By now you’ve heard the consistent crooning from a bit of video making its way across the talk radio airwaves, television screens and, of course, the Web and FOXNews.com’s “Strategy Room.”
The presentation being replayed again and again is of a classroom of students in Burlington, New Jersey at B. Bernice Elementary school. The video of the children singing the melody of a lilting rendition of the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” has shocked parents across the school district and the nation.
Several personal phone calls to the school’s administrative office this morning have produced the following results.
1. The school refuses to acknowledge that the events on the tape even occurred.
2. They refuse to admit whether or not information concerning the activity, and the right of a family or child to opt out of it, was made available.
3. They refuse to admit whether or not the children were offered other options, as opposed to being forced to memorize the words, “Hello, Mr. President, we honor you today! For all your great accomplishments we all do say “hooray!” Hooray, Mr. President, you’re number one!
4. But the spokesperson I talked with at B. Bernice Elementary school did say the school was aware of, and considering taking actions against, the persons “who illegally taped and distributed a video recording of a private class activity.”
Message to the genius public educators at B.Bernice Elementary school in Burlington Township, New Jersey: devise a better public relations strategy.
You might also be mindful of the fact that as a public school, your accountability is to the people of your district.
Obviously no conspiracy is at work here. The source of the video recording is easy to narrow down — this isn’t an ACORN style sting operation. This was likely made by a parent, someone either proud or concerned, who taped the children singing. They were most likely in plain sight of the teacher and the children in attendance. This is their right as a tax-paying parent.
But to the geniuses at B. Bernice elementary school, I want to further add that you might also be mindful that parents do have a say in what you do or do not expose their children to in your attempt to “educate” them. In fact it might be more helpful for everyone if you would stick to teaching 4-6 year olds that “2+2=4,” that “A-n-d is “and’,” and that “yellow and blue make green.”
There is a reason we do not allow kindergarteners in this nation to cast votes in elections. Political philosopohy, worldview, and worship of dieties are something they have not yet quite gotten a handle on.
Raising hands of praise to President Obama’s “accomplishments” is not just inappropriate it’s entirely premature.
Those at the B.Bernice Elementary School in Burlington Township, New Jersey, may be unable to overcome their sycophantic Obama obsessions, but the children of America should not be required to chant his name, raise their hands, and repeat dogma that may not be exactly based in reality.
But what do I know? After all, I’m just a tax-paying parent.
Kevin McCullough is a columnist and host of the nationally syndicated “‘Baldwin/McCullough Radio” now heard on 200 stations across the country. He blogs at www.muscleheadrevolution.com. His second book “The Kind Of MAN Every Man SHOULD Be” is in stores now.
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