[SPF2245]

If Obama or any president wants to put on a 2 minute speech about having a good year in class and wished them sucess, I'd be sitting here quiet...because I'd find that acceptable. But if the U.S. Department of Education is going to forward a lesson plan to them, The President is going to speak to them about anything else, I want to know what is being said/taught before hand. Questions like "what they can do for him", in any context is not fair to a child in 1-6th grade and mirrors too many bad examples in history.

“Students in grades pre-K-6, for example, are encouraged to “write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president. These would be collected and redistributed at an appropriate later date by the teacher to make students accountable to their goals.”

Teachers are also given guidance to tell students to “build background knowledge about the president of the United States by reading books about presidents and Barack Obama.”

During the speech, “teachers can ask students to write down key ideas or phrases that are important or personally meaningful…Kinney said suggestions like asking students to recall “other historic moments” when the president spoke to the nation and to hone their listening skills by taking notes during the address are useful.”

After reading the Department of Education lesson plans for the speech, McCluskey said he noticed several passages that should set off “alarm bells,” including language that attempts to “glorify President Obama” in the minds of young students.”

“It could be a blatantly political move,” he said. “Nobody knows for sure, but it gives that impression.”

Maybe this was a poorly excuted plan by Obama and the Dept. of Ed, either way, alot was said when they (the Gov't) began cutting parts out of the materials, because had it been done for any reason other then political moves...they'd defend it, explain it but what do they do? Remove it, says alot right there.