Published: September 09, 2009 12:38 am      

GESENHUES: A conservative ate my homework

When I was in high school, my mother found her signature written over and over again on one of my Mead notebook pages. She was confused at first since she didn’t remember signing her name repeatedly down the blue-lined page. She realized almost immediately that she hadn’t done the handiwork; I had.

It was my attempt to get her signature down pitch-perfect (which, I can still do) so that I could sign tardy and absentee notes whenever necessary. While my grade school days were spent doing whatever I could to be the teacher’s pet; my later high school years were spent doing the least amount of work necessary to stay above the curve so that I could hang with friends inside and mostly outside of school.

From my experience, no matter how strong of a start a kid gets with school, it’s a work of epic proportions to keep most of them engaged and performing at their educational peak. The task takes more than a loving and committed parent. It takes compassionate and patient teachers, an enthusiastic and well-run school system, and a community that puts education at the top of its priority list.

If my mom had told me that I was not going to school because the President of the United States was going to give a speech that included language and politics that she disagreed with, it would have set a precedent. If there was the slightest chance that whoever was addressing me and my class, even if it was the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, may say something that was in opposition to my parent’s beliefs, I could take pass. I would have thought it weird in sixth grade, but used it as the ace in my back pocket come eleventh grade.

College admissions counselors, the local police department’s drunk driving awareness spokesperson, past state reps showing up to my American politics class to explain state government ... they all would have been tagged socialists in hopes that I could have another day off to do anything besides go to school.

Of course, my education would have suffered more than it already did and I would have been penalized in the long run when it came time for the college application process. (I doubt most colleges would have tolerated excessive absences due to “fear of socialism.”)

Anyone who claims that it’s a good idea to keep your child home from school because the President of the United States is going to make a 20-minute speech to grade-schoolers does not have your child’s best interest at heart.

If you want your child to achieve and succeed and be a competitive contender when it comes time for the college enrollment forms, then they need to stay in school-not out of it. If you disagree with what the President says, tell your child that you disagree and explain why. Let them know that your greatest hope is that they can help make a change for what you believe would be a better America. Teach them, inform them, make them part of the conversation.

Personally, I’m shocked that any parent would consider pulling their child out of school because the President of the United States wants to make a speech endorsing a positive educational experience.

Instead of pulling them out, why not send them to school with your own study sheet. Questions could include inquiries on socialist thought, like: What are the fundamental beliefs of a socialist government? How long does it take a cultural to transform from a capitalistic society into a socialist nation? Why is socialism anti-American and what can I do to avoid socialistic measures?

Most likely you’ll need a government scholar to help with your child’s essay, but it’s a start. If you’re scared of socialism, then the best measure to take would be to learn the details and pitfalls related to a socialistic society, right? I mean, you don’t want to throw around a word like “socialism” without knowing exactly what it means, right? You want to be an informed and educated parent who says things based on facts and not vitriolic monologues dished out by angry, paranoid ideologues who are more into ratings than your child’s education ... right?



Amy Gesenhues is a freelance writer who lives in Floyd County. You can read her daily commentaries at www.AmyWroteIt.Wordpress.com. E-mail her directly at amy@amywroteit.com.