Joe Guidry is the deputy editorial page editor of The Tampa Tribune. He is a Tampa native and a graduate of the University of South Florida. He is married and has an adult son.

Jeff Stidham

Jeff Stidham grew up and lives in Bartow. He has been with the Tribune for nearly 22 years, the last 10 on the editorial board.

William Yelverton

William Yelverton is a Tribune editorial writer who has worked for the paper nearly 22 years. He lives in the Dade City area.

Jim Beamguard

Jim Beamguard is a Tribune editorial writer. He is a native of North Carolina and a graduate of Davidson College. He and his family live in Brandon.

Jackie Papandrew:

Jackie Papandrew is a freelance writer and editor. Her syndicated humor column appears in publications in the United States, Canada and India. She lives in Largo with her husband and children. Visit her website at www.jackiepapandrew.com.

Camille Beredjick

Camille Beredjick is a senior at Chamberlain High School, an avid musician and a scribbler with a quirky sense of humor. In the fall, she will be attending Northwestern University to study journalism, political science and music, and she plans to pursue a career in journalism.

Jim Harnish

Jim Harnish is in his 17th year as Senior Pastor at Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa. He and his wife, Marsha, have two daughters and two grandchildren. He is a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary and received the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Bethune-Cookman University. He is the author of six books and numerous articles and studies. He enjoys playing with his grandchildren and cheering for the Florida Gators.

Angela Hunt

Angela Hunt is a novelist living in Pinellas County with her husband and two 220-pound mastiffs.

Sheryl Young

Sheryl Young was a Tampa Tribune Community Columnist in 2005-2006. A freelance writer since 1997, including the Tampa Bay Business Journal, Tampa Style Magazines, St. Pete Times and nationally in Better Nutrition, Today’s Christian Woman and more. She’s received a First Place Amy Foundation national "Roaring Lambs" Writing Award, and has lived in Tampa Bay with her family for over 20 years.

Christie Gold

Christie Gold teaches English and journalism at Freedom High School in Tampa where she advises Revolution, the school newspaper. She has been both the Hillsborough County Teacher of the Year and Florida Journalism Teacher of the Year. She lives on a small farm in Wesley Chapel where she trains as a competitive equestrian.

Natalie D. Preston

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Interests include humor, politics, economics, community and world affairs, finance, people, religion, music, sports, current events, the arts and education.

Nicole Yunger Halpern

Nicole Yunger Halpern is an undergraduate at Dartmouth College, where she studies everything she can get her nerdy little hands on. Desired major: life. No, not necessarily biology. Life.

Kris DiGiovanni

Kris DiGiovanni is a Tribune Community Columnist, Huffington Post contributor, Daily Kos diarist, and teacher, who recently moved from NW Hillsborough to another planet - a small beach community in Pinellas County. She also blogs at www.sandscript.wordpress.com

H. David Braswell Jr.

H. David Braswell Jr. is an Information Systems Professional. He is a native New Yorker and a lifelong NY Giants fan. He attended college in California (Cal State Northridge) and moved to Tampa in 1998.

Sean Marcus

Sean Marcus teaches creative writing, journalism and reading at Chamberlain High School. He has one son and is expecting a daughter in early March. He can be reached at wuizabug@gmail.com

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At the end of the day, it’s just another speech

Posted Sep 7, 2009 by Camille Beredjick

Updated Sep 7, 2009 at 11:55 PM

By the time you read this, President Obama’s unnecessarily controversial speech on education may have come and gone from daytime programming, lasting just a few minutes before it fizzled out and floated into oblivion.

And something tells me that regardless of cranky parents’ objections and socialist conspiracy theories, the world will keep on turning, and students will go about their merry ways unscathed and unchanged.

Those who hypothesize that the President’s address to schoolchildren will be laden with ulterior motives and dictatorial undertones may legitimately be afraid that this is the case; after all, I’m not one to judge others’ irrational fears. However, the overbearing citizens who insist that the President’s address is a self-serving political stunt clearly haven’t taken the time to actually read the speech.

Take a look. Obama’s main points in this speech are the values of working hard, staying in school, and trying your best. Maybe I need to take another history class to properly grasp the concept, but I’m pretty sure these tips don’t translate to a socialist agenda.

I understand that some parents are iffy about the suggested assignments for schoolkids following the speech, particularly the vague yet seemingly threatening essay topic asking kids how they can help the President.

The fury that has erupted over this detail is shocking. The government is not mandating that every American child pledge their life to the Obama administration. Quite the contrary.The potential post-speech assignments are meant to help kids realize the meaning of the President’s words, which really are as unbiased as can be.

Some are upset because Obama’s address will cause a brief mingling between school and government, yet I fail to see this as a downside, so long as the context is neutral. Students in public schools, and especially older students enrolled in history and government courses, should be aware of current events, especially those pertaining to them. Where better to learn about our nation than in the classroom, surrounded by teachers and peers who can clarify any confusing content?

I can even get that parents want to watch the address with their kids. I truly hope that some families trust their children to view the speech with an open mind, and then sit down over dinner and talk openly about what the President’s words meant to them.

However, if parents are truly concerned that the President is attempting to “brainwash” kids when they’re away from the shelter of home, by all means, let them show up in the classroom, pull up a yellow chair, and watch it too. Keeping your children home from school today will not teach them anything except to reject opinions different from yours. And whatever happened to respect for the office of the President, regardless of background or party?

In this speech, Obama’s words tell stories of common people who have overcome difficult obstacles and succeeded in life in spite of their troubles. His message is simple and clear, understandable by kindergartners or high school seniors, and it reads as a caring exchange between a father and child, or a teacher and student.

If parents are uncomfortable with the President speaking directly to their children, so be it. They have the right to raise their kids in whatever way they see fit. However, opponents of the speech should take the time to read it through before throwing accusations left and right.

Yes, it’s aimed at children. Yes, it’s during school hours. Yes, it’s supposed to make kids think. But at the end of the day, it’s just another speech, and the hype surrounding it is simply a waste of energy.

So, if this column reached you too late, rest easy knowing that the madness is over and everyone’s going to be just fine. But if there’s still time, then hurry up and turn on your telly - this one’s too melodramatic to miss.

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