Kids learn how to behave in school

An Everett Herald editorial was understandably frustrated at how competing values of freedom of expression and not offending people seemed to be in frequent conflict in school setting where kids sued schools for making them remove clothing with objectionable slogans. However, I didn't agree with their proposed solution:

Kids learn how to behave in school

You wrote: "Let's try common sense: Forbid clothing that bears any kind of message (beyond what a stylin' dresser you are). Students would be forced to express their opinions through speech or writing, or keep it to themselves."

The lesson kids will learn from this is that if you don't express yourself in the accepted way, you should just keep to yourself. Our nation has been there, done that. It was called corporate America in the 1950s.

What about lapel pins and buttons that express a point of view or pride of membership? What about silkscreen art? Do we really want to suppress that kind of expression in school?

You identified the problem as one of rudeness and offensiveness in the way students exercise free speech. Maybe instead of running away from the problem by banning methods of expression, schools would do better to make civility in political expression part of the lesson plan. God knows our nation could use some of that right now.

Kids learn how to behave in school. Do you want them to take into adulthood:

1) Exercise freedom of expression in accepted ways or keep your opinions to yourself. OR

2) Be creative in how you express yourself, but recognize that we all depend upon each other to have a productive functioning society. People have feelings. They are more likely to try to understand and may even embrace your point of view if you can show them that you are working toward a common goal and that your idea helps you both get there. You don't get there by offending them.

But then, again, maybe I'm naive to think kids would do the right thing if they're taught and discuss how to use free expression wisely. Perhaps freedom of expression and all the risks of offending people and creating disorder it entails is just too much for our society.

Kids learn how to behave as adults -- in school.

Obama's Speech to Students Not as Bad as Some Feared

Well, the text of the president's speech to school students has been released .

To summarize, he talks about:

- How kids might feel nervous at starting school or as summer ends and a new school year begins.

- That teachers, parents and government have responsibility to make sure kids have good schools, opportunities and encouragement to learn.

- But, students have responsibilities too:

- Discover what you are good at and pursue it.

- Get an education to develop your talents and you will not only benefit yourself but the nation too when, as an adult, you contribute to solving problems.

- Don't be discouraged by hardships experienced by you and your family or by the advantages others may have that aren't available to you.

- The circumstances of your life now, don't determine what your life will be in the future.

- Other students, in similar or worse circumstances refused to give up. They set goals for themselves, took responsibility for their education and were successful.

- Success in life isn't easy to achieve. It takes work to develop your talents.

- There are failures along the way, but successful people don't let hardship or failures define them. Instead they learn from those experiences.

- Don't give up on yourself -- because if you do, you will be giving up on your country as well.

- The story of America is about people who keep going, who love their country too much to do anything less than their best.

- "Make us all proud. I know you can do it."

I suspect even those who were most vocally opposed will find that President Obama's speech is not as bad as they feared. In fact, they might even find it inspiring.

In my original article (below) I compared attempts to work the public into an emotional frenzy over hot-button issues such as this speech to the cruel demagoguery of Senator McCarthy in his 1950's anti-communist crusade.

After reading and listening to much of the shrill opposition to the President addressing students and then reading word-for-word what he actually will say, I'm reminded of a newly elected president in the early 1930's as he talks to people suffering in the Great Depression and afraid for their future.

"This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself -- nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory."

The anger and angst we have witnessed in the vocal opposition to the President's speech to children has its roots in the kind of "unreasoning, unjustified" fear that Roosevelt spoke of in his inaugural address. And, it is that same fear that threatens to "paralyze needed efforts" to create a just and efficient healthcare system that most people acknowledge is an essential part of our country's economic recovery; and to help assure that uninsured serious illness or injury doesn't lead to personal ruin of our country's citizens.

Just as Roosevelt recognized that he needed the "understanding and support of the people themselves" to lead the country to "revive and prosper", our leaders today need at least the respect of the people -- even if there is reasoned disagreement about how to reach our goals.

Taking a metaphor often used by those who gain financially from stirring up fear and hatred, "Don't drink the Kool-Aid" of belief that your government is somehow the enemy of your happiness and prosperity. We are and will remain a country "of the people, by the people, (and) for the people" so long as we take seriously our responsibility as citizens to be informed, to participate, to hold our leaders accountable and perhaps most of all at this time, to recognize that whatever differences we may have, our opponents and leaders are citizens of this country too and deserve respect for their humanity as well as credit for their reasoned participation in the advancement of our nation.

Working People Up into an Emotional Frenzy

Some people are up in arms about an upcoming national address to school students by President Obama.

This really isn't about a speech by the president to the nation's students. Much of the hate and discontent is encouraged by those who have a vested interest in the public being distracted from the healthcare bills working their way through Congress. When people get emotionally worked up about anything whether it's "death panels", "same sex marriage", "where Obama was born", "open carry of weapons" etc, they go into a defensive posture, circle the wagons and cling to familiar associations such as democrat vs republican, liberal vs conservative. It is easier to influence people who are agitated -- especially if tearing something down or preventing change is your goal.

The emotional agitation surrounding the poll about Obama addressing students is as close as I've ever seen to that moment when the underlying cruelty of the anti-communist crusade led by Senator McCarty in the early 1950s was most clearly revealed as McCarthy began questioning Senator Welch about the associations of one of his law clerks. Welch came back at McCarthy with his famous line in defense of his young law clerk who McCarthy was attempting to destroy. "You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?" McCarthy had a vested interest in stirring up anti-communism. It enhanced his status and power and distracted people from his own incompetency as a senator.

Today, it becomes painfully apparent how emotionally worked up and disconnected from reason many people have become when the idea that the President of the United States should address students about the value of education and setting goals in life becomes a subject of controversy. How can intelligent discussion of health care take place in such an environment?