Comments about ‘Eagle Forum, parents decry school showing Obama video’

Heaven forbid our children learn that it's important to have a cause, fight for something they believe in, or be a good citizen. The Eagle Forum needs to backoff and let children learn about all life...not just their myopic views.

finding out the following:

1- What was the intended purpose for showing the video?
2- What was the intended outcome for showing the video?
3- Who reviewed the content to confirm the video could deliver on the answers to 1 & 2?
4- Is there a process for approving content BEFORE it's shown to students?
5- What if any policies were violated?
6- What if any action will be take for this possible policy violation and/or shortsightedness?
7- In what context and what content should a message from the U.S. President be presented and shared?

Please provide some substantive answers D News, Davis officials and the PTA..!

"I Pledge" was produced in conjuction with the inauguration of the 45th President of the United States, Barack Obama, encouraging people to participate in the Day of Service on MLK Jr Day prior to the inauguration.

What is the issue... these are good things!

What, exactly, is the problem with our President encouraging charity and environmental protection?

Aside from possibly people having an issue with stem cell research, to say teaching kids to conserve water and not use plastic bags is outrageous is not only over the top, but bordering on paranoia, unless the right-wing view is to waste water and fill the landfills with plastic bags.

The Eagle Forum didn't complain about the Pro-Bush videos shown in schools.

I saw just a bit clip on the news teaser and yes I have a problem when an actress says she's willing to be a 'servant' to the President. Indoctrination? sounds like it. politics has no place in school's.

I am a parent of a student at this school. I have seen the video and I don't care which side of the aisle you fall on, this wasn't a partisan piece. The theme of the school year is pledging to serve others in the community and the world. This video offers great suggestions for the children in ways they can make a difference, which include: smiling, getting to know your neighbors, and turning off the lights, among others. There are 950 students in this school. Four parents have a problem? Maybe those 4 parents could volunteer at the school and help plan these activities since they have so many great ideas.

Why are we so bent out of shape about this? Yes...it mentions the leftist obsession with the environment, but who cares. We should all turn out a light, recycle, and conserve energy.(It saves us conservatives money!)
Why are these things bad? I did not vote for Mr. Obama, but I see no harm in making America a better place by volunteering.
I usually swing to the right on most issues, but give me a break Eagle Forum. If George W. Bush had this ad made, they would cry that it is brilliant. Give the left credit for the good they do every once in a while. Sheesh!

Maybe you didn't realize, but all government leaders are pledged to be "public servants."

About the "politics has no place in schools" comment, maybe we ought to dump Social Studies and History, then? Those subjects are littered with politics.

I think it is good to teach our children to conserve, but to be a "servant to President Obama", I think that is crazy. The President should be a servant to the people of the United State of America, not the other way around!

I don't need schools or teachers instructing my kids how to conserve or respecting our neighbors. It is my job as a parent to teach these things like respecting our neighbors and conserving to preserve our environment. I am not going to pledge to serve the President of the United States and I do not want my kids serving the President.

Schools and teachers need to teach my kids math, language, art/crafts, and history. Keep it to the basics!

I heard about this video from a friend of mine who's child had to sit through this balderdash. It is obscene the way the liberals are now trying to indoctrinate America's chosen generation. Schools are definitely not the place where morals should be taught. Schools should stay completely out of this area. Parents can decide for themselves whether or not they want to teach their children morals. I am personally offended by it, and hope that we can elect some true patriots and moralizers in 2010.

This is just silly. I consider myself very conservative (or maybe just conservative by Utah or Eagle Forum standards), but who can seriously protest a program that promotes selflessness, service, and awareness?

Schools must teach some morals and values. That is exactly what they do when they punish tardiness, littering, disrepectfulness or fighting--or when they reward hard work. All of these actions are underlied by values that must be promoted to successfully raise a child or to maintain a society.

If we conservatives want to promote our cherished values like family, decency, independence and responsibility, then we should make our own videos. We really should.

well, that's according to this Eagle Forum video someone gave me right after the Columbine shooting. That should say it all about this organization and I'll just leave it at that.

Waaaaaaa!

As a former local school board member, I was a strong proponent of local school decision-making and allowing the parents at local schools have more control over their schools. In this instance, I believe that the PTA had a right to decide what was appropriate and not appropriate for their own children to see. There has been too much outside interference with the control of our schools. It's time to focus on empowering parents with the operation and responsibility of their publically taxed and paid schools. Unless we do, parents will have no vested interest in participating in the public schools.

If the school district apologizes to parents for encouraging students to pledge to make a difference in their community (notice, in the video, kids are encouraged to think up their own pledge)... then the school personnel should be fired. What are our schools, if not places for young people to receive an education, and begin the process of thinking for themselves and finding their own way to make a contribution in the world?

And as for "serving" the president... perhaps not the best choice of words, but hardly offensive. We should all look for ways to support making the world a better place - along side our President - whomever that might be.

If the district apologizes, shame on them. Shame.

I think that children learning about service to others is a very good thing and in fact is something this country needs. We would be better off for it. However, this particular video felt like a propaganda piece to me, almost like I should fall down and worship at Obama's feet. As others have mentioned, the President is a public servant, as are all who are paid with taxpayer dollars, and I was offended when some actors said they would be servants of Obama. There are many other nonpolitical ways the great lesson of service to our fellow man and wise use of our resources could have been taught.

Parents really need to pay attention to what their children are being taught in the public schools.

I would be so grateful if the PTA in my school would show this to all of my children. Better yet I will show them myself! Do a search on YouTube for "Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher's I Pledge Video and you will find it very quickly. For those who have watched it I can't imagine there will be any criticism. It is ludicrous to see people complaining about a video that encourages others to dream big, to do great things such as service, care for the needy, advance science and medicine to eradicate diseases, live a greener life, abolish slavery, stamp out racism, and mentor children etc etc. Where is the harm in this? If you are of the opinion that these ideas should not be propagated among our children please keep your children away from mine.