BETTER THAN A PTA MEETING - AT 7:06 P.M. ET:  It was inevitable.  As soon as American parents learned that their kids would be forced to listen to a speech by The One, there was a revolt.  Once again, we see the fruits of an administration tin-ear blunder:

DALLAS — President Barack Obama's back-to-school address next week was supposed to be a feel-good story for an administration battered over its health care agenda. Now Republican critics are calling it an effort to foist a political agenda on children, creating yet another confrontation with the White House.

Obama plans to speak directly to students Tuesday about the need to work hard and stay in school. His address will be shown live on the White House Web site and on C-SPAN at noon EDT, a time when classrooms across the country will be able to tune in.

Schools don't have to show it. But districts across the country have been inundated with phone calls from parents and are struggling to address the controversy that broke out after Education Secretary Arne Duncan sent a letter to principals urging schools to watch.

Districts in states including Texas, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Virginia, Wisconsin have decided not to show the speech to students. Others are still thinking it over or are letting parents have their kids opt out.

CORRECT:  There is nothing wrong, of course, with the president of the United States urging kids to stay in school and work hard.  It's admirable.  But, as usual with this administration, it was handled in the worst possible way.  The Department of Education put out one of those government guideline sheets, later hurriedly withdrawn, urging students to ask what they could do for the president.  Sorry, we don't do that in our democracy. 

The key here is to make sure conservatives don't overreact.  The handling was incompetent, but the situation can be saved.  Sure, let the president address kids on the value of education.  For minorities, it could be an inspiring moment.  But then a leading Republican, perhaps former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, might also be asked to say a few words.  Or John McCain can speak about national service, something he knows a great deal about.  What parents have objected to is the "dear leader" idea.

Our kids need every bit of inspiration they can get.  What they don't need is American Idol, Obama style.

September 3, 2009