Sigh. Gwinnett students allowed to opt out of Obama’s speech
The parents of students at Hull Middle School in Gwinnett County today received permission to move their children out of range of President Barack Obama’s voice:
September 27, 2011
Dear Parent(s) or Guardian(s):
We will air President Obama’s third annual national address directly to students on Monday, October 3, 2011, at 9:30 a.m. President Obama’s speech coincides with the beginning of school for many districts across the nation. His actual speech will be delivered on Wednesday, September 28, 2011, at 1:30 p.m.
If you do not want your child to view the address, please complete the
bottom portion of this letter and return it to your child’s homeroom teacher no later than Friday, September 30, 2011. Those students who will not view the broadcast at their parents’ request will report to the gymnasium with an appropriate book, magazine, or newspaper after reporting to homeroom.Please feel free to contact me if you have additional questions or concerns.
Regards,
Denise P. Showell
Principal*A hard copy of this letter will be sent home today with your student(s)
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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183 comments Add your comment
Kevin
September 28th, 2011
5:32 am
Maybe, just maybe, some parents don’t want subject their children to the lies and brainwashing attempts(ie only democrats care about children, clean water, the environment, etc) Nothing to do with race, everything to do with the fact he’s a radical left winger(is that better than socialist???) But no worrries, Barry will be opting out of a 2nd term come 2012 and all will again be right with the world. And just for thr record, you morons should read his book. HE is the racist, not these parents. He is the one that was married and had his children baptized by an admitted racist and American hater. Oprah went to that church for yrs. too btw…so who are the racists again?
Concerned Voter
September 28th, 2011
5:57 am
This is ridiculous! Ignorance is dangerous. This school system is ignorant and therefore dangerous! What a sad day for public education.
The Centrist
September 28th, 2011
6:05 am
Just think. Most middle school kids of Dixiecrats are going to have a hard time if they make it to high school or college and have to take History and Science. They are going to be confused by what their parents and Rush Limbaugh, etal have told them, and the truth.
dawgdom
September 28th, 2011
6:13 am
Who would want their child listening to a liar!
dawgdom
September 28th, 2011
6:17 am
?
MiltonMan
September 28th, 2011
6:41 am
Walk into any school in the morning & they are blasting CNN Student News to the kids. Libs who control our schools & the teaching ranks just cannot get enough of forcing their crappy agenda down the throats of our kids. And people wonder why are school system is in the toilet?
MiltonMan
September 28th, 2011
6:49 am
To the clowns here that defend Malcolm X as a peaceful man truly are ignorant:
He was often quoted in speeches that blacks were superior to whites
He was good friends with Fidel Castro
He stated that the demise of white people was forthcoming
He favored complete seperation of black people & white people
He called MLK a chump
etc.
etc.
seabeau
September 28th, 2011
6:58 am
The only thing the little darling will hear is Obama running for office again! Telling everyone what they want to hear!
jt
September 28th, 2011
7:09 am
I suppose that there are some shining lights left in the Government School system.
.
To really have a positive effect on the “opt out’ students, a Ron Paul video should be shown.
A good future for these kids involves individual liberty and free commerce…………..not government dependency and coercion.
E. Ruffin
September 28th, 2011
7:16 am
Kim, chillywilly and others, it is NOT about race, it is about the fact that dumbed down voters put this anti-American in office. Number 1, my kids wouldn’t be in a government brainwashing facility, number 2, if they were I would be prone to sit down with the kids, discuss it, and come to a logical decision about whether there was a benefit to them for listening to a political speech by the current occupant of the W.H. (All of his speeches are political.)
Ol' Timer
September 28th, 2011
7:23 am
Looks like most politicians have morphed into spineless wonders — more concerned about keeping their jobs than doing the right thing without apology.
A politician is concerned about the next election. A statesman is concerned about the next generation.
“Lord, what fools these mortals be!” William Shakespeare, Midsummer Night Dream Act 3, Scene 2
scott
September 28th, 2011
7:34 am
When you send your children to a government school don’t be suprised when you encounter stupidity.
tiredofIT
September 28th, 2011
7:41 am
The right wingers “opting out” probably send the kids to Jesus camp.
NB Forrest
September 28th, 2011
7:43 am
I do not like Obama one bit. However, the office of the President should be respected no matter who occupies it. No wonder kids have no respect for anything…anymore……
Judy
September 28th, 2011
7:45 am
That is sent to all students in the largest school district in our state….THIS NEEDS TO MAKE NATIONAL NEWS…… pure racism, sanctioned by the school district.
What the?
September 28th, 2011
7:50 am
He’s the President for gosh sakes! I dont’ agree with most of what he’s done, and will NEVER vote for him again, but at least give the man the respect he deserves.
Limey
September 28th, 2011
7:52 am
Gee Jim, it’s called free choice. (An odd concept, to be sure, these days.) Why do we insist on using schools and school children to push one political agenda??
Bill Johnson
September 28th, 2011
7:54 am
The level of the comments here reveals to me why AJC allows so few comments.
honested
September 28th, 2011
7:59 am
The Centrist
Nail on the head.
I guess it is to be expected that those raising their children in the Party of Superstition would want to avoid contact with the Party of Science.
Those who are convinced that reality is something that requires ‘belief’ want to stay as far as possible away from things that are indisputably facts.
Throw in the manufactured belief of a dangerous ’socialist’ and the cocoon is wrapped.
MrLiberty
September 28th, 2011
8:03 am
These parents should be opting their kids out of government schools entirely. There is far more propaganda shoved into their poor heads every other day of the year than will be spoken by the president whom we all know is a pathological liar. At least he and his lies are easy to spot. Not so much for the lies in the curriculum or those coming out of the teacher’s mouths.
Merry
September 28th, 2011
8:09 am
It seems the best test is that if the parents would opt out for their own personal reasons, then their children should not become a captive audience either.
Buzz G
September 28th, 2011
8:15 am
I send my kids to school to learn reading, writing and arithmetic. Obama is a leftist who spreads his evil wherever he goes. I sure would not like my kids being forced to sit there and listen to his propaganda.
jayone
September 28th, 2011
8:18 am
Again we as a people have not reached an accord of pleasent conversation. The President should be respected. If you dont like his message explain it to your kids of how you feel about what he said but to deny them this chance to hear what he has to say is out right disrespect for the President.
JDW
September 28th, 2011
8:20 am
“Why is it political for the president of the United States to discuss education?” Newt Gingrich
These words were uttered in support of George H. W. Bush’s address to school children in 1991. Could someone tell me what has changed the minds of Republicans. Couldn’t be hypocrisy now could it?
BTW there was no “opting out” allowed.
Wallis the dog
September 28th, 2011
8:20 am
Galloway, you old capon, why should kids in government schools be forced to listen to a campaign speech on top of all the leftist indoctrination they already have to stomach in that environment? Sigh.
jayone
September 28th, 2011
8:25 am
MrLiberty,Buzz G
Again no respect for the office of the President of the USA. I bet that if this was done by a Republican President you GOP’ers would be jumping to the high heavens to listen to what he has to say. But because the economy is so far down we have nothing good to say about any one in GOVT.
Alpha23
September 28th, 2011
8:30 am
So obviously a lot of people, including myself, really don’t think obumer has much to say of any consequence!!! He’s a joke, and the less kids that hear his lies, the better!
Alpha23
September 28th, 2011
8:31 am
And yes, I disrespect this president every chance I get!!!
Big Brother
September 28th, 2011
8:35 am
“It is the absolute right of the state to supervise the formation of public opinion.” – Joseph Goebbels
stands for decibels
September 28th, 2011
8:36 am
the though[t] that one would have ‘opted out’ of listening to the President speak directly to school children would have been labeled ‘communist’.
Still is, if you think about it, and recognize that many of the modern day “conservatives” are every bit as radical today as the Bolsheviks of old.
Jerome Horwitz
September 28th, 2011
8:37 am
The drivel I’ve seen on this blog is just amazing. You can tell the posters who get their talking points from the likes of Limbaugh, Boortz, Hannity, et al. Come on folks do a little independent research.
As for the speech – the man is the President. Show the office the resepct it deserves. I did not support President Bush, but, would want my child to listen to his speech. It should not be political – just encouraging. If he shouts “Pass this Bill” then I would have a problem. That would be politicizing it and wrong.
Big Brother
September 28th, 2011
8:38 am
“Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.” – Winston Churchill
Alpha23
September 28th, 2011
8:40 am
People that post quotes from other people really don’t have much to say on their own!!
Boduk
September 28th, 2011
8:40 am
The school needs to focus on educating our students. Obama’s speech to students is a part of learning civics! It’s not about liberal/conservative or Republican/Democrat. It’s learning about our government and how it is suppose to work and students need to learn their civic duties. No wonder Georgia stays behind the rest of the country in education
Big Brother
September 28th, 2011
8:41 am
Alpha23 – Medications and education will make you feel better.
Nan
September 28th, 2011
8:41 am
Pathetic. Yet another example of why the rest of the world thinks Americans are racist nuts and intellectual cowards. What horrible message is the President going to convey that the parents might be afraid of? “Stay in school”? “Education is good”? Every President does this annual address to schools and it’s always full of the same platitudes, so the only possible reason for not wanting a child to see the President is his race.
findog
September 28th, 2011
8:41 am
this is not news, this is history
my kid got extra credit for watching the 2009 address from home as the Hall County School Board decided not to let any student watch
True American
September 28th, 2011
8:42 am
This is great! Finally, parents seem to be concerned about what their children are hearing and are being taught in our government schools. ‘Too bad those parents aren’t able to use all of the tax money (fed, state, and local) that’s being spent on their children and use that money to send their children to the school of their choice.
This is what our country is all about: individual choice, liberty, and freedom.
Big Brother
September 28th, 2011
8:43 am
“The keystone of the Fascist doctrine is its conception of the State, of its essence, its functions, and its aims. For Fascism the State is absolute, individuals and groups relative.” Benito Mussolini
I Love Life Cereal
September 28th, 2011
8:51 am
“Nothing but pure racism.”
The idiocy of your comment is simply indescribable.
One could not possibly outshine your incredible beacon of stupidity.
I Love Life Cereal
September 28th, 2011
8:52 am
“so the only possible reason for not wanting a child to see the President is his race.”
You = FAIL
Wensax
September 28th, 2011
9:04 am
The President is a socialist, and in the old days, the fifties and sixties, a socialist was a communist and was hated for his plan of destroying America. Why is Obama different? He’s the same thing, a marxist socialist trying to destroy America and the Constitution. Parents have every right to protect their kids from socialist propaganda. Anyone who supports this president is aiding this communist cause.
joe
September 28th, 2011
9:08 am
Loony LIbs like Kim always play the race card when they have no valid points to make. Just because a person chooses not to vote for another 4 year term for Obama does not mean they are racist, you ignorant twit. If those same Gwinnett parents had the option for allowing or not allowing their kids to listen to a speech by Herman Cain, I’m sure the overwhelming majority would say Yes on that. If Herman gets the GOP nod, I won’t hesitate to vote for him because of his policies…has zero to do with the color of his skin. If the best candidate who has the policies and knowledge to turn around our country were purple, green, orange or any other color, I’d still vote for him or her.
Michael Marr
September 28th, 2011
9:16 am
I’m not sure how long presidents have been making speeches on classroom televisions. Maybe if little Johnny wants to see it he can find it on that newfangled internet thingy.
just a thought
September 28th, 2011
9:19 am
I think that as Americans, we don’t play fair. When we don’t agree with one another, instead of listening to the other side, we stoop to name calling and mud slinging. Regardless of what anyone thinks or likes, Barack Obama is the President of the United States of America. No doubt, he has had one of the toughest presidency since Abraham Lincoln. The fact that he decided that they were important enough that he created a speech just for school children says a lot. I have never heard of a President doing this before. He is not perfect. He makes mistakes and is flawed. He is a man..a human being. So why is he always crucified?
Parents have every right to control what their children see, hear and are a part of. Why take this learning opportunity from them though? Why not allow them to hear the speech and have conversation with them about what they heard? Who knows what types of discussions could come from President Obama’s speech? Who knows what type of inspiration the children could receive? Though parents might not agree with everything he says or does, that doesn’t mean that he does not have some valid points or good ideas/suggestion. Be open to those and leave the rest alone.
Garth
September 28th, 2011
9:23 am
It’s too bad the parents won’t allow thier kids to listen to the ramblings of this modern-day black Herbert Hoover. Then, when these kids grow up they can say, “We sat and listened to the President who turned the United States into Greece.” Of course you liberals probably don’t understand what’s happening in Greece but I’ll tell you so you get the punch line–They’re BROKE.
Obama derangement syndrome, part duh | chaingangelementary.com
September 28th, 2011
9:35 am
[...] Polictical Insider reports that students at a Gwinnett County (Georgia) middle school are allowed to opt out of listening to the president’s speech. You can read the principal’s letter here. [...]
Joe Mama
September 28th, 2011
9:39 am
LoriW — “Parents received permission? Give me a break. Since when do parents need a school’s permission on making a parenting decision?”
Then make a parenting decision and *keep your kids* home that day.
MiltonMan
September 28th, 2011
9:40 am
Libs = bi-polar group for sure. When Bush Jr. was president where were their concerns about disrepecting commenst by their fellow libs towards the president??? Oh yes, according to the libs it was oksy to bash Bush Jr.
How about you Atl libs? Where were you when John Eaves was talking garbage about the white man turning on the water hoses & letting the dogs free if here were not elected & his white opponent was. Or the New Orleans mayor saying he was going to turn his city into a chocolate city???
The ones who constantly play the race card are indeed the most racists of all.
Joe Mama
September 28th, 2011
9:43 am
jayone — “The President should be respected. If you dont like his message explain it to your kids of how you feel about what he said but to deny them this chance to hear what he has to say is out right disrespect for the President.”
This.
Take it as an opportunity to talk with your kids about what the President says. Explain your opinion about what he says. Tell your kids that it’s okay for them to have an opinion too. Ask them what they think. Ask them how they came to their opinion. Tell them that different people have different opinions.
Keeping your kids away from a Presidential address to students — no matter who the President is — is just silly and foolish, IMO.