Lori, the "socialist agenda" in Obama's speech, as proposed is not held within the speech itself. The concentrated concern of the problem issues came from the outside. The very fact of Obama's background, oratory style of saying nothing in a long speech, the frustrating manner in which he twists words and theories, and his everlasting manner of street-speaking, frustrates a lot of people. What a concern of these people who were adamant against having their child sit and be forced to listen to Obama the other day was simply just that! Because parents know how Obama is, Obama has proven himself to be something he once said he was, and is not, and they (parent's) were afraid of something being said in-topic which could have been detrimental; not known by young minds what Obama's intent or words would actually be, absorbed into their minds!

I agree with the remaining five paragraphs in your article. The US needs to be more intent upon upgrading overall educational standards, and controlling school boards in that more legislation needs to be enacted (yes, more legislation, in order to counter-legislate those poor decisions already in the law books), that school boards can get away with in their small circles, under current law. Such as for one, the fact you mentioned if a student is deserving of a 'zero' for missing a homework assignment, there is no incentive to study of a students receives a '60'. In calculating up a quarterly grade, for example, those few '60's' can add up to passing, when the student should know he failed miserably. How does this prepare the student for college and for life in the 'real world'?

Seems high school quarters do nothing much in the preparation of a student to go on to college and make the transition an easy one. The college 'mindset and established methods of learning and teaching' should actually be transited sometime in the third-year of high school and prescribed completely in the fourth year. When the student reaches college, he or she will be somewhat accustomed to the academia process.

My son attends a very private academy out here on the west coast, and this is how his classes run; through a complete college type environment and teaching/learning/study/accountability method. Nice article, Lori.

Lori, You are right on target! I recently retired from school teaching in Maine, after 25 frustrating years. I watched, and sometimes rebelled, at all the new dictates forced upon us in terms of student standards. By the end of my career, I was merely a babysitter, spoon-feeding watered-down material to uninterested students. Mediocre is the word. Second generation welfare, of which there are many in Washington County, ensured student apathy.

Most students were indifferent to the few penalties we were allowed to enforce. I was told that schools no longer were about preparing students for a career. School is about creating "experiences" of a soft and gentle nature, about entertainment, about happiness. The few students who learned "in spite of" had parents who held very high standards. The last 10 years this downward spiral has increased rapidly.

In terms of Obama's speech, I was against it for several reasons: schools are suppose to be apolitical; early addresses by past Presidents were not beamed out to every student, due to lack of technology ,and teachers could decide whether they wanted to attend, but most schools did not have the TV's available; Obama has embedded messages in most of his speeches which might encourage indoctrination of students; Obama is everywhere pushing his message; Parents should be the people deciding whether students listen to him at a young age, perhaps high school students, but not K-6; some schools mandated viewing, which is truly socialist in nature.

Both of my grandchildren did not watch the Obama speech. They are Kindergarten students, and too young to understand. One child stayed home, as the speech was mandated in Broward County, Florida, and the other child did go to school, as the school "archived" the speech, stating it was not in their primary curriculum.

connie D... I agree with you.......I wonder what your opinion is of teachers union and if they have not helped your situation..?

connie D says "Obama has embedded messages in most of his speeches which might encourage indoctrination of students."

I am kind of glad you don't teach anymore.

I don't think that all the blame can be placed on the student. There is enough blame to go around for the abysmal state of some of our schools. Some students certainly lack the aspirations and motivation to achieve. However, the parents of the students who are slacking off get a pass by blaming the school and here we have a retired teacher (thankfully) blaming everyone yet taking no responsibility for her part. Parents are the first and best teachers. Moreover, I seriously doubt anyone actually told "schools no longer were about preparing students for a career. School is about creating "experiences" of a soft and gentle nature, about entertainment, about happiness".

If we expected more students, then I'll bet we would get more. Which begs the questions to Ms. Wingo - if the students are ready to go to college then why are they accepted? Because they will have to take remedial courses that they pay for - but get no credit.

We can all share in the blame. So let's stop pointing our fingers at only the students.

Oops, I mean if the students are NOT ready to go to college, then they should not be accepted....

I realize that some want to argue about the politics but what about the kids.

Lori C. Wingo has hit the nail on the head when she wrote " The sad truth is that despite all of our misplaced legislation with No Child Left Behind, there is a critical stakeholder who has not been asked to assume any responsibility in student achievement: namely, the students themselves. It is the school and its faculty that must shoulder the blame when standardized testing shows students are not proficient in reading, writing and math. There are no consequences for the student who takes the test with grudging indifference. When the results are published for the community to scrutinize, it is the school that is held accountable when it is the student who really bears the responsibility." and "Standardization has served only to promote the work ethic of mediocrity.... The ability to excel has become lost, and it doesn't take a bright student too long to realize that excelling isn't really that important as long as the bare minimum criteria is done".

Its time to get the politicians out of education and let the teachers teach. I have been in education since 1958 with 12 years of Public School, 4 years of College for my Teachers Certificate and another two years for a Masters Degree and then as a career for 33 years as a middle school, high school and the college level teacher and unless some work ethic is again stressed.....you think we are in trouble now? You haven't seen trouble yet. Consult your politicians about that.... Everything is for show, with little substance.

Like the two ole boys who had never seen the ocean, they drove for 2 days and when they walked onto the beach one said "man look at all that water"(he was the politician) the other said "but just think, that's just the top of it!(that one was a teacher).

If you want "A Show" support a politician if you want to make a difference in the world support a teacher.

Doug Hutchens

Spencer, Virginia

ole dog - please explain how a school or a teacher is held accountable for poor student academic achievement? I don't see it happening. -

Thank you Lori. I agree wholeheartedly with your assessment. We express the importance of an education to our children but God forbid our President does the same thing. It has been stated that past presidents didn't beam it into every classroom due to lack of technology. If the technology was there I believe they would have. Since when is telling our kids to get an education and strive to be better, indoctrination?

We were always involved with our daughter's education. She graduated valedictorian and has a 4.0 in college. If the President wanted to speak to her, I think she would listen, and then use the brain she has to make up her own mind.

Good article, although not enough blame is put on the parents or homelife. Sure, many parents are supportive of their children's eductaion (in some cases, maybe too pushy), but all too many are not (or provide an abysmal homelife). Per Pogo, "We have met the enemy and he is us".

As my nephew terms it, "Every Child Left behind" is an obvious failure. We must do better.

Cre8RoyalPalm, you're something else. You are supportive of your child's education (maybe overly so? Is there anything the matter with your local public school?) yet you seem to be tending toward the paranoid fringe who saw nothing but politics in the Presidents address. ConnieD, you also seem to be sending a mixed message. Too young to listen and understand?

Another thing missing from the letter and the comments: not all students are college material. College is not the only way to being a succesful adult. Any secondary education that only emphasizes college prep is misguided at best and elitist at worst.

That leads into the additional lack of acknowledgement of learning disabilities of all sorts including dyslexia. Dyslexia is not either/or, it's relative and graduated. I'd venture that all of us are dyslexic to some extent. To those students where it's more profound, not realizing the problem and trying to remedy it leads to disaster.

Seeing my first comment above was omitted (or deleted) until the viewer can see it come up again, typifies the same type of nutso thought process those parent's and other's feared about Obama's speech. Eliminate it. No problem, the BDN kept it in. I have and idea of who it was, right, "GOPHER"? Crawl back in your hole while you are at it.

'ConnieD', you made a statement within your comment which parroted my son's school's theory of the Obama speech, as I was speaking personally a day prior to the headmistress of his school in Malibu. She told me Obama has hidden (your word; 'embedded messages') agendas that he always brings out in his discussions (speeches), and the school's Political Studies teachers have analyzed his speeches many times in classes. The student's ripped those speeches apart, 'ConnieD'. So, the school did not broadcast the latest speech, but decided it was the students personal responsibility to do so or not. Nobody cared to watch it, anyway.

Doug Hutchins, you are also correct, I feel. The upshot here are politicians are assuming too much power and control - over most everything nowadays. Honestly, I have no idea of how or when it will stop. I'm not in politics, but I'm in government and private international law. We have to fight politicians every step of the way, nearly every day; but we plow right through them somewhere through the fray. But, we forgive them - they know not what they do!

And finally...'Gopher'...neither do you! Yes, I happen to be supportive of my child's education. Are you not supportive of your child's education? What conclusion did you draw to the fact I'm overly supportive? I really do not have to explain to you, 'Gopher', but I will; the reason why I send my son to a private academy are for several reasons: (1) He wanted to attend this school. We, as parents could afford and wanted him to attend. The curriculum is broad-based, and offers longer school hours (from 7am in the morning through 6pm in the afternoon), and has a college or university teaching and student participatory mode. It is not akin to what you consider high school classes in the sense of the term. (2) This school is preparing him for college and his future study courses. He has already taken his college entrance exams - five for domestic colleges and three for international (foreign colleges) and passed all eight examinations with a score of 94% or better. He is undecided yet if he wants law or pre-medical courses; but he qualified. (3) He is bi-lingual in French, Arabic, English and Chinese. We speak Arabic and English at home. Thanks to his private school, he took up Chinese and French courses of study. (4) This school is open to anyone who wants to give their children a fantastic educational base. There are grants for State (CA) funding and other forms of tuition assistance if need be; although a student must hold a average grade of at least 92% if they are transferring, be a US citizen, and can pay the $16,000.00 tuition fee yearly. Remember, here in California, everything costs more respective of the rest of the US. (5) School security is very strict. We have private teacher parking, private student parking areas, motorcycle parking areas, resident student (dormitory) security, separated women's and men's dorms, excellent food served four times a day in the two cafeterias, a computer center of 200 on-line computers, and more. The school desires learning and no goofing. No cell phones are allowed past the main foyer. A special room is allocated for check-in of cell phones. Teachers wear two-way Motorola radios. The school is a private, gated, security tight area. Parent's of students are professional for the most part. There is a mixed cultural and ethnicity community at school. There is more, 'Gopher'...get the picture? I hope I answered your inquiry. Yes, I feel i am protective of my child's education, and he deserves the best in my opinion. If he has the goal-setting standard high, has the achievement levels he has proven he can attain and his future seems bright, at least, when he is on his own, I will feel comfortable in the fact I tried to give him the best start to his life I could.

Lori Wingo: Thanks for your excellent commentary. And as an educator, you know how really good and positive it was for our President to speak to the absolute critical importance of education! If it can help to motivate more students to "aim high" it will have be a wonderful and very beneficial thing. And your comments concerning "studying and learning to a test" is a very relevant point. This is not helping student in Maine or elsewhere in this country. It only contributes to our school children falling behind in critical areas. Learning to think and write critically and to be equiped to handle quality college level courses, will not happen by just studying to pass tests!!

Good comments, wolfie.

Wow, what a school your son attends, Cre8 where NONE of the students were interested in listening! I have never heard of anything comparable. Do they all just parrot their parents.....I cannot believe that. There is not going to be any school in the nation where ALL the students would think the same, including concerning the President' s speech. Sorry....does not add up.

Gopher: Kids....all school ages....are a lot more perceptive and savvy than many adults give them credit for. From all accounts, the majority of students in this country were fine with the Presiden't speech and thought it was a positive thing. Most could not understand those who made such a stink about it, for no good reason. It sure showed up those folks! Kids know a lot.....they know when someone has sincere and good intentions and they know that no one was trying to lead them astray with that speech!!

pramsay: I could not agree with you more!! "Second generation welfare" etc.....so glad she never taught my children!!

I agree with Ms. Wingo that our students have lost the desire to excel. We have watered down the courses that are taught in our schools and lowered our academic standards so that test scores will look good, enabling most schools to meet their AYP. When faced with a challenging curriculum many students are not willing to meet the challenge because it is easier to "coast along." I've heard many students say it is "cool to be dumb." Younger Principals, without much classroom and administrative experience to fall back upon, are afraid to take a strong position on the test prep/testing issue because they want decent test scores for thir students so that they will not be terminated.It is a no-win situation. Unfortunately, it is our students who are the losers as their potential can not be maximized without teachers pushing them to exceed the content that is mandated to pass accountability tests.--------FH

To all,

While I respect the varying viewpoints being presented I am concerned by those seeking someone to blame.

I am also concerned with what I see as a reactionary mindset by those concerned with the President's message. It is hard to imagine my parents being concerned with my listening to a President. There seems to be a growing inability to respect the intentions of our leaders and believe in our children's ability to think.

The problem to be overcome is the antiquated, factory model, of of US education. As a high school administrator I am encouraged by the standards based movement that is slowly taking hold. This change from the traditional, time based system that is founded on the belief that students attending school for the12 to 13 years would all learn at the same rate and the same way is beginning to shift. What makes this change difficult is the lack of understanding by most. Whlie many recognize the need for change, most are only comfortable with what they experienced . True change is a risk that parents understandably do not want to take with their child's future.

I for one am hopeful for our education future. The possiblities that I see unfolding are what continue to energize me.

Rick

RickWilson: Appreciated your comments....and as a high school administrator, you are on "the front lines" of education, and have much to base your opinions on. My children are college age now (and graduate school age), but also with a 6 yr old granddaughter in the public school system, I also am optimistic and encouraged. Sure, there is much improvement that could be madke, but I see so much that is good about the educational system. And, I too, cannot imagine my parents being concerned about our listening to the President of the U.S. speak about getting a good education and the importance of that. They would think it was natural and would be glad that about it. Unreal...the reactions of some to something so innocuous......and more than that, something so uplifting and positive.

Thanks again for your perspective.

Cre8..., I didn't intend for my note to be a personal attack; maybe it was, sorry about that. However, I don't feel it necessary to "crawl back in my hole". I don't recall how I voted (thumbs up or down) when I first saw your lead posting but I doubt that I alone could "hide" it (it may have been hidden already and I had to click it). I think it takes more than one thumbs down to hide a post (and that's best reserved for something obnoxious; yours wasn't).

I guess I found your presentation dichotomous in that you obviously have a great deal of interest and support for your children's education, but in spite of that you seem to be siding with the more "rabid right" on why Obama's speech should not have been listened to. Your son's school sounds excellent and he seems to be attending for the right reasons. However, if previous analysis of Obama's speeches by the poly sci classes indicated "hidden agendas", why didn't they analyze this presumably innocuous speech to see if the alleged trend was continuing? I deplore "blinders" mentality. If you feel your mentality and that of your son's school does not fit that admitted label, that's good.

Yes, I was supportive of my children's education and I am supportive of my grandkid's education. I do distrust parental "overprotection" (and I'm making no judgements about you becasue I don't know you). From observation of some friends and acquaintences, private school education can make the whole family somewhat elitist. My wife and I were public school coeducated for all or most of our educational careers. Ditto for our kids through high school (private for college). Fortunately, they attended one of the top ten school districts in the state (not Maine). We have 5 grandkids. The three oldest are attending excellent public schools (two in Maine, one not), the other two are pre-school but currently live in one of the top districts in their state. I continue to support good educational programs everywhere and value good, informed teaching and thinking. I'm a firm believer in life-long learning (although retired, I continue to learn something new in a variety of fields everyday).

This Gopher continues to enjoy the beautiful late summer/early fall weather and does not feel he occupies "a hole".

Gopher: You are right about life-long education. One doesn't, or shouldn't , stop learning just because they complete their schooling and higher education. You spoke of "elitism" there. What a word, right? I would hesitate to use that word to describe those who send their kids to private schools,etc. It just does not really apply to many. Our President, and those who supported him, were called "elitists" if you recall. Which was absolutely absurd. Our President worked and studied hard to make it to Harvard and Columbia Universities (Ivy League of course).....something most who attain that should be proud of. (maybe some were envious? who knows....who cares....) He was also President of the Harvard Law Review. Can you imagine screaming "elitist" at that? It is really beyond the pale!

This comment is coming in late. But I submit this: No, 'chersully2000', my son did not parrot my feelings. I was ultra busy and his school had other curriculum standards and lesson plans to administrate to FIRST, before we paid attention to "Mouth Almighty and Teeth To Match Obama". No, Cher, and NONE of the students cared to be bothered with Obama. They know he will not last on the political scene - voting takes place in a couple of years. Parent's do not control the school here (not the one my son attends). It does add up, Cher, because there are entire communities who cannot be bothered any longer being left victim and in awe at being interested in this incompetent President we have now. They have other items on their Daytimer's scheduled. If you read, carefully, my previous comments, I stated I could care less if my son watched Obama's speech, and I could have cared less if the school he attends forces the kids to watch it; however our country is Democtatic, Cher, and we can say, feel, think, comment, and do what we please, as long as it does not usurp the laws. And, Cher, one more item, my son was already accepted to Harvard - where he MAY attend next year.

'Gopher', thanks for the return engagement with you. I understand your point now. Accepted. Insofar as the "Thumbs" characteristic, someone can actually repeat clicking their mouse to delete the comment; but it remains in the thread, anyway. Sometimes, the heat of the inuendos of commenting gets personal sometimes, and it could even be those who criticize others of "deleting" comments; they tend to be hypocritical and do it themselves, 'ya know!

I do have a vested and personal interest in my son's education. He is our only child, plus, if you get over to the other educational articles in the web in the past couple of days, look at all the other parents who also are concerned with their children's educational standards and where they attend school - or not.

I'm not right or left. I'm Independent, and have the freedom of mind and law to swing both ways on political issues. You can say I'm conservative, that's okay. If Obama was not a socialist liberal, appointing incompetents to sit beside him, and some with histories that do not level with honesty, so be it. He is the one to appoint, although there are pressures on those others to vote them as accepted or not.

The Political Science classes focus on world issues, 'Gopher', not always domestic, little America issues involving Obama's speeches, although in the past, they ripped these speeches apart. And so did others in public media and collegiate learning communities, so my comment on this was well-supported.

Thanks, for the "overprotection" phrase. We do not overprotect our son, because he is trustable. I understand your point on the "elitist" school subject. Well, my parents sent me to private schools, too. I was the only child, but they told me once, even if I had brothers and sisters, they all would go to private schools because they simply did not like the public school systems in the US. I did attend Garland Street Junior High in Bangor, for two years, however. The case of distrust here was proven to my parents of the public school system.

We had a great choice of public and private schools on the west coast to send our son to. We chose the right one. 'Gopher', our income level and private life is secret (for the most part) and sending our kid to a public school where stabbings, bomb threats, illegal aliens selling drugs, MS-13 members attending school, (I'll skip the rest) plus the system itself does not work for me. In Maine, for instance, your public schools do not have those problems as in most other schools in the country have, such as in larger cities or community areas, and the cultural aspects are quite different from Maine schools, too!

My apologies, 'Gopher' for the comment on the 'hole'.

No, Cre8, I stand by what I said. I have never seen or heard of a whole school of students who would think the same way about a President....not ALL. If so, there actually would be something wrong. This country is made up of folks who all thing differently about so many things. That is seen with college students,etc. It is a very healthy thing that folks have differing views, philosophies, faiths,etc. Diversity makes things so much more interesting and vibrant.

But, I do think you are to be commended for facilitating your son getting such an excellent education at such a school (well, of course your son deserves a lot of the credit as well., after all!!!)

And Cre8 .....you and some are so sure about what is going to happen in 2012. I would not be so sure. You cannot know that yet. It is what you hope, but there is no way of knowing now. There are still a lot of people in this country who would view things differently than you do. I am not saying there are not a lot that view it like you do as well. It is quite possible , if I am still blogging here then, that I will hear a lot of Republicans very dismayed. I know a lot were sure a Republican would win this time. Yes, there are a lot of digruntled folks out there, but there are many others who are not seeing it the same way. Time will tell. One needs to keep it in perspective and realize that people see things differently ....they always have and always will. (which is a good thing.)

Cre8: Your comments in the last paragraph are on target....about the differences in public schools here in Maine compared to many other places (big cities, etc etc.)

chersully... : re elitism, note that I said that I knew a few people who fit that label and that it didn't seem that cr8... was elitist. Besides, his return note indicated he did not take offence.

It's a pleasure communicating with you two and a few others because of your intelligent, well thought out responses. I obviously don't always agree with all of what's said but the classy presentation makes it enjoyable and illuminating. Too many contiebutors shoot from the hip. (Check out some of the other recent forums. Some contributors have moved past crude to the profane and disgusting.)

Cre8... : just checked the top of the list of these comments and somebody(s) did thumbs down your initial comment before I even made my first post. I had to click it to see it and was wondering why it was voted down. C'est la guerre!

Cher, even if the kids in my son's private school had similar feelings and attitudes on Obamas speech or not, the curriculum and lesson plans did not fit in with watching him. The teacher's had other prescribed studies for the students at that time. Jezze...the world is not going to stop because Obama is going to give a speech!

The 2012 voting outcome - no, none of us has the crystal ball and the insight of a Gypsy, but if a vote were taken at this juncture in time...no, Obama would not be voted in again. One thing, though, I would have voted for someone else, but John McCain seemed too low-key, too much of a nincompoop, and not a personality type for President. You need to be more forthcoming, and more aggressive to be a head of state. My last vote record? I did not vote at all. I could not justify voting for anyone I did not believe in to handle the US in it's misery at this time, to fix everything.

I do not expect to be blogging too much longer here, but I will remember you in 2012 and might check-in with the BDN site to see if you are still there and to view the comments transpiring back and forth. I really doubt IF a Republican makes it in or a Democrat either, things will get repaired in enough time for my son to be making $100,000 a year (for instance), and be bringing a "take-home pay" of little less than $42,000 because of taxes to pay for the 2008 through 2012 mess.

Who knows why the comment was voted down, 'Gopher'. As I told Todd Benoit and the new guy at BDN in an intense email once, "peers should not have the power to remove comments, when there is a "Report Abuse" icon already situated to initiate a, "reasonable protest to a comment made, directly under the comment." Double whammy here. Leave it up to the site management to decide to remove it or not.

Cre8RoyalPalm: I respect your opinions and thoughts. And once again, I think it is great that your son is getting such a great education. He will do well with it, I am sure.

Why, I wonder, will you not be blogging much longer on the BDN pages...or did you just mean this thread. But then it is really none of my business. I liked what you wrote recently about that....people minding their own business....you wrote how you and your wife view that. Bravo. I agree, too , with what you wrote in that last paragraph there about the removal of comments,etc. Hope all is well with you and your family.

Gopher: Thanks for your comments at 2:25 PM...I hear ya!

Cre8: You are right....none of us has a crystal ball. One day at a time! Have enjoyed your knowledgable and interesting posts...whether they were about the Bangor of yore or other topics of interest.

Nothing Obama could have said could be more nonsensical than your comments. He's still the President, whether you like it or not. You people are nutty and so easily manipulated by the hate mongers. The brainwashing has already taken place. Deeply imbedded racism is what this is all about, nothing more.

RickWilson You and those like you are the problem. That "antiquated, factory model" of education is what is still being used in much of the rest of the world. In particular the parts of the world that are beating the heck out of us in both quality and quantity of education of their youth.

No Child Left Behind is a failure. Not because the ideal is bad, but because the reality is that the only way to not leave anyone behind is to lower standards to where even the weakest student can pass.

The quality of education has been lowered to a disastrous level because of the progressive ideal of equality of outcome. Here is a list of the things I know personally. When she was a senior in high school my daughter was doing a lab at the university as part of an AP class. I learned that the lab was almost exactly the same as work I had done 20+ years before as a sophomore at the same school. My cousin, who has taught at the university, confirmed that the level of work required has declined precipitously. Her estimate was that in her field a Masters degree is now at about the level of a Bachelors degree when she graduated. Non of my children ever learned to diagram a sentence. My son-in-law spells so badly that it is an embarrassment. By the way, he is an engineer. I could go on for pages but the fact is that when the education establishment tells you that things are better they are lying. Better than when? A year ago? How about comparing to 30 years ago? Or even better, to 50 0r even 100 years ago.