Video: "I Pledge..."

[countybear]

Here it is, folks; the video shown to the students at Eagle Bay Elementary School in Utah, which has seemingly caused some uproar regarding the messages contained within.

We've strayed far away from "... to protect and defend the constitution...", and it would certainly appear that, again, they continue targeting the young.

I'll grant that a majority of these "pledges" are laudible, but if you watch the clip in its entirety... well...

Trivia challenge: Specifically, can anyone remember a time when anyone was encouraged to pledge service or allegiance to a leader, rather than a country? (The answer at the end of the thread).

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqcPA1ysSbw"]YouTube - I Pledge![/ame]












And the answer to today's trivia question is...

1934, Germany. A new leader of that country amended oaths taken by civil servants.

You know, I have never really been one to buy into the "Nazi-Socialist" hysteria with Obama, I just thought he was a well-groomed liar and leftist. After seeing this type of obvious propaganda, I think our train is running without rails. If this doesn't strike you as scary, perhaps you should study history more closely.

[213th]

Wow....I would flip if they showed that to my kid. That's scary...

[BigDawg]

Im figgen dumbfounded by that, that should clear up what kind of change is wanted by Obama.

[MacLean]

Here I thought the President was my servant....

[Car 4]

Holy shit!!!


I pledge to be a servent of God....and screw the prez.


Car 4

[Twan007]

Here I thought the President was my servant....

+1

but there we go again thinking the wrong thing - looks like we need to be "re-educated" on how things really are

[Ducky]

I pledge to watch less of the shit that those idiots star in on TV and movies.

[121Traffic]

I was be-bopping along with most of that stuff. Then we got to that freak that kissed his skinny assed biceps saying he pledged to serve BO. I wrote him off as an idiot that was baked when he filmed this. Then when Demi said she pledged to be a "servant" to the president, I almost shot my flatscreen monitor. By "president", she specifically means BO, because none of them in their right minds would have pledged to be a "servant" to the president (even the idea of the presidential office), when GWB was in office. No one would. That's fucking nuts.

Speaking of GWB, I think he and I would have both lauged our asses off at the tard who "pledged" to only flush after a deuce, and not a single. WTF?

[Second Chance]

I will take your above comments and not watch it, because I like my 24" widescreen monitor................. Thanks for the heads up peeps!!!!!!

[CTR man]

[Hannibal]

Here I thought the President was my servant....

That's what I thought too. We couldn't both be wrong, could we?



That is some scary stuff.

[Xiphos]

I still don't understand why intelligent people send their children to government run indoctrination centers.

[Captain America]

I pledge to severely kick the ass of any left wing idiot who tries to indoctrinate my youngster into Comrade Obama's socialist agenda. I pledge.

[Autumn2009]

The united states of funkadelica? wtf

[mack]

I was listening and agreeing with alot of it like 121 Traffic. Then I almost fell out of my chair!!! WTF is wrong with these people. Did they grow up in the same world I did?

[MonsterMash]

I had some small glimmer of hope when the guy said "I pledge to think of myself as American and not African-American." Then I saw the end. All I can say is "wow."


I'm stunned by the sheer ignorance of these assholes.

[CTR man]

Check out the poll. I'd say some people are highly irate about this, and reasonably so.

Parents upset over 'leftist propaganda' video - Salt Lake Tribune

Parents upset over 'leftist propaganda' video

Education » Principal apologizes for showing 'I Pledge' to students.
By Lisa Schencker
The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated: 09/02/2009 10:07:30 AM MDT

A school principal has apologized for showing a video at an assembly that a politically conservative group leader is calling "radical, leftist propaganda."

Children at Eagle Bay Elementary School in Farmington were shown a short video called "I pledge" on Aug. 28. The video opens with an image of President Barack Obama and part of a speech in which he says, "Let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other." The video then features celebrities making pledges about how they will help the president and the world -- and that's where some say the problem lies.


I Pledge poll Should the video "I Pledge" be shown in an elementary school?
Total Votes = 43409
Yes 5.600 %
No 94.39 %

Many pledges, such as supporting local food banks, smiling more, and caring for the elderly are noncontroversial. But other pledges, such as "to never give anyone the finger when I'm driving again," "to sell my obnoxious car and buy a hybrid" and to advance stem cell research cross the line, some say.

"Showing the video in a public school is completely inappropriate," said Jennifer Cieslewicz, whose daughter is a first-grader at the school. "I don't believe a video such as this that promotes certain values should be shown to elementary students, especially without parents being aware. "

Chris Williams, Davis School District spokesman, said school principal Ofelia Wade and school PTA leaders decided to show the video as part of an assembly about the school's theme for the year, service. He said the PTA board chose the video and Wade did not see it before it was shown in the assembly.

"It got to a point where she turned to her assistant and said, 'Oops, I wish I would have seen this before. I don't think I would have shown it,' " Williams said. He said Wade could see how some adults might find the video political.

"She acknowledges she was wrong and apologizes for it and says she's sorry," Williams said. Attempts to reach school PTA leaders Tuesday evening were unsuccessful.

The Chalkboard blog
Reporters for The Salt Lake Tribune education desk cover issues from early education and parenting to K-12 and higher education in Utah..
The latest post: Obama speech: "civics education" or "cult of personality?" Friday, September 04, 2009

Williams said Wade plans to send a letter home to parents Wednesday about the issue.

Gayle Ruzicka, president of conservative Utah Eagle Forum, said the video was blatantly political. She said other offensive pledges included, "I pledge to be of service to Barack Obama," "I pledge allegiance to the funk, to the united funk of funkadelica," and pledges to not use plastic grocery bags and not flush the toilet after urinating.

"It's very inappropriate to show a radical, leftist propaganda piece that political to children," Ruzicka said. "If parents want their children to learn about those things and do them in the home, wonderful, fine, but it's not the place of the school to show a one-sided propaganda piece to children without parents knowing about it."

Cieslewicz said such values should be decided in the home, not at school.

"They shouldn't be troubling our youth with the woes of the world and making them feel like we're in slavery or they have to worry about how many times they flush the toilet or if they have a plastic water bottle," Cieslewicz said, referring to pledges in the video to "end slavery."

Ruzicka said she contacted local media about the video after receiving complaints from several parents. Ruzicka said she worried the video's messages would confuse children whose parents might choose to use plastic bags when shopping or who want their children to flush the toilet after every use. Also she said she didn't like a pledge "to be of service to Barack Obama" as he is here to serve Americans, not the other way around.

Ruzicka said she'd like to see the school district send a link to the video to all parents before an upcoming back-to-school night so they can voice their opinions and discuss it with their children. Williams said it's unlikely the district will send out a link, but parents are welcome to access the video on YouTube.

Obama speech to students: Not all parents want their kids to see it - Salt Lake Tribune

Obama speech to students: Not all parents want their kids to see it

Schools » The speech, to be shown in many schools, will praise education.
By Lisa Schencker
And Kirsten Stewart
The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated: 09/03/2009 07:39:58 AM MDT

Obama schoolsShould Utah students watch President Barack Obama's education speech at school?
Total Votes = 3736
No 50 %
Yes 50 %

Some Utah parents have already made up their minds about a speech President Barack Obama plans to give to students about the importance of education: They don't want their children watching it.

In the speech, which will be broadcast live online at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Obama will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals and take responsibility for their learning, according to the U.S. Department of Education, which has urged schools to join in the "historic" event, even providing age-appropriate classroom activities.

But in Utah and nationwide, conservative voices are saying they don't want their kids "forced" to watch the speech, fearing it will eat up precious class time with political or policy messages.

The Chalkboard blog
Reporters for The Salt Lake Tribune education desk cover issues from early education and parenting to K-12 and higher education in Utah..
The latest post: Obama speech: "civics education" or "cult of personality?" Friday, September 04, 2009

Officials from the Alpine, Jordan, Canyons and Granite school districts say they have fielded complaints from concerned parents.

Nationally, the Virginia State Superintendent is urging schools "to make reasonable accommodations for students whose parents may object." In Texas, parents are threatening to boycott schools, according to The Houston Chronicle . And in Florida, the head of the state Republican Party labeled the address an inappropriate "indoctrination" to the President's "socialist" agenda.

Utah school districts are taking precautions.

Granite, Jordan, Salt Lake City and Davis districts are sending letters to principals saying that if they plan to broadcast the speech, they should warn parents and provide alternate activities for students who don't want to watch it. Canyons is sending home letters to parents today along with waivers they can sign if they don't want their children to watch the speech. Canyons only plans to show the live speech to secondary students because of district-wide testing in the elementary schools, said Jennifer Toomer-Cook, district spokeswoman.

Majestic Elementary PTA president Jennifer Walters doesn't see what all the fuss is about. She said she's pleased and surprised that the president would take time out of his busy schedule to address kids.

"Anytime a president gives a speech, kids should probably hear it, at least the older ones," said the West Jordan mom. "I'm all for anything that makes kids feel good about school."

Utah districts, however, are taking special care, partly because of controversy that arose this week after a Farmington school showed students a video, unrelated to Obama's upcoming speech, that featured celebrities making pledges to Obama and the world. Some parents at that school were offended, saying the video contained liberal, inappropriate or disagreeable messages. School districts are trying to make sure educators and parents know Obama's Tuesday speech has nothing to do with the "I Pledge" video.

It's uncertain how many Utah schools will telecast Tuesday's speech.

But "many parents and media members may be paying close attention," warned Salt Lake district spokesman Jason Olsen Wednesday in a letter to principals. If parents have complained, Olsen says he isn't aware of it.

That's true for Davis district, too, said spokesman Christopher Williams.

Granite, however, has received at least a dozen complaints from parents, said district spokesman Ben Horsley. "We don't believe that's a political message. It's a positive message our students need to hear."

The Alpine district has also received more than a dozen complaints, said district spokeswoman Rhonda Bromley.

"Parents, of course, at any time can excuse their kids from school for any reason," Bromley said. "Certainly, though, as part of social studies curriculum we talk about the role of the federal government, talk about the role of the president and we talk about the fact that we respect the role of the president."

Gayle Ruzicka, president of the conservative Utah Eagle Forum, said she's heard from more than 20 upset parents. Ruzicka said she doesn't see a problem with the speech if it really is just about education, but if it carries other messages, that's a problem.

"I do believe whoever the president is that's speaking to school children, parents do need to find out what the speech is about," Ruzicka said. "Is it going to be political speech or is it going to be a patriotic speech? We have an obligation to our children to find out what they're being taught."

One remedy for worried parents, said Ruzicka, would be to go to their children's schools and watch the speech with them. She said the Utah Eagle Forum will also likely send out a letter letting parents know about the speech.

Suzanne Walker, Midvale Elementary PTA president, said Obama's address doesn't worry her. But she says last week's "I Pledge" video exemplifies why parents should be involved in schools.

"I agree with a lot of what Obama has planned. But asking my kids to pledge and do things that I don't support, I have a problem with that," Walker said.

Obama on education

President Barack Obama will give a speech about the importance of education that federal education officials would like American students to watch while they are at school. The speech will be broadcast live Tuesday, 10 a.m. at www.whitehouse.gov/live/ . For more information, visit www.ed.gov/admins/lead/academic/bts.html .