Bush Can't Face the Children

From PSoTD comes this story that both dismays me and gives me hope.

Student Protests as Only 75 Classmates Get to Hear Bush Speak at J.E.B. Stuart

A J.E.B. Stuart High School student was "informally suspended" yesterday for circulating a flier protesting the exclusion of over 1,400 of his classmates from a speech delivered by President George Bush in the school's gym.

The gym was packed yesterday morning with mostly adult political supporters of the president, who had received tickets to attend the speech, and local politicians. Many were adorned with "GOP" or "Bush" lapel buttons and cuff links. Only 75 students from the school were invited, carefully pre-selected based on recommendations by the school's teachers. The president, ironically, spoke on the subject of his "No Child Left Behind" educational initiative.

To Stuart High student Arash Almasi, he and his 1,400 excluded classmates were left behind yesterday, and he said so in his flier. What riled him was that the entire student body had originally been told it would be invited to see the president.

When Almasi learned of his suspension Tuesday night, news of the development was reported on National Public Radio. He was told he would not be allowed on school grounds yesterday, and that if his call for a 10 a.m. walkout from Bush's speech materialized more a more serious suspension would ensue.

Prior to Bush's speech yesterday, Fairfax County School Board member Kaye Kory spoke sympathetically about Almasi's protest. "He wanted this experience for all the kids," she told the News-Press as the event was about to begin. "As it is, only 75 of the highest achievers have been invited here." Kory's daughter, Caroline, is a senior at the school and was among those invited.

Perhaps unaware of the makeup of the crowd, President Bush opened his remarks by saying, "I want to thank all the students here today."

He went on to heap praise on recent years' achievements at Stuart High under the direction of Principal Mel Riddile...

I wonder if the 75 student had to sign loyaly oaths? I am dismayed that Bush handlers were worried about letting him near a rough and tumble group of teens, that if you stick up for what is promised, or challenge consessions made for a select few, you get punished. What message does that send the children, remember the children...

In a related development, Del. Hull announced yesterday that he's submitted a House Joint Resolution in Richmond commending J.E.B. Stuart High for its "significant achievements." It notes the "dramatic improvement in the academic improvement of its students," 73% of whom are members of a minority group, 70% being born outside the U.S., 13% with disabilities and 54% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunches. It notes that despite these demographics, the school enjoys a 96% attendance rate and 90% graduation rate with 90% of its graduates going onto post-secondary education

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However I have hope that these stage-managed affairs (using students as props) is a GOP message that is not lost on these school kids. I believe a new generation of Bush sceptics are being spawned - this gives me hope.

Saturn Riddle wrote: So our oh-so-wonderful (haha JUST KIDDING!) President of the United States George W. Bush (Jorge Boooosh.) came to Stuart today. It was insane. There were snipers all over the rof and Secret Service people EVERYWHERE. Oh and Karl Rove standing in the corner looking shady going "heh heh heh". Gah. *makes stabbing motion with hand* Eeeeevil.

So Bush gave his little speech to those select juniors and seniors and Riddile sucked up like whoa, then my government class went through security to get into this random classroom by the gym and then he came in. So he was talking about No Child Left Behind and then suddenly...

"You need to know the truth about the war in Iraq."

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I was like "Oh my god. What the fuck is he doing?!" UGH. It was really annoying. Constant BS. Yadda yadda yadda.(ed- there's more, very much more)

These students will be of voting age soon, very soon...