"There will be a special schedule Tuesday....."

I was happy to get an email from the urban school, where I work, regarding arrangements to watch the President’s speech on Tuesday.

The White House announced that on Tuesday, September 8th at 10:00 am the President will talk directly to students across the country on the importance of taking responsibility for their education, challenging them to set goals and do everything they can to succeed. The President's message will be streamed live on WhiteHouse.gov/live, and broadcast live on C-Span The White House will make a downloadable video of the speech available on their page later that day as it becomes available.

[the school] will modify our daily schedule on Tuesday to participate in this educational opportunity. Our teachers and students will have a discussion in their advisement class in advance of the broadcast. Students and teachers will watch the broadcast and have a follow-up conversation with their advisement classes. [the school] has an alternative option available for any families who prefer that their student not participate.

How many schools and districts are welcoming an opportunity for students to join a national conversation about their education as opposed to the number making a case to fear that our children's hearts and minds will be controlled by one speech from the President of our United States?

Since this school is a magnet school with an international studies focus, and a mission to educate for global citizens who contribute to our local and global community in positive ways, right now in their lives, as well as when they become adults, I'd be surprised if there are families who are afraid of their kids being exposed to Obama's eloquence.

Just as with health care, where one falls in this issue relates to a whole set of assumptions including what we are raising our children to do and be. Are we raising our children to critically analyze and reason in the face of a wealth of ideas, information and diverse opinions? Or are we raising our children to accept and comply with what they are told to do and think?

Support for the latter priority has been dominant at the federal and state level of funding and policy relying on standardized tests as the sole measure of student, teacher and school success. This led to ever more pressure on teachers to reduce their visions for students to what can be measured by distant standards. Critical, creative or divergent thinking is not on the test. I would argue that the climate in public school districts has been increasingly accepting of the narrowed and reactionary points of view.

What does it say about people’s thought process, how they form their opinions about reality, when they fear that all it takes is one good speech to change the hearts and minds of children? I suppose if one's own views are not based in logic and evidence, there is a chance that one could be swayed by a single speech well delivered.

As a parent, taxpayer and educator in a supposedly democratic society, I am disturbed by acceptance of a low opinion about our young citizens' and future voters' capacity for critical thinking. And if you doubt my belief about their capacity, let me know because I could show you skillful and thoughtful work from a diverse group of urban kids that will knock your socks off.