Quote Originally Posted by Col Forbin View Post
I think some of you are just being crazy about this. If you are so concerned with anyone having any influence on your children other than you - you always have the option to homeschool. Whoever stated the purpose of school is to teach unopinionated facts - you are dead wrong. If that was the case - why don't you buy a set of encyclopedias and start reading it to them. The purpose of schools is to prepare children for a successful future. Do you think sheltering them from any and all opinions/views that differ from your own is aiding in that.

I am a teacher - and I am eagerly awaiting this. Although I didn't agree with most of what GW did - if he had done the same thing - I would have been just as excited about it. I never bring my views into the classroom, however, I respect the office and position of the president - and to shelter your children from hearing the elected president is silly. This is a great educational opportunity - I said it before - I wish every president did this (regardless of affiliation).

Some of you sound like you are becoming paranoid to the point that it is clouding your rational thoughts. Geez -A president of the united states is speaking to the children of this country, and you are not letting them listen to it. Some of you are starting to sound like Anarchists, full of hate, unpatriotic, and UnAmerican (if that is a word).
You verified my point. Thanks. One your a teacher and a liberal democrat. Two you obviously feel obligated or unrestricted to enject your opinion upon your students on whatever subject is being discussed. This would be fine if they were in a class called political theory. And unless the students signed up to attend that class I don't feel you should be doing so regardless of political affiliation. And as you refer to 'sheltering them from any and all opinions other than my own is aiding that" well if I am present to give them another point of view then it wouldn't be a problem, but in a classroom there aren't any other adults present to do so. Yes I shelter them from what I deem to be bad influences as I am the parent. And I make that determination. Thats why they don't watch porn, rated movies, read materials I don't think is appropriate, stay out past dark or go anywhere that I don't approve of etc... They don't hang around with terrorist or communist, drug dealers, they don't go to a church where the pastor puts down white people or other races, and the United States, they won't be able to use the "I didn't know" excuse to hide or justify such affiliations.
Like I said if it was about staying of drugs, applying yourself in school or being patriotic then I wouldn't object. But to attempt to enlist them into some activist activity for whatever reason is wrong. And I see too much of an opportunity for this to take place.
This is america and I will support the president but not blindly support him. I support other adults in my community as well but if you think I will let my two daughters stay in a room behind closed doors with any adult without me being present your gravely mistaken. And I don't care who they are. Not even my best friend would be doing so. Does this make me paranoid? Mine and every other americans number one patriotic duty is to defend the constitution. And when I feel the two collide the constitution will get my allegiance thus the term to defend against all enemies foreign and domestic. And I am a veteran and a former police officer and have fought for my country against foreign enemies as well as domestic ones. So after I voice my opinion I am being unamerican, unpatriotic, an anarchist? Well I have fought for my right to say what I believe and for everyone else to do so as well ....now that's ironic.