really??

I never intended on bringing politics into my blog - but sometimes, there must be exceptions.

I truly do not mean to offend anyone, but I have to say, I think it's...odd...that anyone opposed Pres. Obama's speech being aired in the schools. regardless of what your thoughts are with his political agenda or his grand plans for healthcare, when the President of the United States wants to personally address students in hopes to help them take a proactive course in their education, then I say we should all stop and listen. Especially the students. I feel that every school in the nation should have taken the time from their classes to let the students see that the most powerful man in our country cares about their education. He wasn't there to talk to our 1st graders about the healthcare package or about our war on terror. He was there to talk to them about the importance of an education. His message was for students to take responsibility for their own learning. To be excited about their education and to stop relying on parents and teachers for constant encouragement. Too many people in this country rely on others to do things for them. To get them excited for life. Why else is there such a huge market for self-help books? Too many people wait around for others to do the hard work, too many people take advantage of the "system" trying to get as much as possible for as little work necessary and as a result we're in a pretty bad economic downward spiral.

Taking that into consideration, what a great and wonderful thing, for our children, to learn to take responsibility for themselves at a young age. For their education. To stop waiting around for your parents to hound them to get their homework done or to work hard for a higher education. Take it upon themselves to value their schooling and see the benefits of working hard for something and the extraordinary joy that comes from accomplishing it. I wish that instead of the criticism so many Americans showed this past week, we would have shouted our thanks to a President who is willing to talk to the youth and encourage them to value their education.

However, as most of us know, schools did not show the speech. Too many angry, offended parents raised their voices to keep "that man" out of our schools. How dare he talk to students about education, regardless of the fact that two previous Republican Presidents have done that very thing. Don't you find it interesting that so many fought to keep God out of the school system and now so many are fighting to keep the President out as well?

My "last straw", as it were, came yesterday in Noah's school. I was there volunteering (thank goodness they still allow that in the schools) when I heard the principle announcing Master Jones would be meeting with the classes throughout the day. Apparently, as not to disrupt testings, they had each grade take a turn going to listen to Master Jones. When it became clear to me who Master Jones was, and why he was there, I was furious. The school, who claimed they could not show President Obama's speech because of testing, worked around said testings, to allow a martial arts instructor to talk to the students. He showed them different martial arts stances. For example, one was a sort of folding arms, which he told them should remind them to sit quietly and listen to the teachers. He talked about how martial arts could help them to focus and be better students, how each student should be respectful in class. He then went on to say he'd come to each class once a month and draw two names. Whoever was drawn would get to have one free class at his studio.

So, if I understand this correctly, the school will not let the President of the United States talk to the students about education, but they'll let Master Jones come in and sell his product in the form of "focusing more in school". He was successful, in the fact that Noah is already asking to take martial arts classes. Whether he'll be more focused in class - who knows. My nephews take a form of karate and they are absolutely focused, polite, confident children. I'm not saying the idea of Master Jones being there was wrong - I'm saying he should never have been allowed in place of the President of the United States.

I think people need to wake up and get their priorities straight. Just because you're not a fan of "that man", doesn't mean we should oppose all he stands for. Yes, there are flaws with the healthcare system, yes, there are flaws with many things the President wants to put forth (as with all Presidents since George Washington) but, when the President wants to do something good, wants to promote something beneficial for students, teachers and families, then we should put our biased opinions to the side and rally behind him as we all strive for a better America. Pick and choose your battles. Where education is concerned, no matter what side of the isle you stand, we should be united if it helps our children become stronger, more independent, men and women. We're not just Republicans or Democrats, we're Americans and whenever possible, we should stand united in bettering the future for our children.