Oct 12, 2012
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Parents in a key battleground state are livid after children as young as five years old were ordered to write letters to President Obama seeking advice in what was called an afterschool political activity.
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“I think they are using the children to get to the parents,” said Victoria Baldree, the mother of a 9-year-old child who attends Seven Oaks Elementary School in Pasco County, Fla. “Why are they teaching kindergartners politics? I don’t understand that.”
Baldree’s daughter, Blair, was one of hundreds of children in kindergarten through the fifth grade who attend the before and after school program sponsored by the school district.
On Wednesday, childcare workers told the children they would be participating in a political activity, Baldree said.
“They handed the students letters they wanted the kids to write to the president,” she told Fox News. “When Blair told them she didn’t want to write to President Obama – that she would rather write a letter to Mitt Romney – they told her no. She had to write the letter to President Obama.”
Baldree said the instructors did not explain why she could not write to Romney – but she completed the assignment.
“She did write a letter because she’s not going to disobey an adult,” she said.
The letters students were supposed to ask President Obama for advice – and each one was addressed to the White house.
The family is politically active and she said the assignment was a red flag to her fourth grade daughter.
“When my husband picked her up she was pretty upset about it,” she said. “We were very upset about it.”
The Baldrees visited the head of the program on Thursday but did not get answers to their questions.
“I was concerned because they’re supposedly teaching them some political stuff at this program – but they are not qualified to do that,” she said. “These are not teachers – these are child care workers.”
“I was extremely livid about it,” she added. “Why are unqualified people teaching children politics in an afterschool program?”
The Pasco County School system did not return multiple calls seeking an answer to that question. The district has been rocked with complaints from parents after Obama campaign volunteers were allowed to register hundreds of teenagers on campus.
A volunteer was also allowed to deliver pro-Obama speeches to a number of high school classrooms – and in one instance Obama supporters told teenage girls that Romney would take away their birth control and ban abortions if he was elected president.
Republicans in the county demanded equal access – but school officials refused their request.
Baldree said the incidents are not coincidental.
“It came at a very tumultuous time with politics the way it is now,” she said. “I think they are using the children to get to the parents.”
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Children have been writing to presidents for decades. If a child of elementary school age balks at writing a letter to the President, they have already been "indoctrinated". No worries.
by the parents who shoud be the ones teaching their kids about such things as religion and politics, Cheryl.
"Children have been writing to presidents for decades."
That's why we're in the shape we're in now. Decades of indoctrination by the progressive liberal Democrats.
I guess we should all be indoctrinated by the looni tune teachings of the Repooplican party, pleasr.
No…equal time for opposing views….Not single view stumping, and certainly not to elementary school kids.
Your nasty remarks say sooooo much about you. Everything you have written is a condemnation of something. Broaden your horizons so you can carry on a real discussion.
Keisha Pretty Watkins Hey! I resemble that remark! (I am quite fond of Tweety Bird).
Deja Vu all over again…..!
And I believe it's Loony Toons……
Oh, on the "Idiocracy" reference, do something crazy and look it up, it's a movie.
My daughter is home schooled! When I student taught in a local junior high school, the students watch a news channel that was sponsored by CBS News. The program was full of liberal propaganda. What the care givers are doing is staight frm the Nazi playbook!
My daughter is home schooled! When I student taught in a local junior high school, the students watch a news channel that was sponsored by CBS News. The program was full of liberal propaganda. What the care givers are doing is staight frm the Nazi playbook!
The story Pinocchio comes to mind where the children along with the wooden boy are transported to a circus like activity and then turn in to? yes donkeys! or in the case of our schools today they are turned into democrats. same story line only the Democrats are offering pie in the sky money to those who would vote for them. Kids beware you might turn into a donkey if you listen to the democrats. There is another word describing democrats but I will let ones imagination handle that one. I am a retired Democrat; I retired from the party in the 80's. (Carter) killed it , the democrat party.
From the article: “When Blair told them she didn’t want to write to President Obama – that she would rather write a letter to Mitt Romney – they told her no. She had to write the letter to President Obama.”.
THAT'S the key, you CAN'T write a letter to Romney instead of Obobo. This (gag) teacher should be immediately fired. However, the komrade lib union would have a fit if one of their left winger minion was canned over such a blatant abuse of power.
Scott
No Scott, their is only one President at a time. If Romney wins and they are to write a letter to the President, then I feel the same way. Write the darn letter. Write what you want, just write the letter. If Romney wins, similar stuff from the other end will undoubtably surface on MSNBC an the left will be outraged. It's crappy regardless of who does it. Two wrongs don't make it right either. I really would like the reporter to get better details. However when all is said and done, what really happened won't be news worthy enough to mention and we'll never get the REAL story. Again, the one sided speeches to students is another issue entirely and those responsible should be disciplined.
No Scott, their is only one President at a time. If Romney wins and they are to write a letter to the President, then I feel the same way. Write the darn letter. Write what you want, just write the letter. If Romney wins, similar stuff from the other end will undoubtably surface on MSNBC an the left will be outraged. It's crappy regardless of who does it. Two wrongs don't make it right either. I really would like the reporter to get better details. However when all is said and done, what really happened won't be news worthy enough to mention and we'll never get the REAL story. Again, the one sided speeches to students is another issue entirely and those responsible should be disciplined.
I don't have a problem with them writing the President, however, I do have a problem with them allowing any political supporters to distribute literature to children, especially when they are telling children that someone is going to take away their rights. That is not their business to give political advice to anyone. And I would have to agree now that they have allowed the Democratic view they have a responsibility to allow the Republicans to give speeches and hand out pamphlets. I imagine you have not heard the last of this. Once again a political ploy by someone who wants ALL people to be dependent on the government for everything. And we call that Socialism at its finest.
This is not new people. I remember my high school teacher telling me that I was a democrat because I'm not rich. Another school teacher also told my husband that he was a democrat because he is a minority.
Tis true! My school keeps MSNBC on the TV's 24/7. My other professor had us write a paper about Obama…
I'm not surprised.
my professor did too. made me mad as hell.
Politics in the schools be damned. Let the kids be and have a normal childhood free from political indoctrination in the classroom. They're too young to understand the gravity of politics, especially the beast that it has transformed into in recent years. Every election cycle the prospects for a better America and a better future becomes even more dire each time, and now is the time for people to rise up against this government and this misadministration to leave a message with part of it being to leave these kids alone.
The frightening thing here is not that some kids wrote a letter to the President, whoever that President may be. I wrote to Reagan in school, and it didn't affect my political leanings either way. I just remember being excited to send a letter to the White House.
What's frightening, then, is parents who believe it is proper to disrespect the President to the level of becoming livid about the assignment. Telling you children that the President is "not your President" is not only incorrect, it's unpatriotic. It's just another way to create division and ruin the spirit of this country.
I now have a child in kindergarten. If Mitt Romney wins, I hope she comes home in the 3rd grade all excited about her letter to the President. There will be no threats from me to sue the school board. Let's take it down a notch, people. We're all Americans, regardless of personal ideology.
Good post, Anastasia! Kudos. I can't see anything wrong with an assignment like that, either. There is, however, more to this issue than letters to the President.
But if the child wanted to write to Mitt Romney why wasn't she allowed to? The content of these letters is what I would like to see. Also Obama being televised to school children 3 years ago – what the hell is that ?? If Bush had tried it the media would have BBQ'd him – lets keep the standards consistant
But if the child wanted to write to Mitt Romney why wasn't she allowed to? The content of these letters is what I would like to see. Also Obama being televised to school children 3 years ago – what the hell is that ?? If Bush had tried it the media would have BBQ'd him – lets keep the standards consistant
Susan Steele. I remember on 911, Bush was in a class room reading to children. Check your facts. I don't see any indoctrination in children writing to their president. And when did children start making decisions for their teachers? Romney is not the president. I am sure if he ever gets elected, the instruction will not change. School children everywhere in this country will be writing letters to him. The child should follow the instruction of his or her teacher, and write to the president. When I was a child everyone in my class wrote letters to President Bush. Our parents were not offended that we were writing to a white republican president. Republicans are dividing this country on a daily basis, scary. The letter I wrote as a child has not affected my political leaning today. I am a staunch Obama supporter, but I wrote a letter to president as a child supporting his effort on war on terror.
I would agree with you if it was in the first couple of years of his presidency. But we are down to crunch time, it's in the heat of the battle and he likely won't be president a month from now. Now is not the time. Any political teaching needs to be fair and balanced during an election. Your devotion to this man is misplaced though. He is a dangerous man. He has lied in so many ways and circumvented our constitution, signed laws of his own making without going through proper channels… He's a bad man. I would not want my kids to be taught anything at all about him. I can't wait to put the Mister back into his name!
Personally, I don't have issue with the kids writing letter to the POTUS, however, I do have issue with activists espousing their socialist doctrines without equal time for the opposing thought. But what "Progressive" would want that? That doesn't follow the Saul Alinsky modus operandi.
that's all fine and dandy ,but you liberals are fools if you don,t think a President could be a enemy to your country . you don't think presidents lie?, you dont' think this president who does nothing to unite his country is a problem? you think pitting poor against rich,black against white,muslim against christian is a problem?every action he has taken has been the actions of a dictator. We need to ramp it up if we want to keep our constitution . you liberals serve a person we conservatives serve a country. they take a oath of office to serve and protect our constitution not find divisive ways to destroy a country.
Read the article………..It was only allowed to Obama and it was about a political activity that the children could involve themselves in! To simply write a letter is one thing………..let a child choose the topic!
Keisha, The parents should have been asked first. Teachers don't have the right to force children to do anything. The parents are being ignored. I'm sorry, but it isn't the Republicans dividing this country. It's people who speak out of line publicly before knowing the facts. Earlier you called someone a racist. Name calling does not help your cause.
At the end of the day, are you really that shocked. Do you really think an after-school childcare worker is going to have students write to Mitch McConnell?
Scott, I don't recall having a choice when given an assignment when I was in school. There is nothing stopping the child from writing to Gov. Romney. It's just not the assignment.
It's a sad state of affairs that both sides are getting farther apart. But like it or not, if you live in the USA, Obama is YOUR leader too. You may not respect the man, but please respect the office he holds.
The vitriolic rhetoric only serves to drive the wedge further and insure more gridlock in the future. When Romney talks of his experience working together with Democrats as Governor of Mass. he doesn't mention over 800 bills he vetoed, most of which were overridden. He then takes credit for the legislation he vetoed. I really can't see how folks can rail against "Obamacare" while trying to elect it's architect to replace him.
That said, I believe Romney, Ryan, Obama, and Biden are all good men trying to do the right thing. Sadly, I don't see much progress in the near future regardless of the outcome of this election unless the rhetoric changes on both sides. We don't need another party leader(either side, mind you) saying his number one priority is ensuring a single term for any President again. I believe the number one priority should be to get the country moving again, not throw wrenches in the works.
BTW, I griped about Pelosi and Reed when they pulled their crap when Bush was in office too.
BS is BS regardless of which side of the isle, or which news outlet it comes from. And this story reeks.
It was not as assignment! This was an after school program, like babysitting.
and Obama was for sub prime mortgages so minorities could have access to borrowed money. Now not so much. He "inherited" a problem he is partly responsible for.
Kirsten, if you told anyone at the time that a family (some on unemployment) would get approved for a multi hundred thousand dollar home loan at 18 or more percent interest, I don't think they'd tell you that's what they had in mind when they voted for.
If you have some time, look up credit default swaps and derivatives as just the tip of the iceberg as to what unregulated banking can do. Not trying to be a jerk here, what banks and investment institutions were allowed to and ultimately did was and still is beyond belief.
Kirsten, if you told anyone at the time that a family (some on unemployment) would get approved for a multi hundred thousand dollar home loan at 18 or more percent interest, I don't think they'd tell you that's what they had in mind when they voted for.
If you have some time, look up credit default swaps and derivatives as just the tip of the iceberg as to what unregulated banking can do. Not trying to be a jerk here, what banks and investment institutions were allowed to and ultimately did was and still is beyond belief.
THEY were forced to…….by the government…………………….and not verify!
The government and lawyers like Obama forced the banks to make loans to people who could not pay the money back. That is the root of the financial collapse.
The government and lawyers like Obama forced the banks to make loans to people who could not pay the money back. That is the root of the financial collapse.
The government and lawyers like Obama forced the banks to make loans to people who could not pay the money back. That is the root of the financial collapse.
barack hussien obama,,, mmm mmm mmm.
Another attempt to brainwash our children. I'm glad that the parents stepped up and made it known. More parents need to voice their opinion. Our schools are to teach how to think, not WHAT to think.
With any luck, the child who was forced to write to the President wrote "I hope you lose!"
That's awesome!
That's awesome!
With any luck, the child who was forced to write to the President wrote "I hope you lose!"
If you stop yelling "The sky is falling" for a moment, you will notice this "story" was reported only on FOX News by a FOX NEWS employee…(gasp)…..the nine year old in question could give a rat's ass about politics…unlike other adults who think like they are nine years old……..
If you stop yelling "The sky is falling" for a moment, you will notice this "story" was reported only on FOX News by a FOX NEWS employee…(gasp)…..the nine year old in question could give a rat's ass about politics…unlike other adults who think like they are nine years old……..
Your lame attempt at marginalizing Fox is noted. The rest of your statement actually proves the point…children could not care less about politics which is why they should not be subjected to it. Civics is fine; politics are not. And, what went on at the HS level was a simple advancement of what was started at the grade school level. There is NO teaching involved with an authoritative preference for one candidate over another…grow up.
It's not "Parents Say", it's a parent said. It's not "School", it's a teacher. It's not "Turning Kids", it's a 9 year old girl's class project, and it's not "Obama Activist", it's a letter to the President…otherwise…uh…..
@Andy DE It's a class assignment, not a boot camp…perhaps if you would have did your homework in class you would have grown up to be not so large a turd. I suppose you will have a bowel movement when American History is taught in later grades.Cheers
West Davis – BS. It is indeed "parents" and the "Pasco County School System"…Evidently based on the content and context of this article and my post you have a serious reading comprehension problem.
["The Pasco County School system did not return multiple calls seeking an answer to that question. The district has been rocked with complaints from parents after Obama campaign volunteers were allowed to register hundreds of teenagers on campus.]
["A volunteer was also allowed to deliver pro-Obama speeches to a number of high school classrooms – and in one instance Obama supporters told teenage girls that Romney would take away their birth control and ban abortions if he was elected president."]
This is overt indoctrination and must stop. Give us a break.
I stand corrected, but with further research, the whole scenario of of: who was allowed to come on campus, who was refused and who said what, is under investigation. Apparently the "Obama campaign volunteers" did not adhere to the rules of bipartisan registration and "supporters" are just that: "supporters". Rules were broken and are being investigated by both parties and the Board of Elections.
I stand corrected, but with further research, the whole scenario of of: who was allowed to come on campus, who was refused and who said what, is under investigation. Apparently the "Obama campaign volunteers" did not adhere to the rules of bipartisan registration and "supporters" are just that: "supporters". Rules were broken and are being investigated by both parties and the Board of Elections.
West Davis – Now you are making sense. Yes it most definitely requires an investigation but the damage is done. Appreciating how closely I follow such things in conjunction with independent research, I assure you, this garbage is not a simple overreach of renegade Obama volunteers…it is systemic and wrong. Regardless of one's political proclivities, this should NEVER be sanctioned or allowed under any circumstances but given the hubris of the teachers union and THEIR political agenda, I and many others have concluded, this is being done deliberately.
FYI:
The original article:
http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/school-lets-dems-register-students-to-vote-but-not-gop.html
More specifics:
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/fla-school-district-lets-pro-obama-group-register-students-to-vote-deliver-speeches/
Some additional confirmation:
http://riehlworldview.com/2012/10/pasco-county-fl-schools-let-ofadems-register-students-to-vote-but-not-gop.html
The Nazi's did the same thing in WW11 with the Hitler Youth Movement. This is documented look it up!
This is absolutely disgusting! It's all about teacher's unions. Union bosses get fatter, teachers get lazier and kids lose. I'm not saying all teachers are slackers. However, Unions have to be abolished. The only ones benefiting are UNION BOSSES.
Political emotions are high these days in our country. Attitudes and world views are increasingly more partisan and discussions of the issues seem to be based more on emotion rather than reason. It also seems that the presidential election will be decided by a few states where the race is close. I'm from California and my republican vote never seems to make much difference because ALL of California's electoral college votes have been blue for some time now.
So here we have a school in Florida that offers an “after school” program for parents who work beyond the traditional instructional hours of the school day. “After school” is many times a federally funded word for baby sitting. But the care providers want to make the time count and so they devise academically defensible activities for the kids, help them with their homework and give them a snack. To say that they are unqualified to teach kids anything is unfair and mean spirited.
The only thing I see wrong here is that little Blair Baldree wanted to write Governor Romney instead of President Obama and her teacher/caretaker refused to let her. If the motives of the people in charge of planning the activities were truly non-partisan, then it would have made no difference who the recipient of her letter was as long as it was a politician.
Politics and ideology do not belong in school. Teaching children civics and or how our system works is perfectly fine. Teaching them even in subtle ways, that one candidate is better than another is garbage and nothing less than indoctrination. And, there is now ample evidence this is occurring bottom to top in FL schools and, it is wrong. In case you still doubt it, this started with children being basically forced to write letters. Other instances went up through middle-school and on to HS where the students were subjected to partisan pro-Obama speeches, pressured to register to vote etc and also anti-Romney speeches regarding abortion. Appreciating that the public educational system is generally failing our students, they should leave our children out of politics and concentrate on the subjects at hand leaving indoctrination to the PhD's and the msm.
Anthony,
Thanks for sharing some of the details of the struggles that you face in Florida. I had no idea that such inappropriate unabashed political proselytizing was taking place at all levels of Florida public education. When I taught in California, I always tried to present all sides of the argument in as neutral a way as I could and then encouraged my students to really think things through and arrive at a reasonable, defensible conclusion. I also encouraged them to discuss these ideas with their parents and other adults in their lives.
I taught Spanish and 98 percent of my time was spent on the presentation of my subject material. But there are many times throughout the year that discussions arise, inside and outside the classroom that should be dealt with and my students really wanted to talk some things through. I feel that I would have been remiss had I not gently and respectfully led a discussion of the matter at hand. I feel that teachers have a moral obligation to not only teach their subject matter but also to live their lives openly and honestly in order to encourage their students to be responsible and moral citizens.
I hope things can get straightened out there in the public school system. Kids are the ones that suffer when adults try to impose their view points and perspectives.
btw – What or who is the "msm"?
Tim Harvey – Thank you Tim. I try stay aware of the issues that challenge all of us on a local and national level. While I am not a school teacher and I am in CA, I do indeed teach various professionals and, my wife was a private and public school teacher for over 20-years. In complete acknowledgement of your point regarding impromptu discussions, a teacher should indeed encourage open discussion and guide it. However, it is never appropriate to share YOUR OWN personal proclivities, feelings and or bias when speaking to children…I believe HS and college are a different scenario. Nevertheless, it appears that you, as with my wife, are a dedicated professional and that is wonderful…we need many more like you. My issues almost never involve "teachers" but their union and mostly, school administrators and especially school boards as they have been overrun by secular progressives for many decades now and we are really paying a steep price. Unless knowledgeable people and parents get and stay involved and engaged, we will lose this battle. I appreciate your post. BTW…msm is short for "main stream media."
If this is an annual assignment, given by qualified instructors (i question the use of childcare workers), I believe its an honorable civic assignment, regardless of the sitting president. While I assume it was a benign assignment given to teach young children a fine lesson about authority figures, it's timing seems off.
think about this when you enter the voting booth over the constitutional amendment in support of collective bargaining. Do you want to be held to the grindstone paying benefits to this uniuonized group of brain washers?
It's a sad day in America when a simple thing like writing a letter to the PotUS is lambasted as a bad activity. In fairness, I would hope that you all would be this up-in-arms about the activity if the president was a Republican – else you would be hypocrites. I remember, as a kid, writing a letter asking for advice to Jimmy Carter AND Ronald Reagan in different school years – and nobody batted an eye – not the parents, the kids, the teachers, etc. It provoked open communications and as a kid, it was exciting to write the PotUS (regardless of party affiliation). It's sad to know that we've been reduced to this. I don't think this article paints the activity in a fair light. Why would kids write a letter to a presidential nominee and former governor of a state they don't even live in? The parents should keep a close eye on the activity to make sure it isn't a partisan activity, but let their kid participate openly. It really is not a bad thing for the kids.
I actually think (and I'm a Conservative) that kids writing a letter to the POTUS is ok, regardless of who is in office, but passing out literature (leftist), without an opposing view is wrong. Civic activities are good. We need more of that. But only having one side present is not democratic, it's activism.
I agree Tod. This activity was probably pretty one-sided – but it's a shame that we've gotten to the point where building civic awareness in children has become such a polarizing and partisan activity nowadays. So sad…
I agree Tod. This activity was probably pretty one-sided – but it's a shame that we've gotten to the point where building civic awareness in children has become such a polarizing and partisan activity nowadays. So sad…
It is sad. Good debate is a good thing. There are a lot of people that have opinions on here, but facts are missing. Opinion is ok, but people need to have an educated opinion. Not rancor and racism….take a look at some of Keisha Watkins' posts. We are all Crackers to her. Sickening.
This kind of reporting is irresponsible and shoddy.
1. Who called it an after school political activity?
2. The woman asks "Why are they teaching politics?" Are they? Is an assignment to write the president "teaching politics"?
3. Baldree said the children were told……… hearsay. Was she there? Apparently not. So we base this story on a second hand account from a nine year old.
4. Supposedly they were told to ask the President for advice, yet conveniently doesn't mention what advice.
5. The child got really upset? Why? Again no reason mentioned.
6. The Baldrees didn't get answers to their questions. What were their questions?
7. “I was concerned because they’re supposedly teaching them some political stuff at this program – but they are not qualified to do that,” she said. “These are not teachers – these are child care workers.” Supposedly? No details. Her family is politically active, are they qualified?
8. Is this an after school daycare? How about some details about this "after school program" sponsored by the district?
9. She was extremely livid. About what exactly? She jump to the conclusion that they are "teaching politics". Sounds like she's getting plenty of that at home. Red flags and all.
10. "The district has been ROCKED by complaints"! how do they know if they were unable to contact them? When did they make their multiple calls? 3AM? Noon? we don't know from this article. Was that a separate story?
11. Obama campaign workers were allowed to register hundreds of teenagers. To do what? Vote? Gotta be 18 for that. Is registering to vote a bad thing? Was the Romney Campaign NOT allowed to register voters. Are we so stupid as to think that registering with an Obama Campaign worker means you support Obama? Registering to vote is a good thing, no matter who registers you. Carefully worded to stir the juices though, huh?
12. Who was the volunteer giving the pro Obama speech? What organization did they represent?
13. Republicans were denied equal access. Who was contacted to support this Republican effort?
No corroboration for anything listed here. I guess the 5 Ws don't mean anything anymore.
I sure hope there is a follow up on this story with both sides getting to tell their side.
I'll reply to #8…
Having lived in this school district for nearly 15 years, and having had a child in the before/after school program at this exact elementary school, Yes, this is a babysitting. The teachers from the school are not a part of the before/after school program. This "assignment" as it has been called, would not have been given by a language arts teacher but rather hired Child Care Program Coordinators. This type of assignment is better left during school hours to the teachers not someone hired to babysit.
@Bella Morgan. Have your children attend this elementary school? I had a child at this school for four years. I also had children at the local middle school and local high school. Those of an opposite political opinion are not welcomed at this school. Based on my personal experience, this is a form of indoctrination. It begins early and continues right up through the high school years. Want the kids to write a letter to the President? Fine. But give the children equal opportunity to write a letter to Romney also. And for the volunteer coming to the high school to register young adults and try to use scare tactics, shameful…..But I've come to expect no less from the Democratic Party. On another note, this is the same elementary school that had to have the police come back in 2008 because a child had her mouth duct taped by someone on staff……
The project was to write a letter to the President, not any elected official. Answer one question, If McCain had one, things were similar in nature as it pertains to economy and the like, would you be upset if your child was asked to write a letter to the president? Simple yes or no answer.
@Bella Morgan. Have your children attend this elementary school? I had a child at this school for four years. I also had children at the local middle school and local high school. Those of an opposite political opinion are not welcomed at this school. Based on my personal experience, this is a form of indoctrination. It begins early and continues right up through the high school years. Want the kids to write a letter to the President? Fine. But give the children equal opportunity to write a letter to Romney also. And for the volunteer coming to the high school to register young adults and try to use scare tactics, shameful…..But I've come to expect no less from the Democratic Party. On another note, this is the same elementary school that had to have the police come back in 2008 because a child had her mouth duct taped by someone on staff……
@Bella Morgan. Have your children attend this elementary school? I had a child at this school for four years. I also had children at the local middle school and local high school. Those of an opposite political opinion are not welcomed at this school. Based on my personal experience, this is a form of indoctrination. It begins early and continues right up through the high school years. Want the kids to write a letter to the President? Fine. But give the children equal opportunity to write a letter to Romney also. And for the volunteer coming to the high school to register young adults and try to use scare tactics, shameful…..But I've come to expect no less from the Democratic Party. On another note, this is the same elementary school that had to have the police come back in 2008 because a child had her mouth duct taped by someone on staff……
@Bella Morgan. Have your children attend this elementary school? I had a child at this school for four years. I also had children at the local middle school and local high school. Those of an opposite political opinion are not welcomed at this school. Based on my personal experience, this is a form of indoctrination. It begins early and continues right up through the high school years. Want the kids to write a letter to the President? Fine. But give the children equal opportunity to write a letter to Romney also. And for the volunteer coming to the high school to register young adults and try to use scare tactics, shameful…..But I've come to expect no less from the Democratic Party. On another note, this is the same elementary school that had to have the police come back in 2008 because a child had her mouth duct taped by someone on staff……
@Bella Morgan. Have your children attend this elementary school? I had a child at this school for four years. I also had children at the local middle school and local high school. Those of an opposite political opinion are not welcomed at this school. Based on my personal experience, this is a form of indoctrination. It begins early and continues right up through the high school years. Want the kids to write a letter to the President? Fine. But give the children equal opportunity to write a letter to Romney also. And for the volunteer coming to the high school to register young adults and try to use scare tactics, shameful…..But I've come to expect no less from the Democratic Party. On another note, this is the same elementary school that had to have the police come back in 2008 because a child had her mouth duct taped by someone on staff……
Goodness…the last time such a "cult of personality" existed it was with Stalin in the Soviet Union…and all adults know how that worked out.
Goodness…the last time such a "cult of personality" existed it was with Stalin in the Soviet Union…and all adults know how that worked out.
Goodness…the last time such a "cult of personality" existed it was with Stalin in the Soviet Union…and all adults know how that worked out.
A story line reads: "Baldree said the incidents are not coincidental". THAT IS ABSOLUTE CRAP! In light of the first possible felony offense, the Pasco schools allow this. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck….well, you get my meaning. This is, in one word 'INDOCTRINATION', and can not be tolerated. With this, I call upon Pam Bondi, FL Attorney General, and Rick Scott, our governor, to investigate and, if possible, prosecute these political crimes against the people of the State of Florida.
If your kid is 9 and still in kindergartner you got other problems then letter to Obama….wtf lol.
If your kid is 9 and still in kindergartner you got other problems then letter to Obama….wtf lol.
Anyone reacting negatively to this is a self righteous fool. I wrote a letter to reagan when I was 8, my parents would NEVER respond like you fools are. Grow up, get out of the US if you hate all the fast food, freedom and happiness we have here. Morons.
Anyone reacting negatively to this is a self righteous fool. I wrote a letter to reagan when I was 8, my parents would NEVER respond like you fools are. Grow up, get out of the US if you hate all the fast food, freedom and happiness we have here. Morons.
I would sue their ass! Politics are the same as religion and has no business in schools. It is the parents jobs to teach politics.
I wish that this was just a simple case of some Democrat overstepping the neutrality we generally expect from public education these days. Sadly, its way worse. That the students were given an assignment to write to the president as opposed to his challenger isn't the troubling part. Its that these kids were required to ask a politician for advice. How many of you have ever asked a politician for advice? Is there a single person who reads this who has written to the president in order to determine what car to buy, whether or not the marry his or her significant other, or what college to attend? To do so is silly at best and criminal at worst. Now when I went to school I had to write to several sitting politicians. What was different is that we were required in one instance to ask the politician about a political issue. In later elementary school we were required to write a letter designed to convince the politician of something. Please notice the difference. I, even though I was merely 8 years old, was the judge of the politician's response and later the bug in his hear tell him what to support. THAT IS THE WAY THAT IT SHOULD BE. We're supposed to solicit information from politicians, not to figure out what we believe, but what they believe. We're supposed to make our views known to those who represent us. These poor children were told to sit at a supposedly wise man's feet in hopes of gaining a nugget of wisdom. Allowing the girl to write to Romney for advice would not have improved the quality of the lesson one iota.
What I learned from my short educationally imposed forays into political activism was more than just how to frame a question and an argument. I got a response from then gubernutorial candidate Tommy Thompson (who was running for governor of Wisconsin at the time). My question was answered, but I couldn't understand the answer. I chalked it up to my age and excitedly put the received form letter in a junk drawer next to my grandfather's old coin collection. Years later I came across it again and reread it. By this time I was confident enough in my reading ability to understand what was going on: the letter was ambiguous. He (or more likely one of his staff members) didn't want to answer my question. That day I learned a little bit about critical thinking and about how, in some ways, the words left out of a statement tell you more than the words that were put in that statement.
In my opinion, it is nothing short of a travesty that a class full of kids is going to learn about what color shoes are best from the man who desires to lead their nation, send their parents and siblings into battle, spend their taxes and be the face of their culture; that's only if some staffer dignifies such letters with a response. To those responsible for that day's lesson plan: you sold those kids short. They deserved far better from you.
RIGHT! Those who oppose this DID NOT read the article……….typical!
Don't use such a wide brush, Nancy, I read the article. Maybe I'm not "typical"?
Call it what you will, Social Studies, Civics, whatever. An assignment to write a letter to the President, for whatever reason, is an acceptable way to start teaching kids about America, and that our leaders are approachable (whether they are or not…). The subject doesn't matter, as the teacher should know how busy the man would have to be. Staffers will triage the mail anyway.
The trouble with the issue isn't writing to the President, the trouble is the indoctrination of our children to one particular world-view over another and the underhanded way they're going about it.
It would be fine if the kids were getting equal time from both sides. I remember as a kid having to learn about the election between Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford. We were told about them both and then given the opportunity to vote in class. It was a learning experience. When it's one sided, it's political activism and just as wrong as teaching the big bang theory as fact when it is ONLY THEORY. Let the kids learn about all theories, all religions, and all political views. We can raise thinkers instead of brain dead followers.
By the way…I was only 10 in 1976 and chose Jimmy Carter because he was younger, had a daughter and raised peanuts LOL. What does a kid know?
It was the first election that allowed 18 yr. olds to vote. I would had to have wait till the election of 1980. I would have turned 21 way before then. I wrote in Ronald Reagan's name for my ballot.
Suzi McMullen On the other hand, when George Wallace ran for President, we took a class vote and I was the only one to cast my vote for him. lol I was the only kid from the South in class. lol
I did vote for Reagan a month after I turned 18.
Suzi McMullen, you have a good point about theories. Gravity is "only a theory", too. I'll be sure to mention that next week when I teach it to my students. I'll also make sure to reserve some time later in the term to teach them about anti-gravity theory, phlogiston theory, Bigfoot theory, astrology theory, and young-earth creation theory. I have to teach them about all theories, yes?
Gravity is more than a theory. Don't believe me? Jump out of a plane without a parachute. I dare you. LOL. I don't need a science degree to know that gravity is a FACT.
Gravity is more than a theory. Don't believe me? Jump out of a plane without a parachute. I dare you. LOL. I don't need a science degree to know that gravity is a FACT.
Suzi McMullen, but apparently you do need a science degree to know that evolution is a FACT. The use of the term "theory" in science refers to an explanation that has withstood scrutiny and must make testable predictions. Evolution has done both of these things. Just like you can test gravity by jumping out of a plane, scientists test evolution every day by digging things up and analyzing them, among other things. Big Bang theory is also tested continually by making measurements of astronomical phenomena.
Maybe you should get your facts about evolution from somewhere besides church and creationist propaganda machines.
Erik, if you think that even one point of evolution is a testable theory, you are a brain dead. Open your mind and heart and re-think it. Just look around and think with your own mind. The answers are all around you everyday.
Evolution certainly is testable. Evolution makes specific predictions about what we will find when we dig stuff up or analyze living beings. Here are a few examples:
http://chem.tufts.edu/answersinscience/evo_science.html
I don't know much about child care, so I'll refrain from telling you how to do it. Perhaps you could do the same with science until you take a class on it. Lying (even out of ignorance) is not cool, and Ii'd appreciate it if you would quit lying about science.
Evolution certainly is testable. Evolution makes specific predictions about what we will find when we dig stuff up or analyze living beings. Here are a few examples:
http://chem.tufts.edu/answersinscience/evo_science.html
I don't know much about child care, so I'll refrain from telling you how to do it. Perhaps you could do the same with science until you take a class on it. Lying (even out of ignorance) is not cool, and Ii'd appreciate it if you would quit lying about science.
Buddy.. God is the author of science not you. All you can do is try and observe. Don't pretend you have all the answers. I sure don't. But I know who does.
Buddy.. God is the author of science not you. All you can do is try and observe. Don't pretend you have all the answers. I sure don't. But I know who does.
My daughters school did something similar to this when he was running for president! They influenced her. You were not cool if you did not vote fr him! I am considering homeschool!!!
They all should be fired.
What a collection of absolute morons. You Fox Nation people will believe anything!
Fox isn't saying this! Concerned American parents are!
Just like you believe the lame stream media? LOL
Oh look! It's Joe Biden! Arrogant, disrespectful of those who do not think like you and condescending.
You should know I was being sarcastic. Don't consider any for-profit media to be NEWS. Free markets cannot exist without a truly free press. Any outlet that is responsible for generating a profit, is inherently incapable of reporting the truth. Whatever that is. MSNBC is just as bad, of course. It's progressive, so I enjoy the opinions personally, but that's it. Opinion. Fox News is an extraordinarily successful cable news channel, is that not the mainstream?.
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2012/10/debate-ratings-fox-news-dominates-cable.html
This is exactly how the Muslim brotherhoods plans are on diluting our young to follow these slime balls. Obama is a Muslim Plant and will get removed Nov 6th.
Home school is what my daughter has done with her child after having troubles with the left Wing school she had her child in.
Isn't that what the Taliban does-recruit the young impressionable minds. Schools should teach facts not a teacher's political inclinations and ideology. if politics is discussed in class, it should be done via a balanced and unbiased approach. If that cannot be guaranteed- then don't do it.
And so goes the ongoing effort to indoctrinate our own children against our most deep seated beliefs. Lest we forget, that our kids are no longer ours to raise as we see fit. The Progressives have been infiltrating our public school systen since the 80's. It is now bearing fruit in their efforts to recruit our children to their ideaology. They can do so with the law backing and the educational system backing the3m up. We either let them or start opening schools that will teach about freedom , the Republic and Constitution for those of us that still believe in the soverignty of the individual. It's your call people.
I odn't buy this story one bit! It's just right-wing propaganda.
Almost, Robert. It's more like propaganda wanna-be. Take a story of kids writing the President, and spin it as the communist takeover of the country. And the mullets rise to bait like, well, mullets rising to the bait.
Most home-schooling parents indoctrinate and brainwash their kids with evangelical Christian fanaticism , creationist baloney , and homophobic bigotry. And right-wingers have the nerve to complain about supposed "indoctrination" in public schools!
Parents have the right to raise their children as they see fit. Teachers don't have that right.