Obama Speech to Kids Draws Criticism

President Obama is planning to speak to the nation’s school children next week in a back-to-school address to be shown in schools. However, many are criticizing the speech saying he is trying to indoctrinate children.

Just as her son Adam learned to catch a fly ball by getting lots of practice, regardless of which coach is hitting the ball, Laurie Davis says, political philosophies aside, her son, who's a 5th grader at Cedar Park Elementary School would likely learn more about himself and the world he lives in by taking in President Obama's speech on Tuesday.

"It's a little educational for the kids to watch," Davis said.  "A lot of people watch the presidential address. We sat down and watched it. I don't really see what the big deal is."

Adam won't watch it at school since Leander ISD says they won't carry the speech "due to the logistics of making a webcast available during that time of the school day..."

Also not carrying the address, Georgetown ISD, reasoning "As this is the 3rd week of school for our students and we want to honor the time teachers have with our students..."

The majority of other Central Texas school districts we contacted said they'd be making the speech available and that teachers would make the call if it fits into their lesson plans. Those districts also said parents would have the right to opt their kids out.

Paul Stekler, a, University of Texas professor, who teaches courses on electoral politics, says it shouldn't be controversial that Obama is using his popularity with young people to keep them in school.

"Anything at all that can happen to encourage kids to stay in school is fabulous," said Stekler. "I think it would be great if the Governor of Texas did that or if elected politicians did it too."

Stekler adds that some of the criticism's like Jim Greer's, the chair of the Florida republican party, that president is trying to spread a socialist ideology is more fear than reality.

"I think to a certain degree this is indicative of the crazy political atmosphere that we have now where instead of talking about issues they're yelling and screaming saying things that are patently absurd. 'This is a socialist message,' telling kids to stay in school and do well. What can I say, this doesn't make a whole lot of sense."

Back at the baseball field, Laurie Davis says teaching her son to field everything that comes his way and to make sense of it all for himself is exactly why she says the speech might become an online lesson after school Tuesday we might sit down and check it out together.

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