Obama will deliver a national address, directly to students on Tuesday 9/8

Did any of you hear about this?

Obama will deliver a national address directly to students on Tuesday, which will be the first day of classes for many children across the country. The address, to be broadcast live on the White House's Web site, was announced in a letter to school principals last week by Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/02...-plan-students/

This post has been edited by BAC'sMom on Sep 3 2009, 05:00 AM

There are schools that start that late? This is our third week of school.

That's pretty cool that he is addressing the students. I'm curious to see what he says.

Yeah, there are schools that start that late. It is the law in Michigan that public schools start after Labor Day. Was created to boost tourism before school starts. Because of it though, the schools in my district will only have a 1/2 day so they will not be watching this.

when I click the fox link it says URL not found.

I have heard some comments about commercials that are pretty political in nature and some comments to the kids about praising the earth instead of God.
I wanted to see for myself what is going to be talked about before we decided what to do.

The URL didn't work for me either but I did a search. Interesting enough, the article I read said that the president traditionally addresses students on the first day of school. I had never heard of this before, but apparently it's tradition... I wonder why it is such a big deal this year.

Here maybe this one works...
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/02...-plan-students/

I have heard other wise that this is the first time a president has addressed the students ever.

Bush Sr addressed students in 1991, that's the only other instance I found during a very quick search.

Stacey, this may be what you're looking for, I know nothing about the site it's on other than it appears to be a site for storing published documents (in other words, it's not a political site)
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/10582301/Presi...eptember-8-2009

I don't remember a president ever addressing us in any way, shape or form in school. And somewhere I did read that this is the first time a President will be addressing elementary aged students in this way. Where we could watch them with our parents who had an idea about what was going to be discussed, but nothing like this. 12 o'clock with parents not allowed to attend (that is what I have read and heard).

That was taken from this article on Fox News as well:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/03...nts-help-obama/

But, like I said, I don't ever remember a President addressing the students. However, if it is just a general pro-education -- stay in school and do your best -- type of message then I am all for it. I wouldn't even care if he said take care of the earth, it's the only one you have. They teach recycling in school so what's wrong with that?

I don't like a lot of things Obama is doing, but I think the critics in this case may have their own political agenda. I may change my mind once I see the actual speech, but I really can't see it being anything that crosses the line.

I guess my concern is not political either, but I dont agree with anyone discussing anything with my child unless I know what it is exactly about.
I did find a site that say the entire document will be available after the broad cast, but its kinda late then isnt it?
I just called our school and they are not planning on showing it.

Although not addressed at us, as an elementary student, I remember watching national Presidential addresses in the lunchroom more than once. I, like I suspect most younger kids, found it awfully boring. I doubt Olivia would be the least bit interested unless he's promising free candy bars with all school lunches or for every book she reads!

My daughter gets plenty of info uncensored from adults so I really don't have a worry that way. I've never asked a teacher how they plan to teach any portion of their curriculum but I can tell you as a person who spends 25 hours a week directly in classrooms, the information they get, especially in history and current events certainly can be emotionally or politically swayed by the view of the teacher in every grade level.

Quite honestly, I don't know what the president thinks he will accomplish by addressing the schools. According to what I've read he just wants them to do well. Don't we all? Does he truly believe that by interrupting their lunch he'll garner the enthusiasm he seeks to make them all better students with a single speech? Beats me.