I’ve been hearing an awful lot of chatter for the past few days about President Obama’s speech today which was broadcast for school children across America. To be honest, the whole thing puzzled me – what is all the hooplah about? Hearing that a lot of parents planned to keep their children home today just baffled me all the more. Really? I thought maybe I was missing something so I tried to read what I could about the issue. Kailani @ An Island Life published an article written by the Center For Education Reform entitled, Making Sense of President Obama’s School Speech – it listed ten ways we can use this opportunity to talk with our children about education. It addresses a lot of issues including:

6) Why are some people so mad about his giving the speech?

Some people think this is another attempt by the president to take over an issue that’s historically been a local one. Clear authority for school improvement needs to be made at the state level. The federal government can provide support or incentives, but we’d prefer that decisions about how we operate schools and what kinds of reforms we adopt be made closest to where we live–by state legislators that we elect from our communities. Local decisions are not always the best, but we can monitor them more easily and they reflect the unique differences of each state. As long as we all recognize that, no one should be threatened by the president’s speech.

Karen @ Write From Karen gives more examples of why some people are upset and also why she thinks kids should be allowed to hear the speech and make their own decisions. A lot of people are planning to watch the speech with their children and talk about it together, which I think is an excellent idea. I was definitely intrigued to find out what President Obama was actually planning to say to our children (well not my children as they are both not yet in school, but…) so I was really thrilled when a couple of bloggers pointed out a link to the full speech on Whitehouse.gov.

So I read the speech and I have to say, “Seriously?” This is what you were all so upset about? I thought he made some excellent points in this speech and while I might not agree with every word, I think kids will get it – I hope they will – and maybe even be inspired by it. I wish someone had said some of these things to me, when I was in school, bored out of mind, wondering, “Why does this all matter? Really?” Because now, now I get these things and wish I’d studied harder and taken advantage of more opportunities. And if President Obama or even former President Bush or whoever, Sarah Palin even – does it matter? If any of those people want to be the one to tell our children that education is important – let them say it. Applaud it – embrace it – and join in – make sure that you, personally, tell your children that education is important and why. Because you are just as much of a role model to your children as these politicians, maybe even more so.