All His Children

from the Washington Post

September 3, 2009

WH withdraws call for students to 'help' Obama

President Obama's plan to inspire the nation's schoolchildren with a video address next week erupted into controversy Wednesday, forcing the White House to pull out its eraser and rewrite a government recommendation that teachers nationwide assign students a paper on how to "help the president." . . .

Among the activities the government initially suggested for prekindergarten to sixth-grade students: that they " write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president."

Another task recommended for students immediately after listening to the speech: to engage in a discussion about what "the president wants us to do."

The novel curriculum plan brought sharp criticism from conservatives, including some who complained that classrooms were being used to spread political propaganda.

In response, the White House last night confirmed they were revising the lesson plan that was distributed last week by the U.S. Department of Education.

Kent comments:

Please take your seats. Pay attention now children.  We are going to learn a new phrase today.  The new phrase is, let’s spell it here - “H-i-t-l-e-r Y-o-u-t-h.”  Mr. Hilter died many years ago, so you can’t be in his youth group.  But here at the U.S. Dept. of Education we have something even better for you.  All of you can now be helpers of the President.

We should all want to help the President, shouldn’t we, children?  And when all of you agree that you should help the President (and we will help you agree with that) you will have the great privilege of being part of:

Obama Youth

Young people ‘helping the President’