Michelle Obama to parents: Turn off those TVs

Now that we're all up to speed on Meghan McCain's bra cup situation and California First Lady Maria Shriver's "punishment" for illegally talking on a cellphone while driving, we have news about First Lady Michelle Obama's latest thoughts about teachers and schools and parents.

She's penned an essay for U.S. News & World Report in which she warns of a dramatic impending teacher exodus and, like previous first ladies, advocates that parents shut off the video games and TV more often, presumably not when her husband's talking again about healthcare reform. (And no mention of Fox News.)

She also comes out in favor of her husband's $3-billion government program to boost teacher training.

Here are a few excerpts:

We all remember the impact a special teacher had on us -- a teacher who refused to let us fall through the cracks; who pushed us and believed in us when we....

...doubted ourselves; who sparked in us a lifelong curiosity and passion for learning.  Decades later, we remember the way they made us feel and the things they inspired us to do – how they challenged us and changed our lives.....

And when we think about the qualities that make an outstanding teacher – boundless energy and endless patience; vision and a sense of purpose; the creativity to help us see the world in a different way and the commitment to helping us discover and fulfill our potential – we realize: these are also the qualities of a great leader.... 

As the President has frequently said, in a twenty-first century global economy where jobs can be shipped to any place with an Internet connection, and children here in America will be competing with children around the world for the same jobs, a good education is no longer just one road to opportunity – it is the only road.

But the reality is that with each passing year, we are actually losing more and more of our most experienced teachers. More than half of our nation’s teachers and principals are baby boomers. And in the next four years, as many as one third of America’s 3.2 million teachers could retire.....

We need universities to double down on their efforts to prepare teachers, and to improve and expand effective alternative routes to certify teachers. We need to encourage more experienced professionals to consider teaching as the next chapter in their careers.....

We need parents to do their part as well to match that leadership in the classroom with leadership at home.  We need to set limits and turn off the TV; we need to put away those video games and make sure that homework gets done....

You can read the first lady's entire U.S. News article right here.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo: Win McNamee / Getty Images

Comments

[Fight for thr Right]

Now here is where I agree. I do turn off my tv every time the dems and obama are on the tv.

[noBumpkin]

Michelle Obama's infomercial is missing a big opportunityto tell parents to negate propaganda: During the pilot viewing of "Good Wife," the young daughter's room is displayed and there are two posters visible of Obama's "Hope" propaganda poster, and another, "Change." So, parents (and adult viewers) "Turn off the T.V." Thanks Michelle!

[Peg C.]

I will not watch her or listen to her (or read her scribblings), but this might be the first intelligent thing I've heard out of her. Absolutely, everyone should turn off their TVs and even cancel their cable and satellite. Avoid all contact with the Drive Bys shilling for this thug WH and avoid all celebrity "service" propaganda. We'll all be much better off.

[Confused]

I thought Obama was controlling my TV Breitbart, now you tell me the Administration wants me to turn it off.

My simple brain can't make any sense of this.

Can't we all just agree Obama's a secret Muslim, that's a lie we can all agree on.

[myna]

Good idea, Michelle. I will turn off the TV everytime I see your husband.

[musterion]

If they turn off the TVs, how will the kiddies get the correct propaganda? Oh, that's right, the get it in school (MMM, MMM, MMM, Barak Insane Obama)

[biancaneve]

And when we think about the qualities that make an outstanding teacher – boundless energy and endless patience; vision and a sense of purpose; the creativity to help us see the world in a different way and the commitment to helping us discover and fulfill our potential – we realize: these are also the qualities of a great leader....

Why does everything have to be about the Obamas? You just know that's where she was headed with this comment.

Also, doesn't it occur to her that probably the biggest reason young teachers leave teaching is because of the stranglehold the teachers' unions have on education reform? Too many teachers become disillusioned with all the non-teaching crap that goes along with teaching.

[Superpower]

"We all remember the impact a special teacher had on us -- a teacher who refused to let us fall through the cracks; who pushed us and believed in us when we...." -If we a "all" remember a teacher like this, then what exactly is special about it? If a high school graduate can't read his diploma, I think more competent teaching skills are in order, not more money thrown at teachers unions or wasting more and more taxpayer dollars via legislation.

[Red Stater]

Why Mrs. Obama if they did that how would your husband control them? All these people need to keep CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS etc etc on so they can be told how to think.

[bcs2k]

Great message Mrs. Obama! Please continue promoting education and strong family values. I look forward to reading you essay! You're doing an outstanding job inspiring Americans to eat healthy, exercise and aim high. If the bitter posters (in this thread) parents had followed your advice they would have grew up to achieved something and be successful and confident but are, instead, dumb, broke and oh so jealous of you.

[Houston]

Mrs. Obama - TAKE OFF that stupid looking belt and be taken SERIOUSLY!!!!!!!