Duncan: Obama Aims to Motivate Students

Says Improving Education Is Important, Not "Silly Stuff" from Critics Complaining That a President Talks to Schoolkids

(CBS)  After Republicans headed into the long Labor Day weekend attacking President Obama for planning to address the nation's schoolchildren, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said he didn't mind the criticism.

"At the end of the day, if the president motivates one C-student to become a B-student or one student who is thinking about dropping out to stay in school and take their education seriously, it's all worth it," Duncan told CBS News chief Washington correspondent and anchor Bob Schieffer on "Face the Nation" Sunday.

The secretary even added some criticism of his own.

"It's amazing to me the last time the president spoke to the nation's children was in 1991," Duncan told Schieffer. "The real question I have is, why has it been 18 years since a president has addressed our nation's youth?"

Mr. Obama is expected to deliver his speech live on the public affairs channel C-SPAN and via the White House's Web site at noon Eastern time Tuesday, which will be the first day of school for many students across the country.

Schieffer asked Duncan what he thought about some reports that parents who oppose the president wouldn't send their children to school that day because of the speech.

"That's just silly," Duncan told Schieffer. "They can go to school and not watch. It's just going to be an 18-minute speech. That doesn't make any sense. … Schools can do this. They cannot do it. They can watch it during the school day. Children can watch it at home with their families. They can watch it a month from now. They can never watch it. It's purely voluntary."

More coverage of Mr. Obama's message to students from CBSNews.com

Presidents, Students & Controversy: Hardly New
Pawlenty Latest Republican to hit Obama School Speech
W.H.: School Speech Criticism Reflects "Silly Season"
Schieffer on Obama's School Speech
"Washington Unplugged:" Debate Over Obama Address
Conservatives Revolt Over Obama Speech to Students

Duncan added that the text of the speech will be made available to the public through the White House's Web site on Labor Day for anyone to read in advance.

But the secretary said his department doesn't pay any attention to the recent attacks.

"We have major problems, major challenges in this country," Duncan told Schieffer. "We have more homeless students than we've ever had and teachers and social workers and counselors working so hard to keep them in school. … We have a 30-percent drop-out rate. Thirty percent don't graduate from high school. That's 1.2 million students every single year … This is about global competitiveness. I don't spend any time on the silly stuff. I try to focus on improving what's going on for our nation's children."

[govmess]

THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER

This one is a little different...
Two Different Versions! .................
Two Different Morals!


OLD VERSION: The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.

Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed

The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Be responsible for yourself!


MODERN VERSION:
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying u p supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.

Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving.

CBS, NBC , PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper n ext to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food.. America is stunned by the sharp contrast.

How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?

Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper and everybody cries when they sing,
'It's Not Easy Being Green.'

Acorn stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house where the news stations film the group singing, 'We shall overcome.' Rev. Jeremiah Wright then has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake.


Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid exclaim in an interview with Larry King that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair share.

Finally, the EEOC drafts the Economic Equity & Anti-Grasshopper Act retroactive to the beginning of the summer.

The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the Government Green Czar.

The story ends as we see the grasshopper finishing up the last bits of the ants food while the government house he is in, which just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around him because he doesn't maintain it.

The ant has disappeared in the snow.

The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the once peaceful neighborhood.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Be careful how you vote in 2010.

[Petepilot62]

I am beginning to think that the USofA is beyond saving. Why should a president not be able to extoll the values of education? If the lunatic right wants "moral " issues to scream about then I suggest that they worry about things like torture. The country that I grew up admiring as a young boy is a pale shadow of a dream that could have been.

[dennisall77]

More fake outrage fed to the wingnuts by Repub operatives. Purpose: generate controversy wherever possible, whenever possible, no matter how stupid or how inane. In fact a lot of stupid is even better, because then the press i sure to pick it up. This slows down the discussions about the real issues and keeps Obama from gaining traction in the media. It is all swiftboat tactics again using lies, innuendo, and diversion to prevent people from understanding the real issues. This is all negative tactics which gains NOTHINg for America in the way of progress, meaning the Repubs are responsible for the lengthening of the recession, loss of more job, and more suffering among the poor. This has always been true of Repubilcans. They need to poor to provide cheap labor for their businesses, so keep them uneducated, underpaid, and begging for jobs. All good for the bottom line.

[stupidrules3]

Obama could speak about the benefits of eating your vegetables and the Republicans would find something sinister in it. I wonder when they will notice that they are looking very paranoid these days. I thought that the Democrats looked like sore losers on these message boards when Bush was in office but the Republicans are making them look like model Americans. Come on people get a grip!!!!!!

[larry.neumann]

This is good timing for Obama. After a summer of letting the right sabotage his health care agenda, he's going into September with an innocuous address on Tuesday to kids (that the right will vilify) and then into reinvigorating the health care debate to take back the agenda.

He can't convert the religious yahoos that will always listen to Rush and others, but he needs to remind the people that DID vote for him that most of their doubts about him and his programs are coming straight from the Republican noise machine. Listening to republican commentary about how outrageous it is to tell kids to work hard in school and that the future depends on them can only hurt the republican brand.

So that's why I think this is good timing for Obama. It'll put undefensible republican ridiculousness front and center just before their heads literally explode after his address to the joint house and congress. Saavy, smart move.

[wyzguy11]

.

As long as he doesn't start reading "My Pet Goat" on national television......What's the big deal??

Dubya didn't want to frighten children by leaving so he sat there for 7 minutes reading "My Pet Goat" while our country was being attacked on 9/11/01!!


.

[generationc]

I cannot believe we have to fight this. How stupid and ridiculous is it for anyone to be upset that President Obama would want to encourage and inspire kids? How ridiculous is it that most of the others presidents have done it and nothing was said or done? No one refuse to air it. This isn't rocket science. This is racism. Fight it. If your school refuses to allow your children to be encouraged and inspired by the President of United States, then fight them. I only wish I could refuse to pay taxes to any school who would refuse to allow the president to speak. There has been so much violence in schools, drop out of students in schools, fear in schools, lower level of learning and interest in schools and you have absolutely no problem with it.
You cry if students fight or students bring guns and drugs and now you a positive message. Now you have an encouraging message. Now you have an example of someone who persevered through a broken home and finished high school and college and graduated from Harvard Law School who wants to tell your children that if he can do it, they can too and you are upset. If you are one of them, then you are either crazy or pure racists and evil. You would deny your kids an encouraging word because of your issues with who is bringing the message. That is really really sad.

[HGOODGUY]

I have a reading suggestion for the party of no.
"The Power Of Positive Thinking" by Dale Carnegie.
Athough everything you say states the opposite, this has been a best seller for over 75 years!
On second thought forget it! I am sure that you will find a way to make it subversive!!

[taryder]

It's not so bad that the president is giving a speech to the children of this country, but what is SCARRY is the fact that he is also handing out a lesson sheet on how to THINK about his speech. THAT is pretty creepy. Also, by doing THIS (the lesson sheet) he NEGATES each student at the GET GO by assuming they do NOT KNOW HOW to THINK FOR THEMSLEVES!! And don't think for a moment that children and young adults don't know when someone is TELLING THEM what to THINK. A lot of adult Americans get this same feeling from him. THAT is WHY a lot of people are not even listening to him now. People QUIT listening to people who act like they know EVERYTHING. REALLY!!!!

[SweetSongbird]

During my college years, I gave many speeches on various topics and part of the assignment was to hand out an outline and key points to the audience. Such forms were not intended to replace an individual's own thoughts, but rather to stress the main points I wanted to get across. I myself find it refreshing to have a President who speaks with such eloquence, confidence, and intelligence. I don't understand why we wouldn't want the most powerful leader of this country to sound smart.
I quite often seek the advice of "know it alls"; especially when it comes to medical and legal issues. I want an electrician and plumber who know exactly what they are doing. I want my children to receive instruction from intelligent, well spoken teachers. I would hope such standards would apply when selecting the leader of the most powerful industrialized nation in the world.
I would venture a guess that you did not vote for President Obama. It might be a stretch, but I also imagine that you are a Republican as well. This is not an issue of "fear for our children." It is more about the fact that many still have not come to terms fact that he won the election FAIR AND SQUARE and as a nation, we are supposed to come together and support our elected leader. We don't have to agree on the issues, but you have to agree that he is the President. Exhibiting such behaviour "just not listening to people we don't like or agree with," despite the fact that they are figures of authority and leadership, is disrespectful and immature. It is also unpatriotic.

[SweetSongbird]

Our conservative community sent out permission slips that required parental consent in order for students to watch the Presidential address. I am the mother of 5 children (2 of which are in their first year of college) and I can honestly say that my permission has NEVER before been solicited in order for my children to read, recite, or hear the words of an American President. I have heard several conservatives defend their opposition with statements such as "I am a parent and I have the right to say WHO can speak to my child regarding education." Seriously? I have never been asked to review the school's chosen cirriculum, to read textbooks prior to my child using them, or to interview the teaching staff to "pick and choose" the one's that I feel best reflect my political and religious views. It is my understanding that the intent of this speech is to stress the importance of education and encourage kids to stay in school. Who could oppose such a message?
In our school district, the children stand every morning with right hand-over-heart and pledge allegiance to the flag to show patriotism. Isn't it important to teach children that patriotism is a respect for the flag, the country and the leaders of this great nation? What message are we sending our children about the democratic process, respecting the elected leaders (even if they aren't our chosen candidate), and the basic elements of communication and problem solving: talking, LISTENING, and coming to some sort of understanding.

[hungry1968-16]

by 19Marion66 September 7, 2009 12:33 PM EDT
Why would anyone pay attention to an education secretary who thinks it's "sillly" for parents to be concerned over what they children are exposed to!







He didn't say that it was silly for parents to be concerned about what their children are exposed to.

He said that it's silly to keep your children home from school, when the president is going to give them an 18 minute speech on the benefits of education, and challenging them to do better in school, when they don't have to watch it if they don't want to.



What's funny is that your kids are probably in the other room playing Playstation's "Grand Theft Auto IV", where they rob, shoot, kill, pick up hookers, sell drugs, do drugs, etc, etc, etc.

All the while you're here complaining: "Ain't no one gonna tell my kids to do better in school, if they don't want to!! This here's 'Merica!! If they want to grow up ignorant and uneducated like their ma and pa, that's their right!!.

[hungry1968-16]

by woltommel September 7, 2009 12:15 PM EDT
Having a bad day hungry?







The conservatives are trying to DEMONIZE education and learning, and you're asking ME if I'm having a bad day?!?!

[johndevinejr]

Belittling intelligence, education and knowledge as "elitest" has been a staple of the republican party for 40 years. They want their base to be proud of their stupidity.
They have taken a stand against learning!

[Turbidite]

Limbaugh - flunked out of school; drug addict; fascist principles; on TV daily talking to our kids....who's kidding who?

[hungry1968-16]

by tryagain2 September 7, 2009 12:50 AM EDT

The Department of Education should not be producing paid political advertising for the president, it should be helping us to produce smarter students and the president should be doing more about education than saying, 'Lights, camera, action.







So you're stupid enough to think that Obama is trying to get children to vote for him?

Do you REALIZE that you have to be at least 18 years old to vote?

What a moron!!

[tryagain2]

hungry1968-16
Just tryin to point out some peoples problem is that some things are O.K. only if its their party doing it.

In 1991 in response to President Bush's nationwide address to our schoolchildren then House majority leader Richard Gephardt said:
"The Department of Education should not be producing paid political advertising for the president, it should be helping us to produce smarter students and the president should be doing more about education than saying, 'Lights, camera, action."

Don't call me a moran because you are ignorant of history. But don't be sad, someone has to serve me fries.

[hungry1968-16]

"It's amazing to me the last time the president spoke to the nation's children was in 1991," Duncan told Schieffer. "The real question I have is, why has it been 18 years since a president has addressed our nation's youth?"







I agree with these statements to a point.

I mean really - would you want Bush or Cheney speaking to YOUR KIDS?

[hungry1968-16]

"That's just silly," Duncan told Schieffer. "They can go to school and not watch. It's just going to be an 18-minute speech. That doesn't make any sense. Schools can do this. They cannot do it. They can watch it during the school day. Children can watch it at home with their families. They can watch it a month from now. They can never watch it. It's purely voluntary."







They can do it when they want to, and if they don't want to they don't have to?

They're being given a, (gasp), a CHOICE?!?!?!

[cliffardo]

I think the people opposed to this speech are the same who will oppose Obama for no other reason than he is Obama. I have seen parents use their hapless kids as political tools at rallies:

http://www.coffeesee.com/2009/09/06/politicizing-our-kids/

[catherinemerrill]

I am a texas mid-liberal. I could care less what he is saying to the children. Educate yourself on the history of the theory of American government. The problem is NOT who is president or what he is saying to the children ....The problem is with setting a precedent where it is acceptable for the president to address children-not voters-in a setting that is obviously out of the supervision of parents.

So-if this is acceptable, what if we have a new president down the road that addresses our children with a message we don't agree with? Read you history books. Hitler youth, etc.

I am in no way a political activist. I am a history teacher. Up til now I have been very neutral. Mr. President has my full attention now.
I will view the message. If I find it acceptable, I will by all means allow my children to view it. I am all for positive messages to my children. It is merely a matter of an elected government WAY overstepping its bounds

[stratus666]

It is obvious from this controversy that republicans are sick deranged lunatics who are so paranoid that they should really be offered medication. How anyone can think this is socialist plot is amazing. The right has become a movement of pure hysteria, hate, stupidity and brainwashing.

This man is the U.S. president an the should be able to encourage children to succeed without a bunch of raving lunatics crying socialism. You people are truly pathetic.

[tryagain2]

The Department of Education should not be producing paid political advertising for the president, it should be helping us to produce smarter students and the president should be doing more about education than saying, 'Lights, camera, action.

[catherinemerrill]

C'mon. It isnt a matter of the president....who he is, what he stands for, any of that. Left, right, democrat, republican, independent, or freaking whig for all i care. I am NOT a political activist. Up till this latest Obama thing, I have been pretty neutral...he hasn't been in office long enough to judge.

HOWEVER---the government is WAY overstepping the bounds by waiting until the children are separated from parents to address them. I would have absolutely no problem with a presidential address urging parents to have their children watch the program. I dont care if he is giving a message of universal love and acceptance, I never signed up to allow the government to directly influence my children in ANY way. His responsibility is to the voters of this nation. OUR responsibilty, one of those "inalienable rights" is to raise our children....it may not be enumerated in the constitution, it should b understood.

Wake up. We have surrendered enough of our privacy and freedoms due to fear, apathy, and blind trust.