Stay-in-school speech was a lesson in media hype
When I found out that the president of the United States was
planning to directly address students this week about the
importance of staying in school, I immediately thought about how to
use that opportunity in the classroom.
Stay-in-school speech was a lesson in media hype
When I found out that the president of the United States was planning to directly address students this week about the importance of staying in school, I immediately thought about how to use that opportunity in the classroom.
Then when I heard the speech was drawing criticism from some politicians and parents – before anyone had even heard or read its words – I knew there was a lesson there.
As a teacher of journalism and a working member of the profession, controversy reported on or stirred up by the media is fascinating and educational. San Benito High School newspaper students often write about the newest club on campus or profile a fundraising event for The Baler publication. They type football game recaps and do video game reviews; all important, necessary types of coverage that helps them become better writers and informed citizens.
It’s not often, though, that they get to watch and discuss a media firestorm about a topic that interests them. Angry people shouting down politicians at health care town hall meetings? That doesn’t matter much to high-schoolers. Controversy about whether White House czars should go through confirmation hearings? Ho-hum.
Parents talking about keeping their kids home from school because they are worried about the president brainwashing children? Now we’re talking.
SBHS did not require teachers to show the speech, nor were we told that we couldn’t show it. If, as trained educators, we felt the speech would benefit the curriculum, it was up to us to make it work.
To prepare students for our discussion, I showed them television coverage of the controversy from Fox News and CNN. They watched Republican pundits decrying the speech as a political opportunity at the least and “indoctrination” of young people at the worst. They heard Democratic strategists saying the speech was not just apolitical but necessary, considering a 30 percent high school dropout rate nationally.
We watched parents being interviewed about why they planned to keep their children home from school on Tuesday so they wouldn’t be subjected to Barack Obama’s “liberal message” or “socialist agenda.” One mother interviewed by CNN broke into tears at the thought of her children having to sit through the speech by a president with whom she doesn’t agree.
We saw interviews with parents who said they thought the speech was a valuable civics lesson – regardless of their or the president’s political leanings – and wondered why there would be any controversy about the president of the United States encouraging students to stay in school.
The speech brought up a myriad of discussion points: What is the definition of indoctrination?
What is the political upside and downside of a president giving a speech aimed squarely at students? Should parents have the right to keep their children home from school if they disagree with a lesson plan? What role do media outlets play in the way people feel about a president and his policies? Should the president expect schools to take time out of the instructional day to broadcast his message? And ultimately, did the speech change your mind about anything; inspire you; or have any impact at all?
Students in my two journalism classes listened intently during the 18-minute speech, which was an accomplishment in itself for groups of teenagers. Most of them said that they liked the president’s message encouraging personal responsibility and letting students know that while parents, teachers and even politicians will provide them with the tools to learn, it is ultimately up to each student to decide whether and how to use those tools.
Some students said the speech had no impact on them at all, since it was just another adult passing on the same message about the importance of staying in school and doing your best. Others said the message had more impact coming from the president than it would have had it come from a parent or teacher.
Journalism students are taught that they need to consider all viewpoints when researching and writing a story. They should cast a critical eye at a speech to a captive audience by a president whose poll numbers have slipped recently. They should also not be afraid to hear ideas or viewpoints that may be contrary to theirs.
If President George W. Bush last year wanted to deliver a speech to children encouraging them to stay in school, I would have shown it without hesitation and reminded students to consider the inevitable criticism from his critics who would have accused him of trying to indoctrinate a captive audience.
As a parent, I want my children to hear viewpoints that I agree with because it reinforces what I’ve taught them. I also want them to be exposed to “the other side” so they can learn to thoughtfully analyze the reasons for divergent beliefs.
Education is not about running away from words or protecting children from ideas. It’s about consideration of all sides of an issue.
We may not agree with the president on his health care plans or economic bailout strategies, but for this particular presidential speech, in which he reminded students that their best bet for success is to stay in school and set their educational goals high, indoctrination – for this message – is not a bad word.
Check out Adam’s blog at http://thebreenblog.blogspot.com. Adam teaches newspaper and yearbook classes at San Benito High School and is a reporter for The Pinnacle. He is former editor of the Free Lance.
