This Tuesday my baby girl starts second grade. I am crushed by how fast she is growing up. The school supply list made me cry, it was so grown up. I have had a little anxiety about how she is going to adjust to her new teacher and new classmates. So far I haven’t been thrilled with her education. There seems to be a lot of focus on memorizing for the test instead of learning how to learn. Luckily she’s a smart kid so she hasn’t felt the pressure yet. As a matter of fact her first grade teacher made it clear to that she does well in class so she usually didn’t even check her homework. She let me know that she understood the plight of the single mother. Umm…thanks, now butt out and help me to teach my kids some responsibility. Just do your job and put a sticker on her freaking homework! Now I am not trying to offend any teachers. I think I understand how difficult your job is and I know for a fact that I couldn’t do it. I was very happy that Savannah loved and respected her teacher. As unhappy as I am with school so far I constantly encourage that respect. Unfortunately last night I got a voicemail that respect is not something that is going to be taught this year. Apparently it is not on the Standards Of Learning agenda. Henrico County Public Schools will not be showing President Obama’s back to school message on Tuesday. What!? The reason “The first day of school is a busy and full day for our teachers, administrators and staff.” Seriously!? My message from the president in second grade was ketchup is a vegetable and my message from my way more liberal than me Mom was we have to respect the President of the United States.
The goal of the President’s message to students is to encourage them to take responsibility for their education. I guess that is not in the curriculum either this year. No one can deny that our President is at the very least an amazing, exciting speaker and since Billy Mays is no longer with us there is nobody more capable of motivating kids and teachers alike on the first day of school. Instead it seems that unpacking crayons is more pressing. Apparently some noisy conservatives have threatened to keep their children home on the first day of school because of the President’s speech and the schools around here have caved. God forbid they learn about respect, responsibility or get to feel the pride that comes with being able to participate in a historical moment. The argument is that President Obama will be pushing his political agenda. News flash – second graders can’t vote and if they could we would be listening to President Hannah Montana’s back to school message.