Well, as you have likely heard by now, the Secretary of Education is pulling back on the Obama-related activities students are to partake in before, during, and after his address to the youth of America. Oh, and as ‘Puter reminded us, not all school districts will even be in school on that day. The Czar notes that Hawaii and Alaska probably won’t even be in school at that time.

The grief about the President’s plan may or may not have started here at the Big G, but it has clearly gone nationwide. The Salt Lake Tribune mentions that the White House is mind-blown that there would be such resentment. Said one of the teaming White House spokespeople, Adam Abrams, “The president will speak directly to students around the country about the value of education and the importance of staying in school as part of his effort to dramatically cut the dropout rate….It’s not a policy speech.”

Okay, but four things: (a) The speech is being thrown at all school districts universally, not just those with high dropout rates; (b) What was the point of all the pre-, mid-, and post-speech activities about the life, times, thoughts, and words of President Obama? (c) Explain how a speech by a President will dramatically cut the dropout rate. (d) How many Pre-K, Kindergarteners, First, Second, and Third graders are at dramatic risk of dropping out? The Czar expects no answer, because Mr. Abrams has no idea what he’s talking about.

The authors of the article criticize conservative complaints that Mr. Obama’s action is unprecedented, referring to President George H. W. Bush participating in a 1991 space science symposium teleconference. Two things for them: (a) It was SecEd Arne Duncan who called this speech unprecedented, not conservatives, and (b) President Bush speaking to a thousand space science buffs at a voluntary symposium is not similar to President Obama directing school districts nationwide to have millions of children listen to him.

The White House promises to post the expected text of the speech on its website on Monday. Monday is a national holiday, particularly one with slow news coverage. Once again, the Obama administration likes to let dirty laundry air when there is little or no news coverage. Avoids a lot of unnecessary questions.

Millions of children watching across all grade levels. Activities and lesson plans that involve the words and deeds of Obama the Man, unreleated to the speech. Cabinet members traveling across the entire country to visit schools during the speech. Last minute sanitizing of lesson plans. Posting copies of the speech surreptitiously on a website on a holiday.

Folks, if this isn’t a political stunt, what is it?

The Czar of Muscovy

Божію Поспѣшествующею Милостію Мы, Дима Грозный Императоръ и Самодержецъ Всероссiйскiй, цѣсарь Московскiй. The Czar was born in the steppes of Russia in 1267, and was cheated out of total control of all Russia upon the death of Boris Mikhailovich, who replaced Alexander Yaroslav Nevsky in 1263. However, in 1283, our Czar was passed over due to a clerical error and the rule of all Russia went to his second cousin Daniil (Даниил Александрович), whom Czar still resents. As a half-hearted apology, the Czar was awarded control over Muscovy, inconveniently located 5,000 miles away just outside Chicago. He now spends his time seething about this and writing about other stuff that bothers him.