Politico uncritically quoted Greer's false claim that Obama will use speech to “justify” health care, economic plans

From the September 2 Politico article:

The Education Department is encouraging teachers to create lesson plans around the speech, using materials provided on the department website, that urge students to learn about Obama and other presidents.

“He will also call for a shared responsibility and commitment on the part of students, parents and educators to ensure that every child in every school receives the best education possible so they can compete in the global economy for good jobs and live rewarding and productive lives as American citizens,” Duncan said in a press release.

But already, some conservatives are crying foul. The chairman of the Florida Republican Party is condemning Obama's speech as an attempt to “indoctrinate America's children to his socialist agenda.”

“The idea that school children across our nation will be forced to watch the President justify his plans for government-run health care, banks, and automobile companies, increasing taxes on those who create jobs, and racking up more debt than any other President, is not only infuriating, but goes against beliefs of the majority of Americans, while bypassing American parents through an invasive abuse of power,” Chairman Jim Greer said in a press release.

Added conservative talk show host Tammy Bruce, in a Twitter feed: “Make September 8 Parentally Approved Skip Day. You are your child's moral tutor, not that shady lawyer from Chicago.” And conservative author Michelle Malkin said the lesson plans have a “heavy activist bent.”

PolitiFact: Greer's claim is “Pants on Fire” false. PolitiFact.com concluded that Greer's claim that Obama would discuss “plans for government-run health care, banks, and automobile companies” is “factually incorrect, and the [Florida Republican] party could not offer any support for that statement.” From the PolitiFact.com article:

We asked the Republican Party of Florida for evidence that Obama intended to discuss health care, banks, automobile companies or taxes with the nation's schoolchildren. They couldn't point us to anything.

A spokesman said the party was particularly concerned about the study questions the department had provided. “The goal of these materials is to tell students why they should support President Obama in his overall agenda,” said Katie Gordon.

“If the former administration had done something like this, the media would be handling this a lot differently,” she added.

We reviewed the study materials but didn't see any mention of controversial issues, let alone any attempt to indoctrinate students in socialism. The pre-K through 6th grade materials said the main ideas of the speech would be “citizenship, personal responsibility, civic duty.” The materials for high schoolers mention “personal responsibility, goals, persistence.”

Secretary Duncan: Speech is about “the importance of education” and “persisting and succeeding in school.” In an August 26 letter to principals, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan described Obama's September 8 speech as being about “the importance of education” and “persisting and succeeding in school.” Duncan also offered K-12 “classroom activities” to “engage students and stimulate discussion on the importance of education in their lives.” From his letter:

In a recent interview with student reporter, Damon Weaver, President Obama announced that on September 8 -- the first day of school for many children across America -- he will deliver a national address directly to students on the importance of education. The President will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning. He will also call for a shared responsibility and commitment on the part of students, parents and educators to ensure that every child in every school receives the best education possible so they can compete in the global economy for good jobs and live rewarding and productive lives as American citizens.

Since taking office, the President has repeatedly focused on education, even as the country faces two wars, the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and major challenges on issues like energy and health care. The President believes that education is a critical part of building a new foundation for the American economy. Educated people are more active civically and better informed on issues affecting their lives, their families and their futures.

This is the first time an American president has spoken directly to the nation's school children about persisting and succeeding in school. We encourage you to use this historic moment to help your students get focused and begin the school year strong. I encourage you, your teachers, and students to join me in watching the President deliver this address on Tuesday, September 8, 2009. It will be broadcast live on the White House website www.whitehouse.gov 12:00 noon eastern standard time.

In advance of this address, we would like to share the following resources: a menu of classroom activities for students in grades preK-6 and for students in grades 7-12. These are ideas developed by and for teachers to help engage students and stimulate discussion on the importance of education in their lives. We are also staging a student video contest on education.

Politico wrongly reported that Obama's speech is first presidential address to students

From the September 2 Politico article:

Texas school districts are discussing whether the president's speech will be shown -- some districts are leaving it up to individual teachers with an opt out parents who don't want their children to view the speech, according to the Houston Chronicle.

In his letter to principals, Duncan said viewing of the speech is encouraged, not mandatory. It's the first time a president has ever given a speech addressed directly to students.

1989: George H. W. Bush gave televised address to students about drug use. To watch then-President George H.W. Bush's speech, which was delivered at noon from the White House library, “many schools held assemblies or brought television sets into the classrooms so students could watch Mr. Bush,” according to a New York Times article published at the time. The Times further reported that "[a]t least 15,000 superintendents and 55,000 principals were notified by the Education Department of the speech today."

1991: Bush addressed students on importance of education. The Associated Press reported at the time that Bush “had urged teachers and principals beforehand to let their students tune in to the speech, carried live by the Cable News Network and public television”:

President Bush perched on a stool in an eighth-grade classroom Tuesday and exhorted American students to ignore peers “who think it's not cool to be smart.”

“What's so great about being stupid?” asked the president in a speech to students at Alice Deal Junior High School and beamed into classrooms across the nation.

The White House had urged teachers and principals beforehand to let their students tune in to the speech, carried live by the Cable News Network and public television.

Bush sat by the blackboard in the front of history teacher Cynthia Mostoller's classroom and read his text from teleprompters at the back of the room.