Obama to Address Vermont Schools

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Today, Vermont's Education Commissioner Armando Vilaseca issued a statement in advance of Tuesday's planned speech by Pres. Barack Obama to the nation's schoolchildren.

The department has received calls from parents complaining about the planned speech, said Jill Remick, a department spokeswoman. 

Nationally, some parents and conservative talk show hosts have complained that Obama's speech is designed as some form of Communist indoctrination.

"We have gotten about a dozen calls, which is actually a lot for a specific topic like this, especially one that we don’t actually control," said Remick. "We don’t know of any districts in Vermont who will not air it."

Here is Vilaseca's letter:

Dear Principals and Superintendents,

President Barack Obama will be delivering an address to our nation’s children on Tuesday, September 8, 2009. This address will be broadcast through the White House website and televised on the public affairs network of C-SPAN. According to the U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, “The President will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning.” The President will also call for shared responsibility and commitment on the part of students, parents and educators to ensure that every child receives the best education possible so they can compete in the global economy and live rewarding and productive lives as American citizens. I support the message the President is conveying to the students of Vermont.

I encourage you to participate and give your students the opportunity to hear the President of the United States deliver a motivational message to help students succeed in school.

However, the decision is a local decision that needs to be made by you as superintendents and
principals.

I'm sure Glenn Beck et al will be monitoring the speech for subliminal messages so we don't have to.

Comments

[Gay Bob]

WTF. As much as I despised W, he was the man holding the officed of President. And if he had wanted to talk to the nation's schoolchildren, I would not have seen anything wrong with it.

Thinking back to my elementary school years, how cool would it have been to hear the voice of Presidents Kennedy, Johnson or Nixon talking to ME.

How sad.

[webber]

I agree, but lets be realistic: If W had wanted to address the school children of America, most of politically-correct Vermont would have gone absolutely ballistic and protested the idea.

[Older is Better]

"However, the decision is a local decision that needs to be made by you as superintendents and principals." Well, in those districts where the educators actually make decisions.

[Shay Totten]

For all those interested, here is a link to the prepared remarks the president plans to give tomorrow. Of course, I'm sure they'll change them overnight. Glad to know Glenn Beck is on the case.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/

[Sir Winston Thriller]

I, for one, hope that Glen Beck runs for President in 2012. With Michelle Bachmann as his running mate.