This was a pre-speech article, but the list of questions proposed for teachers is well worth the read (bold emphasis mine):
Obama Going to Talk to Kids: Yikes!
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Since the Education Department's lesson plans caused such a fuss, I'd like to propose my own essay questions that teachers can use in conjunction with the president's speech. (Caution: They are not organized according to grade level.)
1) Who is Jim Greer? And why doesn't he know basic rules of grammar?
2) What is a socialist? (Parents must answer this question, too.) Name a current leader of a socialist country or one from the 20th century. (Hint: It is not an American president.)
3) Why do you think Obama gave this speech to the nation's students? What was he trying to say?
4) What did you think about it? Did you like it? Why? Why not?
5) Write your own speech as if you were addressing the nation's students. (Hint: Avoid all socialist rhetoric or points will be deducted.)
6) Why do you think some students' parents (not yours, of course) wouldn't let their children watch the president speak? Do you believe they had that right? Why or why not?
7) What is the high-school dropout rate in Texas and Florida?
And finally, for extra credit: As a young person, what can you do to make America better?
