement of a live speech from our current president creates a political debate, irresponsible comments from some Republican spokesmen (the chair of the Florida Republican Party worried that Obama's talk would try to impose "his socialist ideology" on impressionable students) and calls from parents, inspired by conservative talk radio, to school districts protesting the speech.
We are trying to educate a generation of critical thinkers. Even if Obama says something that some parents might find objectionable, why can't we discuss it in class, analyze it and figure out alternative positions? Isn't that called learning? No 10- or 15-minute talk from the president, whoever he is, is going to have a long-term negative impact on students. And chances are it will have a positive effect.
Are we now going to review remarks and visits from political figures when they want to hold events at schools? Will the governor or one of our senators or representatives have to avoid school visits even for ceremonial events for fear that some parents might object? An important part of K-12 education is learning about citizenship and civic engagement. What better way to do that than a talk or visit from the president or one of our elected officials?
As a parent of two school age students and someone who has worked in the education field for the past 16 years, I am simply dumbfounded by the negative reaction to a non-partisan speech from the president. When I was in high school, JFK was president. I would have loved the opportunity to hear him speak live to my school about education or any other subject for that matter.
Last January many schools carried Obama's inaugural address live. It was a historic moment and a great learning experience. My junior high daughter was not able to watch it because her class was doing another assignment. I'm hoping that when the president speaks on Tuesday my daughters and thousands of Minnesota students and students across the country can watch the speech. Live as it happens would be great, but later on replay or on the Web would work. Let's not allow cheap political attacks and unfounded accusations prevent our kids from participating in an inspiring educational moment.