In the days leading up to President Obama's speech, there was a lot of talk about schools or classes boycotting the speech, about parents refusing to allow their children to view the speech, and even of kid's themselves choosing to "opt-out." As a history teacher I began to worry, "Is this kind of reaction good for our democracy?" I, of course, believe that dissent is healthy in our kind of system. People should speak up when they disagree with our political leaders. Not only is this a fundamental right, but our civic duty to do so. What do you think about this? Should students be exposed to views from all sides? Why?
Having now watched the speech, and given its straight forward message, what do you think about it? Do you think that the president was right to avoid discussing any of the big political issues of the day?
I talked with a few 8th grade students after they viewed the speech in class, and they thought that it was the same kind of message that they hear from their teachers and parents all of the time - stay in school, work hard , and so on. If that is true, then does that kind of message have a bigger impact on students when they hear it from someone like the president? If so, why?
Finally, I think it is worth comparing the president's speech to those of some of his predecessors. Watch the speeches of Presidents Reagan and Bush (the 1st President Bush) provided below. How are they different or similar to President Obama's in style and substance? Who's is most powerful? Which do you think had a bigger impact on students when they were delivered? Do you think that speeches like this are worth a president time to prepare or deliver?
I look forward to your comments.
President Obama's Speech
President Obama’s Message for America’s Students from White House on Vimeo.
Click here for President Bush's Speech.
President Reagan's Speech
As always, I encourage you to share your work with your parents. I also welcome parent comments on our blog.
Posts
78 comments:
Garrett Crawford-
I think parents should let there kids watch the speech no matter what political view is. Students should be exposed to all sides because if they only know things about there side they won't be very up to date if they don't listen to the other side.
I thought the speech was very good. I think it was extremely well that he didn't talk about politics. I heard in the media that Obama was going to put political things in his speech and the reason he didn't put politics in the speech was because the people were getting mad at him. (Not good Obama) But as I said before that was a really good speech.
I think that if a student hears something from The President of The United States that it accually means something. Rather than listen to parents talk on and on about it.
To conclude I think the speech was very good.
P.S. I like tis blogging stuff.
If parents dont want their kids dont want to see itlet them do so, i am fine with that, he just babbled about staying in school, i think it was a publicity stunt rather than a speech.
" It is better to be thought a fool than open your mouth and prove it" R. Thomas Cook
See many people dont care what they say, they just want the attention, but Mr.obama didnt do that with his speech. I commend him for that, but sometimes people just need to leave stuff alone
I agree with Garrett that Obama is our Presidant and that we need to listen to what what he has to say to us. Parents need to let their kids see both Republic and Democratic sides.
I liked the speech although I hear that all the time. It's probably better that he didn't even mention politics.
I think it is important to hear it from the Presidant because most kids don't care if a parent or teacher says that to them.I think Obama did a good job.
Um ya I agree with both Garrett and Robby cause like you can let your kid watch the speech or you dont have to. I mesan like When I watched the speech I mean I knew most of the stuff that he said like stay in school, keep good grades.
Um like my favorite part was when he said we should be what we wanna do when we get older, we can just be ourselves. Like I want to be a famous actress/singer so I will do as much as possible to reach that dream.
Oh and I like this blogging thing
I agree with Erin because we really do need to listen to our president.Parents should let us see both the Republicans side and the Democrats side.
I think the speech was good, since I hear it all the time.It is great that he didn't mention the politics.
I think that kids should listen to their parents and the president becausse they just want to urge you to the best you can.Plus I think Obama did a great job.
an anonymous source of mine told me to read between the lines for the political inuendo
listen and you will interpret things that you didn't know before
I did like his speech, it was a tad bit inspiring, like Kaley, i want a job that is out there, and for that job i need an education. If not i will achieve nothing, my dad is the first in his family to graduate from college. He now is a hydrogeoligist (LOOK IT UP) and that is because of his and my grandfather's hard work.
Education is the golden key- some ancient guy said that 100 years ago or something like that.
Stay in school and you will succed as i always say hehehe
Thank you
Hi everyone, let's get this show on the road. So, we all know Obama made a speech but who really appreciated it and liked it. I for one thought it was the (excuse the language) bomdigity! I thought it was really planned and carefully though out to where it didn't seem that he was trying to control the kids but influence them to do their best and try to make a difference in our train wreck of an economy. I know that parents enlighten us with the same info that the president did, but let’s face it the president of the U.S.A is just a wee bit more important than you are, (no offense to any parents reading this, we love and respect you guys). The thing is that to most of us Obama is practically a celebrity no matter what you think, and we eat and devour every word he spits out. I think that it is sort of wrong for parents to deprive their child of the opportunity to gather information in our sponge of a brain. Hearing one side of the story is like listening to only one knowledgeable scientist instead of both, because they both might have very intelligent intellect and some very good ideas. In my opinion we are all mature adolescents that can think for ourselves and should not be nonparticipant in history in the making. I also believe that being a fair just nonjudgmental kind of guy will make you a very well rounded person in the future. I also greatly agree with Robert's quote and think everyone will profit from following his advice.
That's all for now See ya laters:)
Yawn.. its really late, well lets get krakin', thanks shannon i know that i am a famous quote maker. back to the topic. Obama is an well edjucated man but my parents could have made that speech, it was sorta uneeded.
anyways, many people thought that the speeh would be about politics, it was not, BUT! LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAYS! or as the language arts teachers say read( or in this case listen) between the lines.
My brain is a sponge, i have learned many things, but not so much about politics, but all i know is that it was uneeded and that i could of learned about the vampires eating the roanoke colonists, or just about America, many will disaagree, but i dont think he should have done it.
this is off topic, but where were the jets at the season opener, their tomtom must have malfunctioned
I agree with Garrett about the fact that parents should let their children watch the speech no matter what you think of Obama. He is the President of the United States and we owe him the respect of listining to what he has to say weather we agree or disagree with it. I personaly thought that Obama said the exact same things our parents and teachers tell us every day. But maby because he is the Prsident, people will listen to him better and take him more seriously. I respect Obama for thinking of us kids and not just polotics. It is important that he addresses us becuase we are the future of America and I think he very well understands that. In my opinion, the best part of the speech is where he recognizes specific teenagers who have worked hard and achieved so much. I think this will influence kids to work hard and achieve there goals. So in the end, I think Obama's speech was worth listining to and did way more good than people had expected (Plus it got us out of doing classwork!!!). So I think that the next time the president adresses the kids of America, the parents of them should let there children listen to the important words of the Presedint. And us kids are smart enough to know what information to hold on to and what information to let go.
Wow a lot of blogs. you wrote A LOT Shannon! Wow.
Good job Ben, Garrett, Radha, Robert, and Shannon. Yall did a good job of putting that in a paragraph and not ten pages. Um like I said before that we should follow our dreams. Also we need to follow OUR dreams and not our friends.
I agree with everyone that has blogged so far(:
And thank you, Ben for making the point that it does get us out of class(:
Um so ya!!!! good job everyone so far!!!!! Your doing a good job(: And of course I am too(:
Well bye(:
:)*Kaley*(:
I think people should just watch the video because their was really no problem. All he was talking about was stay in school,make good grades and so on. So what was the big deal about not letting their kids watch it.
like i have said before, the speech was uneeded, and all he babbled about was school and his childhood, like there arent enough books about that...
the only plus was that i had to do no work! yes!
The kids do need to learn conservitave or liberal values, but sheltering your kid wont do that but personally i wish i was learning than listening to him blabber.
But by the end of his term the job i want probably wont be there, but if it still is i need to be smart! So stay in school fellas.
Jet noise....
I agree with Robert that if parents don't want their kids to see the speech than why should they be forced to watch someone just say to stay in school. If we are in bridge to A.P. then we are doing well in school. Anybody could have said to stay in school we could have got that speech from one of our teachers instead of somebody who parents wouldn't want their kids to see.
I agree with Ben's blog(yours was so much bigger than mine!). Anyway I think that leaving out the political bit of his speech was a smart move. Because kids want encouragement and praise on how well they are doing. But one thing that Ben said was absolutely right in my point of view. Obama is the president of the U.S and he deserves our individual respect no matter if you wanted McCain to win. I think it was key to single out certain kids than have done well in the world to inspire us and the fact that he addressed children directly was very key because it kept me interested in what he had to say ,like he was talking to me. I also think it is important for us kids when we are older to find jobs like Obama said and help clean up this economic mess.
I agree with Garrett because kids have as many rights as parents to have a say so about political speach.
I kind of agree with Robbie, but if you don't listen to speeches of any kind of importance we can't learn from anything.
P.S. I like blogging.
It is important to watch speeches because even if we are in bridge we should try to learn more and more.
I agree with Kaley because parents should let them watch the speech because then the kids might focus more better if the students get new tecnology since it's new and they mmight want to know how to use it.
My favorite part was when he said that you should be who you want to be as long as you study well. Like I want to be a doctor. Then I would have to study really hard to get what I want.
I think Obama did a great speech. I think that he really was dedicating the speech to all kids across America. The speech really struck home when he said kids need to stay in school. I did think he could have worded it better when he said that if you drop out of school you are letting your country down. I think that sounded a little bit to harsh for my liking.
Nice work. Remember to pay attention to spelling and such. You are making some good points and arguments. Keep it up.
I agree with garret first and for most all people should hear the president's speaches no matter what it's about, ethier being republican or democrat.
That speach had a good message but come on don't we hear enough of that from our parent like every day? Of couse you want to get a good education and job/career.
He did a great job of not bringing up polotics because its really making the media mad. And imagine how bad he would look trying to make himself look good infront of millions of american students.
I just watched President Bush's speech and it was pretty much the same deal except that President Bush put facts and statistics in his speech to challenge the kids to become better. In my opinion that was good. An example is, he said that one in four 8th graders will not graduate from high school. He told the students to count themselves & three others in their class and ask themselves, "who is it going to be?" He then challenged them to not let it be any of them. I started to watch President Reagan's speech, but three minutes into it, I was half asleep.
First i agree with Garret because kids should be able to listen to the president if he is democratic or republic. Kids should be able to listen to what the president has to say so they can learn things and do better in school and also that they can succed in life when they are older.
I think that whoever the president is no matter what people need to listen to him so they can be up to date on things and learn things from the president to be succesful in life
I think, that no matter the political views of the school, class, parents, or even the students that this video should not be watched. It doesn't have anything to do with politics and should not be discriminated against because of political views. Pres. Obama was simply getting out the message that if you work hard in school, you will succeed, as all parents and teachers tell kids these days. Even though we here it a lot, you have to admit that hearing it from someone as powerful and important as the president really sticks and leaves a bigger impact just knowing that someone like him cares about something like school too. Over all, I think that Pres. Obama's speech was very good and definitely left the impact I'm sure he was going for, to work hard, stay in school, and to never give up on your dreams.
wow that was pretty interesting to sit there and read everyones view on the topic and im really liking this blogging thing (as kaley said)! any ways on to the point about the presedents speech. ill start with saying how i agree with everyone aand i like how robby is backing himself up ever so often. i also like how ben said that us kids are smart enough to know what to hold on to and what not to. Well my view on the speech is that i actually was dreading to watch the speech because i figured he was going to talk about poliitics thinking back to his exceptance speak and remembering that he was downing america in so many ways and i really didnt want a repeat of that.
thoughi think we heard the same thing that our parents and teachers tell us all the time, it might have been meaningful for kids to hear it from the president knowing that he felt the same way. i disagree on the part that the president went on and on about his childhood because that sure doesnt help with backing up the topic Stay In School. Parents should not have excused their kids out of watching the speech because they were just going on their side of the story.for example,one person being punished because a teacher only saw or heard one side of the story and then only one person got punished.
Hey this is Deanna from B period. WOW you guys are doing really well.
Obama's address to students was very good. His speech was nonpartisan. The Tallahassee Democrat warned us that the speech would contain "political brainwashing" and "socialist" ideas. Many of you believed it, which proves that people will believe almost anything they are told. Most of the students in my class said that the speech was very good. While reading through the comments, I noticed that most people were expecting a political agenda because of the media and opposing politicians. But we saw in the speech that there was none of this political persuasion, which proves all of us need to stay open-minded and think for ourselves. Students should watch the speech no matter what type of political view their adults/role models have and THEN make up their own minds about what the speech contained. Then, the next time the president addresses students you can intelligently say you do or don't want to listen.
Again I agree with Kaley. We're all dooing a great job on the blog. Keep up the great work!!!
I agree with Elizabeth but what i think what you were trying to say is that we should watch the speech. It was a great blog and you made a good point but can you give me a response on that question?
P.S. i tried the HTML tags it didn't work
lots of people are talking about how everybody should see this video no matter what thier political view ( or should i say what ever thier parents political view is) because most kids our age will say "Oh im a democrat because my parents are so i know its right". I on the other hand dont have anything against the Democratic party in general even though i am a Republican. But certian people in the Democratic party i disagre with or think that thier way is wrong.
I personally believe it's a little bit silly of people to discrimanate because of race, religion, gender, political party, etc. Because all people view the world in a slightly different way, and if we could all begin to see the world in those ways there would be so much more compassion, instead of cruel judgements and ignorance.
I disagree with Robby very strongly. What he said wasn't a "babble" he was reaching out for kids of all grades to start trying harder and not giving up, because we all have a part in saving the country. It's obvious that kids are doing exactly that quite often, so he was trying to help. Political innuendo? I'm sorry but I believe that claim has no validity and these conspiracy theories people are creating about how "his speech was just a way to get kids to follow a secret political agenda" is a bunch of nonsense. I hope that wasn't offensive, I didn't mean it to be.
Obama talking about these basic values makes a stronger impact I think because we haven't really heard this kind of message from a President before. I mean, of course they've preached these kinds of things but I don't think they've truly connected with students as much as Obama did in his speech. He took a real life experience and brought it into convincing us we're capable of accomplishing our dreams. Our parents and teachers telling us these things nowadays has no impact whatsoever beacuse they've already told us a thousand (give or take a few) times. It's nice to hear from someone else.
I think he made a good choice in directing his speech away from more current political issues because it kept people from deciding to discontinue listening because of his view on a specific matter.
All in all, when I heard his speech I was proud to have Obama as our president. I can really tell that he believes we all have a part in saving this country.
Malik you spelled my name wrong, grrrr
Politics isnt the matter folks, its what is incoperated into the speech. A speech could have many great things in it but that tiny piece about how killing mosqitoes is bad for the enviroment can make event the most hardy supporter shiver in his britches.
nathan, made a good point about how its not always a democrat that agrees with obama, many people do
Mac, a large chunk of the media is liberal, listen and you will under stand. i dont belive everything i hear.
33 minutes....
also, i think the speech was to make people want to give control of school to Washington, DONT!
Then many of the subjects may and probably will be procesed so we get politically correct information, rather than the way it happened version, so that we dont offend races, minoreties etc.
As Lady Margret Thatcher (U.K's prime minister 1979- 1990) said, "America is the Last best Hope."
So we can be a politcally correct country or a common sense country like we have been for so long, ever since Lexington.
I forgot my C.-Republican on my last blog
Gabby was that an insult or a complement?
i Am mot a conspiricy theorist, and he did babble
Plus hearing it from an authority figure doesnt mean it will stick guys, what if you heard it from Adolf Hitler, Kim Jong Il or Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili (Joseph Stalin). If it does thats creepy. Authority doesnt matter, if the same speech was said to you by a garbage man, a stock broker or a dentist would it matter, of course not! you think its just some old coot regreting their lifes's past choices.
If you listen to only authority and not to your Friend, Family or your future husand or Wife, your will lead a life of being one-sided and disliked.
Thank you
33 minutes....
And if everyone listened to authority there would be no America. No taxation without Representation! was the cry heard at Cowpens, Lexington, Yorktown. Do you think Washington ltstened as he put on his blues.
many great things wouldnt be here without a little rebelion here and there, Thoas Jeferson said that.
Thomas
Sorry
12 staments, wow thats alot and i like to argue hehe
Life aint fair, there will always be racism, sexism and other hurtful -isms, so dont exspect to wake up to a world that lives in perfect harmony,
even though Obama got his dream job many of us wont.
I probably wont because of my eyes, i have not shut down just cause of that.
Maybe i am a bit off topic but life is not just gonna lay down the things you think it is
Back to the speech, that part about his childhood was not helpful to his message, all it did was to ad a comic touch to it,
but a failure is needed once in a while, Life=Risk
I am not being a negative Nelly,or Debbie Downer
this concludes my little comments for a while
I also have to agree with sam and robert C. He makes a good point about if they should look at something if their parents don't want them to, then they shouldn't look at.
Robert and Sam also made a good point that mr. Obama didn't really do that well on his speech because like Sam said he could have just heard that stuff from a parent, or teacher.
Wow you guys are doing great! Keep it up!
Remember its Due by the end of Sunday! Don't have a lot of time
Hurry!!!!!
Robby, I wasn't talking about anyone in particular. Sorry you took it that way. You did state in an earlier blog "My brain is a sponge, i have learned many things". Hopefully, one of those things is that everyone has a right to their opinion- even an opposite one.
Christine, well said. I really thought that your blog was well worded and had good topics yespecial in your first paragraph.
everyone keep on blogging
I know right i just started early this moring and i have three coments in my class.
sorry in that paragraph i meant especially.
who is tyree
who is tyree
im very sorry that was an accident. i typed it in, but i didnt mean to publish it.
I think it is good that Obama didn't say anything about polotics. I als think that parents should tell us if they think we should watch thigs Obama says to us but should let us dicide for the most part.
I caught a flaw in the President's speech. He siad he was born in Chicago. But he sayed he was born in Honalulu. Then he sayed he grew up in I think Indoneasia. But over all it was a good speech. I agree with everything in the speech but I've heard it all before. It had no different meaning to me. I'm glad he didn't talk about politics because I don't agree with all of his points of view on politics. But over all it was a very good speech.
I really don't get why people don't want their kids watching a speech, its not like they'll turn into democratic zombies or anything...
Oh by the way, sorry i'm so late on posting, I was busy with my mom grounding me, but that's off topic...
I'm not sure that Obama really NEEDED to give that speech, but it can be helpful to do that kind of thing.
I agree with Chase F's comment but I like Obama's veiw on politics a lot
No i didnt take that way mate, nice quote of mine eh,
33 minutes....
Robert you may consider life not fair, but the reason Obama included part of his childhood to relate to us kids. He uses himself as an example that anyone can succeed.
I liked the part of the speech where the high school kid got to introduce the president. It was cool because an african american kid got to introduce the first african american president. I know it sounds racist, but it's cool anyway.
Robert, dude, you're on a role buddy. rad my blog from b period please.
I also agree with Sam. Kids and Paretns shuld have the option to watch or not watch the speech. It really was no big deal I mean all he told us was to stay in school and do well.
Shannon he used a teleprompter and I gaurantee you that he didn't write half of it, his little writing staff did. This didn't come from the heart it was merely a publicity stunt.
For all of you posting that your'e either republican democrat you cant be your to little, ROBBIE for now your either with conservative values or libral values. Libral=D
and Conservative=R
Robert I don't think you're wriing this. Who is? If you are you'll have a career as a polititian. And you're right almost all media is of democratic beliefs. Lately these channels have'nt been talking about politics. I think they are running out of good things to say.
i think it s ridiculas that some parents aren't letting their kids wach this just b cuz they didnt vote 4 him wel heres a newsflash people obamas alredy president whether u like it or not and theres nothing u can do about it!
i thought the speech was very inspiring!
I think kids should be able to watch the speech because school is important to them (most would debate on that, though). It helps them get ready for their future job, and if they are falling behind, it's probably because they didn't see the speech. A little encouragement ususally puts positive thinking into their minds.
I bet Einstien got the same thing. He wouldn't be so famous with out courage and success.
P.S. I agree with allie. McCain lost, people. It's doesn't make you special if you voted for him. Obama won, so don't complain because he's going to be prez for 3 more years.
If you say that you voted for Obama, I heard that fights broke out in school. Some even went to prison! How rasist!
I don't agree with Allie. Not all parents are opting their kids out of watching the speech. My parents thought about not letting me see the speech because it might be a chance for him to talk about politics. I personally didn't want to watch it because I thought he was going to talk about politics.
I personally think that it doesn't matter which side you're on, just that you see it. All he talked about was staying in school, not politics. Even if he did talk about politics, everyone should still have seen it because he's our president and we need to hear what he has to say. I think the reason he didn't talk about politics was because he knew a lot of parents would opt-out their kids.
Good work. Two hours left. Keep it meaningful.
All parents should allow their children to watch the speech, because it stresses the importance of education.
Without an education, you would not be able to succeed in life as well as others with an education background.
WOW! Loren!!! That was very impowering!!!!(: I love it!!! HAHAHAHA!!!!(:
-KALEY(:
Well, i think that parents have the right to not let their children watch the speech. Some people just dont like President Obama, though some people do. But, you are right Garrett, "students should be exposed to all sides because if they only know things about there side they won't be very up to date if they don't listen to the other side".
Personally, i thought the speech was kinda boring. For the first minute or so, it was sorta interesting. But the rest he was repeating, "stay in scool.....".
I think that parents have the right not to let their kids watch the speech. Some people just dont like President Obama. But, you are right Garrett.
Personally, i thought the speech was kinda boring. he didnt talk about much except 'stay in school'.
sometimes hearing from the president means something, but not to all people.
I think that parents have the right not to let their kids watch the speech. Some people just dont like President Obama. But, you are right Garrett.
Personally, i thought the speech was kinda boring. he didnt talk about much except 'stay in school'.
sometimes hearing from the president means something, but not to all people.
Parents have the right not to let their kids watch the speech. Some people just dont like Obama, and that is ok. But, you are right Garrett,"Students should be exposed to all sides because if they only know things about there side they won't be very up to date if they don't listen to the other side".
Personnally, i thought the speech was boring. All he was talking about was 'stay in school'. Obama just babbled on about that ONE thing.
SOMETIMES if a student hears from the President, it could mean something. But, not all the time to all people.
wel u kno wat chase there were no politics in the speech so all the parents that didnt want their kids 2 c the speech was probably just b cuz they were stil holding a grudge against obama.
is any1 stil blogging????............any1.............i feel so alone:(
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