We decided to have Branson "opt out" of the Presidental speech being broadcast into the public schools on September 8th. It was a quick decision but not one Michael and I took lightly. First of all, the paperwork from the school was sent home on the 7th. This gave no time allowance to question the teacher about her curriculum at the end of the speech. Second, I didn't want Branson to feel like he wasn't able to participate in the class activity. I talked with him about the day and that he would have an alternative activity while the speech was broadcast and he was ok with our decision. He remembered that we didn't agree with the President on some major issues and we watch these type events as a family. I'm sure the speech itself was harmless, with a motivational "stay in school, be responsible" message, but it was the government issued survey that we had issue with. Maybe this speech was just the first of many. Maybe this was just a way to tenderize the public so we would be more receptive to the next thing they want to broadcast into our schools and homes. I don't think our government needs to be picking the minds of our children in order to find out what is important to them so they can develop a propaganda towards them. These are our future voters after all. Call me an alarmest if you want, but I feel how I feel.
As for the reporter from the Washington Post, who said those parents who kept their kids from hearing the President's speech "aren't smart enough to raise them effectively", maybe it's us parents who care enough to be informed, who don't need reporters telling them how to parent their own kids. I wonder if he was speaking of us parents who are still willing attend parent-teacher cenferences, who aren't willing to blindly turn our children over to the public school systems. Maybe, if more of us were standing up and living out our faith outside of our churches, it wouldn't be so easy and acceptabe for others to criticize our decisions. I don't know about you but I am getting frustrated at the way our society has become. I don't like the fact that making sound decisions based on your beliefs gets you ridiculed in the mainstream media.I hope that I never get so caught up in my own material life that I miss the opportunity to remind my son that the world is sometimes harsh and unfair. Sometimes the media lies and politicians lie and teachers aren't
always right. I don't expect my son to blindly follow anyone. I expect him to be informed of his decisions and I think what we did by withholding him from the speech was a great example for him to follow.I think if more people were willing to stand up for what they believe we would have a lot fewer problems in this country. Look at how this one event swept the nation. Look at how the government responded when the people let their voices be heard. My question is "If there was no agenda in the survey, why did they change it"?
Anyway, enough of the soapbox for today. By the way, the President and I can agree on Kenye West! Did you hear him call the guy a jacka** "off the record". How smart do you have to be these days to realize that nothing you say is "off the record"
I have managed to place a few trees in our yard that will provide some fall color like Bradford Pears and Japanese Maples. I hope to add some type of ormanental tree with a yellow leaf to the side yard sometime soon. 
I have managed to place a few trees in our yard that will provide some fall color like Bradford Pears and Japanese Maples. I hope to add some type of ormanental tree with a yellow leaf to the side yard sometime soon. 
