Obama Volunteer Opportunity at Dunedin High Prompts Parent Complaint

-Ed Harris- October 3, 2012 at 01:52 pm

This would be a lame attempt at a complaint! The school did not endorse President Obama's campaign. They announced volunteer hour chances. Mitt Romney's group can and should do the same. The school should announce it. I fact as a kid being part of the political process is a great idea and should be widely promoted, taught and encouraged.
But hey! What do I know, I'm just a plumber!

Lori October 3, 2012 at 02:09 pm

Take a wild guess why they approached DHS

-Ed Harris- October 3, 2012 at 03:13 pm

Please don't tell me it's a wild conspiracy to turn our students into socialist's! Lol

Rhonda October 3, 2012 at 03:59 pm

The school is not allowed to sway one way!!!

-Ed Harris- October 3, 2012 at 04:10 pm

The school didn't!

Marcia October 3, 2012 at 04:31 pm

Mr. Harris, I agree with you whole heartedly.

Yeah October 3, 2012 at 04:36 pm

Why take away a volunteer oppurtunity that people may want to get involved with. If the Republican party wanted to have teens be involved with their campaign they they could have asked Dunedin to make an announcement as well. Of course a parent once again reads too much into something that is not even there.

Rhonda October 3, 2012 at 05:43 pm

Yes the school did - I know what was said at the school - Do you??

asdasd October 3, 2012 at 05:44 pm

Regardless of the political party, this would be a fantastic opportunity for some students. What a shame they'll now miss out.

Rhonda October 3, 2012 at 05:49 pm

The media really does not tell all the truth in there news now do they!!

-Ed Harris- October 3, 2012 at 06:03 pm

Mrs "Lori", it was not until lunch today that my wife explained to me what your tasteless comment meant! Thank you for proving a point that your kind of people still think like that!

Dee Dokumaci October 3, 2012 at 06:20 pm

I believe the volunteer opportunity would have been better if it was offered to children of registered democrats to their residence instead of through the school, the same principle goes for the republican party, students are in school for basic education not politics, there are many parents out there who don't want their kids to be exposed to politics & they have a right to raise their kids in a responsible, nurturing & loving environment, some politics is not appropriate for young minds so it is better addressed by the parent...

windy October 3, 2012 at 07:06 pm

Baloney..So we should shelter High School Students from politics?? How lame is that. These kids are the future of this Great Country ~ give them some credit for the intelligence , they have and encourage involvement in the process of Government.

-Ed Harris- October 3, 2012 at 07:25 pm

I am a registered Republican, in 1982 when I graduated from DHS, we were very involved with politics and announcements like this one were common. I sat at a table handing out flyers. What is different now? Nothing! Let them announce away!

-Ed Harris- October 3, 2012 at 08:24 pm

Continuing the earlier thought, in fact I can remember voting as early as 5th grade! We voted every year and in middle school and high school we debated the issues of the day. Go ahead and try to hide your kid under a rock, one day you will turn around and they won't be there and you will have no clue where they've gone! I am so lucky to of had a father who not only encouraged me but constantly pushed me to be a better person and still does!

Chuck Fortin October 6, 2012 at 02:38 pm

One person's "announcement" is another person's "promotion." People see and believe what they want to see and believe. Why is the transmission of information often taken to be offensive and biased? Fact-based information shared with the community is a positive contribution. The more such information on the table, the better. Politics is not a dirty word. If you prefer, substitute citizenship for politics. I submit that our public schools, administrators, and dedicated teachers provide responsible, nurturing and loving environments in which students are encouraged to see reality and the world as it is, and not through a glass darkly. Kids (actually aspiring adults) are smart, resilient, and more worldly-wise than we can know.

karen underwood October 7, 2012 at 01:34 pm

i disagree with sending it to the home's of the parent's party affliation. I am an independent but my 17 year old son has been taught to think for himself. though we have many things in life we disagree on, i am proud of him for making his own mind up. the school should not of endorsed either way, maybe made the announcement and also said their are many opportunities to get involved if you choose you can call the republican campaign office as well. And provided a list of numbers and opportunities for these students who were interested. high school is the time to let them form who they are to become.

Linda Medeiros October 7, 2012 at 05:19 pm

I graduated from high school in 1963 and remember participating in election events as far back as grammar school. Does "I like Ike" ring a bell with anyone? It was fun, informative and you felt like you were getting to hang with the grownups on some level. I don't even remember who I was for--probably the same person my friends were for. Once able to actually vote, I went on to become a Democrat and am a wrong Obama supporter. At a recent high school reunion, I found out that many of my classmates are Republicans. I don't think any of us were brainwashed by the introduction to politics at school but I do think it helped us to feel like we were part of the process at an early age.

Linda Medeiros October 7, 2012 at 05:26 pm

Re my comment of two seconds ago. Type ahead (I hate it) plugged in wrong instead of strong--ugh. My hope would be to correct that. Otherwise it will take about two seconds for someone to latch onto that and take it to the limit. It's a shame about how nasty people can get over this stuff. BE KIND!

dee sweet October 7, 2012 at 05:51 pm

I believe that the youth of America (yes, that's you DHS students) should be given the opportunity to volunteer in the election process. not only would they be given a chance to learn all about elections, & the voting process but they would also learn the value of volunteering in this world. these are all lessons that will enhance students to become responsible adults, to learn about patriotism, and to learn that when you volunteer you receive much more than what you give.

Joe Kurtzke October 8, 2012 at 01:39 pm

Hmmn - perhaps a bit of over-reaction here? Romney held a rally in downtown Dunedin - did any of the DHS students attend or did they know anyone who did? Folks today complain about the apathy of the student today, especially those of us who went through the 60s and who were active in Politics. Can't we give the students today some credit that they can think on their own?
Whether you are a Democrat, Republican or Independent you should applaud anything reasonable that gets students involved in the political process and helps them take some sort of stand. Don't forget that the students of today are the voters and leaders of tomorrow.

Catch 22 October 10, 2012 at 02:19 pm

Let's see - A HS School Principal announces an oppotunity to EARN Bright Futures $$$ by Volunteering for a Polictical Organization afiliated with "Organizing for America". Add to the fact the Org. is afiliated with Obama and the Principal is a Black Male. How about organizing volunteers for the many Non-Profit Org's in the County where they will learn some life skills? My daughter volunteers at Dunedin Mease Hospital and has done 400+ hrs there, my son volunteered at the two Recreation Centers. Maybe our schools can focus more on the three R's and a little more American History and not this pure partisan BS.

Catch 22 October 10, 2012 at 02:32 pm

Ed - Yes they did...very clearly on school intercom system by the School Principal Mr. Hepburn.

Dee Dokumaci October 11, 2012 at 05:53 pm

There is more to this story than meets the eye, turns out according to investigation school district allowed a pro-Obama organization (Organizing For America) to conduct student voter registration drives and deliver speeches to classes – but denied the Romney campaign similar opportunities. Pasco County Schools confirmed to Fox News that volunteers from Organizing For America were given access to as many as a half dozen high school and middle school campuses. “They did register students to vote,” spokesman John Mann told Fox News. “We don’t know how many children were registered – (but) we have an ongoing investigation.”

Dee Dokumaci October 11, 2012 at 05:53 pm

According to email correspondence obtained by Fox News, volunteers tried to infiltrate at least three other school campuses – but on-campus officials rebuffed those efforts.
In addition to voter registration, a former teacher was allowed to deliver Obama speeches to a number of senior high school students. “She got into six classrooms and gave pro-Obama speeches – like way off to the left,” said James Mathieu, general counsel for the Pasco County Republican Party. “That got out to parents and parents complained.” Matthieu told Fox News he has filed a complained with the Florida Division of Elections and also contacted the Florida Attorney General’s office. “We have a liberal culture in our school system and we know that,” he told Fox News. “The problem is someone has used false credentials, false pretenses and there is a security issue.”Mathieu said that some of the Organizing for America volunteers identified themselves to school officials as being with the local elections office. So with this kind of evidence & disregard for parent's choices, it is wrong for the schools to do this also this is not an isolated case, this organization went to many other high schools with same tactics, a few schools did the sensible thing by asking for proper identification which they didn't have so those schools turned them away!