Shallow Nation » Education

Michelle Obama Sesame Street Video 11-10-09

Shallow Nation — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:48:17 +0000

Here is the First Lady Michelle Obama Sesame Street video of her appearance on the show on Nov. 10, 2009 in commemoration of the PBS series’ 40th anniversary.

She appears in a segment with Elmo, Big Bird and a few children and demonstrates how to plant vegetable garden seeds.

The iconic children’s television show was first broadcast on Nov. 10, 1969 and has had enduring popularity. The appearance of the First Lady on the show is just one of numerous guest appearances over the years by public figures and celebrities. Here is a roundup of video of some previous celebrity appearances: Sesame Street: Michelle Obama celebrates show’s anniversary Here is a compilation of some of the early years of the show: Sesame Street Turns 40 (video collection).

The video is below.

Link

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Michelle Obama Sesame Street Video 11-10-09

Fizz & Boog at 5 Million Kids Initiative 5MK (Video)

Shallow Nation — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:26:16 +0000

Here is video of Fizz & Boog at the launch of the 5 Million Kids Initiative (5MK) in Los Angeles in Oct. 2009. The two former members of B2K performed their signature hit Bounce in support of the organization.

5MK was launched by Operation HOPE, a nonprofit organization addressing financial literacy and education whose founder, chairman and CEO is John Hope Bryant. Its mission via a national campaign is to revitalize interest in education among young people or, in other words “to make smart sexy again.” More information is available at the official Web site: 5millionkids.org

Also in attendance at the launch were legendary Quincy Jones (who is the 5MK national co-chairman), celebrated producer QD3, R&B artist Tyrese among others.

Here are several photos of the event: 5 Million Kids Launch in Los Angeles, CA

More perspectives on the new initiative here: 5 Million Kids, 1 Kid at a Time

The song Bounce appears on the soundtrack album Bring It On: Fight To The Finish as well as on Fizz & Boog’s EP Nightlife.

The video is below.

Link

Ron Clark Academy CNN Video 10-3-09

Shallow Nation — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:01:23 +0000

Here is the Ron Clark Academy CNN video from October 3, 2009. The famed Atlanta school was profiled in a segment by T.J. Holmes, and in a second video, students from the school performed a song about health care reform set to the Miley Cyrus’ hit single Party in the U.S.A.

The school, long known for its educational innovations from its eponymous co-founder, drew national attention when students performed a nonpartisan voting rap song on CNN using the smash hit single Whatever You Like from rapper T.I. The new song takes a similar approach, defining the issues involved through song.

According to the CNN report, Ron Clark co-founded the school in 2007 with Kim Bearden. Approximately 100 students are in attendance, and tuition is around $18,000 a year with half of the students on scholarship.

As seen in the video, this is characteristic of the school’s approach to teaching and it has been successful as standardized tests results show in nearly every subject, with students scoring in the 70, 80 and 90 percentile. The full report is here via the CNN Transcript.

Both videos are below.

Video Link – News report

Video Link Ron Clark Academy Health Care Reform song

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Video: Ron Clark Academy Kids “You Can Vote However You Like”
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Video: 7-Year-Old Blogger Gets Letter from Barack Obama
Video: 5th Grade Reporter Interviews Joe Biden

Ron Clark Academy CNN Video 10-3-09

Obama School Speech Video, Transcript 9-8-09 (Education Speech)

Shallow Nation — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:34:43 +0000

Watch the Obama school speech live online video here, along with transcript and photos on September 8, 2009. The President’s address to school-children text is below, as released by the White House. The education speech will be delivered before students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia.

The address will be broadcast at 12 noon Eastern time on Tuesday and can be seen via the live stream below. **UPDATED below with full video.

Here is the full text of Obama’s speech to school-children.

As the transcript reveals, the speech puts a focus on personal responsibility.

“And that’s what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education. I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself.
Every single one of you has something you’re good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That’s the opportunity an education can provide. [...]

“We need every single one of you to develop your talents, skills and intellect so you can help solve our most difficult problems. If you don’t do that – if you quit on school – you’re not just quitting on yourself, you’re quitting on your country.”

The release of the transcript comes in the midst of the controversy, as widely discussed in the media: Some Parents Oppose Obama School Speech

Notably one of the strong critics of the President speaking to school-children, Florida GOP chairman Jim Greer has said:

“It’s a good speech,” Florida GOP chairman Jim Greer said Monday. “It encourages kids to stay in school and the importance of education and I think that’s what a president should do when they’re gonna talk to students across the country.”

Previously, he had expressed concerns that the President intended to push forward a political agenda with the speech. (See: Back-to-school speech becomes political) He went on to say:

“The speech that’s out today is one that he should give, and I’m pleased to see that the White House has made changes to what was gonna happen.”

Source: Florida GOP Chair on Obama’s Speech to Students: “It’s a Good Speech, I’ll Let My Kids Watch”

Watch the Obama education speech live online at 12pm ET on September 8, 2009 below and thereafter come back and see the full video, which will be posted when available. ***UPDATED*** with full video.

The speech is on CSPAN –> Obama Education Speech Full Video — or below.

Link: Obama School speech video – Full video (replaces live web-feed)

Obama School Speech Video, Transcript 9-8-09: Presidential Address to School-Children

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Damon Weaver Obama Interview Video

Shallow Nation — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 23:13:01 +0000

Here is the highly anticipated Damon Weaver Obama interview video. The 11-year-old reporter, who has received international notice and acclaim for his reporting efforts, has lobbied publicly to interview President Barack Obama, for several months, most notably during the Inauguration. The Obama interview with the 6th grader and reporter took place at the White House on August 13, 2009, moments before the taping of Obama’s weekly address.

Damon Weaver attends KEC/Canal Point Elementary, in Palm Beach, Florida has its own TV news channel and produces The KEC News Report, an award winning television news program that is broadcast to its 550 students and via their YouTube channel, CanalPointKECTV. Brian Zimmerman is the broadcasting teacher and news director.

It is through the YouTube videos, many of which have gone viral, that Damon Weaver has achieved notoriety and been interviewed by major media, including CNN, Larry King Live, NBC, MSNBC, etc.

NBA star D-Wade of the Miami Heat, in an interview with the reporter, said he would play one-on-one basketball if President Obama agreed to an interview with Damon Weaver. (See the D-Wade Damon Weaver Interview here.) Bringing this up in the interview, Obama told Weaver: “I would play Dwyane Wade…I’ve got admit though, Dwyane Wade’s a little bit better at basketball than I am. I might rather have him on my team playing against somebody else than playing against him.

In addition to lighter banter the Damon Weaver Obama interview reveals the 11-year-old reporter asking tough questions on such issues as education, noting that money is being cut from education, he aske, “How can education be improved with all these cuts?”

The President replied: “We think it’s important to put more money into the schools, but money alone is not going to make the difference, we’ve also got to improve how the schools are operating.

The young reporter, in a discussion of school lunches and how they could be improved revealed his preference for mangos and french fries. At the conclusion of the interview, Damon Weaver told the President that after he had interviewed VP Joe Biden (during the 2008 election) he became his homeboy. He asked Obama if he would be his homeboy too. To which the President said: “Absolutely.”

Photo credit: KEC/Canal Point Elementary

PS22 Chorus Just Dance Lady GaGa Video

Shallow Nation — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:26:03 +0000

Watch the PS22 Chorus Just Dance Lady GaGa Video here and see photos. The PS22 Chorus of 2009 also performed their cover of the pop star’s international dance hit in Washington, DC on June 16, 2009. Watch both videos.

The famed, internationally chorus is comprised of fifth grade students PS22 in Staten Island, New York, under the direction of Gregg Breinberg. Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton began posting their YouTube videos and over the months, several of their YouTube videos have gone viral. Additionally, the chorus of 5th graders have performed with several top music artists, including Tori Amos and Lena.

The PS22 Chorus Just Dance Lady GaGa Video was in honor of a request from Perez Hilton.

In Washington, DC, it was one of the four songs they performed in a live concert for members of Congress, including the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in Washington, DC on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol building on June 16 2009. Congressman Michael McMahon invited them. The PS22 Chorus also performed Eye of the Tiger and Don’t Stop Believing.

Source: Staten Island’s PS 22 Chorus performs on a national stage

Photo via office of U.S. Rep. Michael McMahon

Watch the PS22 Chorus Just Dance Lady GaGa Video and the live performance video below.

YouTube Video Link

PS22 Chorus Washington DC video June 16, 2009

YouTube Video Link

Videos via PS22 Chorus

PS22 Chorus Just Dance Lady GaGa Video

Obama Notre Dame Speech (Video, Photos)

Shallow Nation — Sun, 17 May 2009 20:35:49 +0000

Here is the Obama Notre Dame Speech video. President Barack Obama delivered the commencement address at Notre Dame Univeristy on May 17, 2009. See the video, transcript and photos here of the President’s speech to the 2,900 members of the graduating class of 2009. Additionally, Obama received an honorary degree from the university, which is located in South Bend, Indiana.

For the last several weeks, the President’s appearance at the Catholic university has sparked debate and protest due to his pro-choice stance. His commencement speech was interrupted at times by protesters. He confronted the issue directly in his speech:

“Maybe we won’t agree on abortion, but we can still agree that this is a heart-wrenching decision for any woman to make, with both moral and spiritual dimensions.

So let’s work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions by reducing unintended pregnancies, and making adoption more available, and providing care and support for women who do carry their child to term. Let’s honor the conscience of those who disagree with abortion, and draft a sensible conscience clause, and make sure that all of our health care policies are grounded in clear ethics and sound science, as well as respect for the equality of women.”

Understand – I do not suggest that the debate surrounding abortion can or should go away. No matter how much we may want to fudge it – indeed, while we know that the views of most Americans on the subject are complex and even contradictory – the fact is that at some level, the views of the two camps are irreconcilable. Each side will continue to make its case to the public with passion and conviction. But surely we can do so without reducing those with differing views to caricature.”

When being heckled during the speech, the President departed from prepared remarks and said, “We are not going to shy away from things that are uncomfortable sometimes.”

Here are several photos from the May 17, 2009 Obama Notre Dame Speech: Obama Makes Contentious Appearance At Notre Dame Graduation Ceremony