Private business: Yay!! Obama: Booo! at elementary school

By GottaLaff

Remember when President Obama's education speech caused that Big Indoctrination Kerfuffle? I don't know how all those innocent little indoctrinees survived it. I somehow missed all the Stepford kids with glazed-over eyes and blank expressions chanting, "Obama mmm, mmm, MMM!" aimlessly marching in lockstep across America.

Yes, a wholesome speech by our wholesome president about wholesome goals became a negative talking point. However, I betcha you haven't heard Word One about Time Inc.'s fundraising company QSP visiting one of the same schools that fretted over the Indoctrinator in Chief.

Yes, boys and girls, it's time for the annual school fundraiser assembly, "kicking off a couple of weeks of good, capitalist behavior by our country's youngest army of salespeople":

Private employee to captive students: "Who's ready for more prizes?!"

President of the United States to students, many of whom are not allowed to listen:

"I'm here today because I have something important to discuss with you. I'm here because I want to talk with you about your education and what's expected of all of you...."

Private employee: "How many of you would like to get out of school for a show?" (The motivator describes a BMX show that will come to the school for certain sales numbers.) "The top 25 sellers of the school will sit in a special VIP section and get autographs."

President: "But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, and the best schools in the world – and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities."

Private employee: "Who wants to get out of school ... and ride in a limo?! YAY!" The kids scream madly. (Top-selling kids get a lunchtime limo ride to a pizza place.)

President: "[S]how up to those schools; pay attention to those teachers; listen to your parents, grandparents, and other adults; and put in the hard work it takes to succeed."

Go read the rest here. Then come on back to Comments and discuss the so-called Values Party.

(The author of the article is Betty Buehler, who has taught sixth-grade writing in Las Vegas since 2001.)