Real Reasons for “Back to School” Outrage

Dan Lips / September 08, 2009

Parents across the country have raised alarm about President Obama’s planned “back to school” address to American students. When the Department of Education released a lesson plan that included asking youngsters—how can you help President Obama?—parents’ concern that their children were being “organized” for political purposes was justified.

Since Thursday, the Department of Education’s “lesson plans” have been scrubbed of potentially political questions. When President Obama speaks to American students later today, we’re likely to hear a positive message that few will disagree with—about the need for students to stay in school, work hard, and take responsibility for getting a quality education. Here’s hoping that students take that message to heart.

Unfortunately, there are serious reasons for American parents to be outraged as kids’ head back to school—for reasons that the President isn’t talking about much at all these days. (more…)