My local state representative (also my uncle) was there. Several students asked questions. Many parents were there. It was actually part of a pep rally. I don't assume anything else.

 

So pep rallies are acceptable forms of missing class time? I'm just trying to get a firm picture of what is acceptable to miss class time for and what's not?

My local state representative (also my uncle) was there. Several students asked questions. Many parents were there. It was actually part of a pep rally. I don't assume anything else.

 

This quote from the Obama thread makes me ask how you differentiate these two examples:

 

While a teacher is certainly an authority figure whose words are imbued with some sense of power to a child, that power can be curtailed and even eliminated by the same authority and power held by a parent. In other words, when a teacher says, in class, "we are destroying our environment," or "our military is an oppressive occupier," that statment can be assuaged by the parent AND I can go address that teacher directly.

 

However, when the PRESIDENT says something addressed to a child, usually through an event for which there is going to be a special "day" or celebration at school, the President's words carry tremendous impact and weight of authority that is unchecked by anything in the household.

 

Therefore, my "fear" is that here we have an attempt, by THIS President to:

 

1. Address my child through a medium that I have no opportunity to address him back;

 

2. Do so at a venue that, other than holding my child home from school, I have no choice to object to;

 

3. Filtered through an educational establishment where it is beyond cavil that subsequent discussion will be to affirm the words of the President.

 

This is WHY public school teachers generally avoid political stances on most subjects, at least below the high school level. I can go and CONFRONT a teacher that is making certain statements to my child; I cannot CONFRONT the President.

 

What statements are we talking about?

 

How about if the President took the opportunity on September 8th to repeat, over and over, that affordable health care is a "right" for all citizens? I wholeheartedly disagree with that mantra and don't want it taught to my child.

 

How about if he took the opportunity to connect taxation to the cleanup of the environment that is "being destroyed by man." I also disagree with both of those concepts, and don't want them taught to my child.

 

How about if he simply repeated the mantra, over and over that the current stimulus packages "have created more jobs and will create more and give us a brighter future." I don't want my child coming home repeating that drivel.

 

So, yes, it is fear of the unknown as to what he might say, but your head is in the sand if you don't think words mean something, and we can, using past experience as our guide, make a fair estimation of the types of mantras he might say.

 

The damage is lessened at the higher grade levels because they (supposedly) have been taught critical thinking, but it absolutely inappropriate and unacceptable at the younger grade levels.

 

A sidebar to all of this is the suggestion that a President's curriculum should be substituted for that day. The supreme arrogance of belief that a national Presidential address somehow is more important or should be injected as precedent to the weekly workload students already have galls me.

 

I have actually played a civic role in all of this, in that as a site-based council member I have successfully persuaded my fellow council members that we will be opting-out of the September 8th material, and will have business as susual. No Obamawashing at Bardstown Primary School next Tuesday.

 

 

You can't be there to protect your child against something that may be claimed by the politician. The pep rally adds the "special day" aspect to it. You can't object to the venue. Its being filtered through an educational establishment. He may make claims that you don't want your child to hear.

 

Looks to be the same.

So pep rallies are acceptable forms of missing class time? I'm just trying to get a firm picture of what is acceptable to miss class time for and what's not?

 

Yes, pep rallies are acceptable. I answered RM on that in the other thread.

Sorry, your argument looks like a distinction without a difference to me.

 

OK.

 

Grayson - pep rally, alum, present in person, did not provide "curriculum." Obama - special event, not alum, can't be confronted, provided his own "how can I support the President" curriculum.

This quote from the Obama thread makes me ask how you differentiate these two examples:

 

 

 

 

You can't be there to protect your child against something that may be claimed by the politician. The pep rally adds the "special day" aspect to it. You can't object to the venue. Its being filtered through an educational establishment. He may make claims that you don't want your child to hear.

 

Looks to be the same.

 

See prior post.

OK.

 

Grayson - pep rally, alum, present in person, did not provide "curriculum." Obama - special event, not alum, can't be confronted, provided his own "how can I support the President" curriculum.

 

Your assertion of Obama's address is incorrect. If you look at the suggestions for teachers in the PDF, they are merely suggestions and each suggestion says could. For extended teaching, some of the suggestions are:

 

 

　K-6

Teachers 　could 　extend 　learning 　by 　having 　students: 　

1. 
   
2. Create 　posters 　of 　their 　goals. 　　Posters 　could 　be 　formatted 　in 　quadrants, 　puzzle 　pieces, 　or 　trails 　marked 　with 　the 　following 　labels: 　personal, 　academic, 　community, 　and 　country. 　　Each 　area 　could 　be 　labeled 　with 　three 　steps 　for 　achieving 　goals 　in 　that 　area. 　It 　might 　make 　sense 　to 　focus 　first 　on 　personal 　and 　academic 　goals 　so 　that 　community 　and 　country 　goals 　can 　be 　more 　readily 　creaed. 　
   
3. Write 　letters 　to 　themselves 　about 　how 　they 　can 　achieve 　their 　short‐term 　and 　long‐term 　education 　goals. 　　Teachers 　would 　collect 　and 　redistribute 　these 　letters 　at 　an 　appropriate 　later 　date 　to 　enable 　students 　to 　monitor 　their 　progres. 　
   
4. Write 　goals 　on 　colored 　index 　cards 　or 　precut 　designs 　to 　post 　around 　the 　classroom. 　
   
5. Interview 　one 　another 　and 　share 　goals 　with 　the 　class 　to 　create 　a 　supportive 　community. 　
   
6. Participate 　in 　school‐wide 　incentive 　programs 　or 　contests 　for 　those 　students 　who 　achieve 　their 　goals. 　
   
7. Write 　about 　their 　goals 　in 　a 　variety 　of 　genres, 　such 　as 　poems, 　songs, 　and 　personal 　essays. 　
   
8. Create 　artistic 　projects 　based 　on 　the 　themes 　of 　their 　goals. 　
   
9. Graph 　individual 　progress 　toward 　goals. 　　
   

Extension

　of 　the 　Speech 　　

 

　

 

7-12 Teachers

　could 　extend 　learning 　by 　having 　students: 　

1. 
   
2. Create 　decorated 　goals 　and 　steps 　on 　material 　that 　is 　the 　size 　of 　an 　index 　card. 　　The 　index 　cards 　could 　be 　formatted 　as 　an 　inviting 　graphic 　organizer 　with 　a 　space 　for 　the 　goal 　at 　the 　top 　and 　several 　steps 　inthe 　remaining 　space. 　　Cards 　could 　be 　hung 　in 　the 　classroom 　to 　create 　a 　culture 　of 　goal 　setting, 　persistence, 　and 　success, 　and 　for 　the 　purpose 　of 　periodic 　review. 　　(See 　the 　"Example 　Handout" 　section.) 　
   
3. Create 　posters 　of 　their 　goals. 　　Posters 　could 　be 　formatted 　in 　quadrants, 　puzzle 　pieces, 　or 　trails 　marked 　as 　steps. 　　These 　also 　could 　be 　hung 　around 　the 　room, 　to 　be 　reviewed 　periodically 　and 　to 　create 　a 　classroom 　culture 　of 　goal 　setting 　and 　for 　the 　purpose 　of 　periodic 　review. 　
   
4. Interview 　and 　share 　their 　goals 　with 　one 　another 　and 　the 　class, 　establishing 　community 　support 　for 　their 　goals. 　
   
5. Create 　incentives 　or 　contests 　for 　achieving 　their 　personal 　goals. 　
   
6. Write 　about 　goals 　and 　the 　steps 　to 　achieve 　them 　in 　a 　variety 　of 　genres 　such 　as 　poems, 　songs, 　or 　personal 　essays. 　
   
7. Create 　artistic 　representations 　of 　goals 　and 　the 　steps 　to 　achieve 　them.
   

Forgive me if I am just too dense to see where this isn't a valuable learning experience...even more than Grayson's pep rally.

 

I see no reason why Grayson will be anything different than what our politicians have given us.

 

For once, we Kentuckians are giving a UNIQUE opportunity to elect a Senator who will offer real change and real solutions.

What reason do we have to believe that Paul will be any different?

What reason do we have to believe that Paul will be any different?

 

C'mon woodsrider, he's a Paul, everyone knows his grassroots people will waive signs at intersections and the whole world will change.

What reason do we have to believe that Paul will be any different?

 

Because his policies are different than what the Republicans or Democrats have to offer. I will admit that I haven't seen Grayson on the issues...does anyone have the details? Does he have a site that does issue by issue?

C'mon woodsrider, he's a Paul, everyone knows his grassroots people will waive signs at intersections and the whole world will change.

You are better than that...you think I'd be one of those gullible types, supporting any type of change? The Pauls have shown a willingness to buck the party trend.

 

You claim that Grayson has- I'm not a follower of KY politics- tell us when and what. I'm not accusing you of lying, I'm just curious.

　

 

What's up with this odd character (above) that I copied from RM's post? Am I the only one who's seeing all those things separating each word in her post?

 

Kind of reminds me of the occasional random post full of these:

I see no reason why Grayson will be anything different than what our politicians have given us.

 

For once, we Kentuckians are giving a UNIQUE opportunity to elect a Senator who will offer real change and real solutions.

 

Gee, we in Kentucky didn't fall for that when Obama ran on that platform and I am pretty sure the citizens of the Commonwealth won't fall for that when an outsider tries to use it, to win a state wide election!

Gee, we in Kentucky didn't fall for that when Obama ran on that platform and I am pretty sure the citizens of the Commonwealth won't fall for that when an outsider tries to use it, to win a state wide election!

 

Are you saying that Rand Paul is NOT a change from other politicians? I didn't see much different about President Obama from other Democrats (in fact, I started a thread asking about it), but Rand Paul's positions are less in line with a party platform, and more in line with personal conviction. Heck, even if I disagree with him on some positions, at least he's standing up for what he believes in, not party politics.

 

And an outsider? Rand lives and works in Bowling Green, and has for quite a few years now.

Are you saying that Rand Paul is NOT a change from other politicians? I didn't see much different about President Obama from other Democrats (in fact, I started a thread asking about it), but Rand Paul's positions are less in line with a party platform, and more in line with personal conviction. Heck, even if I disagree with him on some positions, at least he's standing up for what he believes in, not party politics.

 

And an outsider? Rand lives and works in Bowling Green, and has for quite a few years now.

 

 

When I read his post, I think he was saying that Obama didn't carry Kentucky, despite his platform of change.

 

I would agree with theoldguy, that Kentucky seems very resistent to change.

When I read his post, I think he was saying that Obama didn't carry Kentucky, despite his platform of change.

 

I would agree with theoldguy, that Kentucky seems very resistent to change.

If Kentucky is resistant to change, then Kentucky is stupid, because between the Democrats and Republicans in DC and at home, it is a disaster. I don't think Kentucky is resistant to ALL change.

 

Anyways, sans maybe the guns in national parks, I haven't seen too much change from President Obama- heck, in terms of monetary policy, attempts to balance the budget, and methods of stimulating the economy, even him and Bush are a dead match- from his own party, as a guy like Paul is willing to do.

 

Perhaps Grayson is too, I'm still waiting on evidence before I condemn him. I just know that Rand is an excellent candidate, and I'll support him otherwise, even if Hearsay thinks I'm just a gullible Rand-o-phile