Gary Bauer: Obama’s Speech to Children Is an ‘Unprecedented’ Abuse of Power

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Barack Obama will deliver a nation-wide address to students this coming Tuesday, September 8th. This will be the first day of classes for many children across the country. The White House plans to broadcast the address live from its website. Principals were notified of the plan in a letter addressed to them by Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

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The White House claims that Obama will “challenge students to work hard, set educational goals and take responsibility for their learning.” He will also say that it is a “shared responsibility” among parents, students, and educators to make the learning experience as successful as possible. **That may seem harmless enough, but is it appropriate? How would the media have reacted if President Bush had been beamed into classrooms coast-to-coast? **

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The Department of Education has offered educators “classroom activities” to go along with Obama’s message. Younger students in grades K-6 are encouraged to learn about the background of the President of the United States by reading books about former presidents and Obama. For students in grades 7-12 teachers are urged to utilize quotes from Obama’s speeches regarding education so that the students can understand the president’s message. Some of the questions they should ask themselves include: “How will President Obama inspire us? How will he challenge us? And why did he want to speak to us today?”

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Once again, the Obama Administration is using its power in unprecedented ways, this time injecting itself into the nation’s classrooms. Tuesday may be a good day to sit in on your child’s classes.