Published: September 08, 2009 07:49 am      

The president’s speech to schools draws attention

President Obama will address the nation’s schoolchildren Tuesday at 11 a.m. In a release about the speech from the www.whitehouse.gov, White House staff members said that the speech will focus on children taking personal responsibility for setting goals relating to their education. The video can be streamed live from the Internet or seen on C-SPAN.

However, there has been a stir among parents around the nation concerned about the message President Obama will be giving to their children. Many are worried that propaganda will be involved.

Local school districts and schools have made decisions on how to respond to the showing of the president’s address.

Clara Reynolds Elementary School in Harrah, for example, has sent letters home to parents to gain their permission before a child will be allowed to see the address. Students whose parents do not want them to participate will be able to take part in an alternate activity.

Russell Babb Elementary in Harrah doesn’t have plans to view the speech. Parents who wish for their children to watch Obama’s address during the school day need to notify the school. Accommodations will be made.

Paul Blessington, principal at Luther Elementary School, said his school site is not equipped to show Internet streams in a classroom setting. If a teacher feels very strongly about showing the address, however, and works out a method with the school’s technology, letters will be sent to parents advising them of the activity. Parents can object and their child will be allowed to participate in another activity.

Schools in Spencer are part of the Oklahoma City Public School System. The district has released a statement which gives the teachers and principals a right to decide whether they will show the speech. The district warned that if parents chose to keep their children home from school, it will be counted as an absence. However, the decision for the student to watch is up to the parent.

“OKCPS will always be respectful of the three branches of government. As an educational entity, we will listen to each and be respectful of their message,” administrators wrote in the release.

Jones Elementary will not be watching the video. A representative from the school said that teachers and the principal chose not to interrupt the school day and left it up to the parents whether they want to show their child Obama’s speech at a later time.

The Mid-Del School District already had the day scheduled as a professional development day. Students will not be in classes. Stacey Boyer, community relations for the district, said the timing does not have anything to do with President Obama’s speech. The calendars are made in advance.

The Choctaw-Nicoma Park district will not mandate district-wide viewing of the speech, according to Superintendent Dr. Jim McCharen. Parents who wish for their children to watch the speech during school hours may contact the school’s principal in writing.

Rep. Gary Banz, district 101, said that as long as the president’s message focuses on process and participation, he thinks it is acceptable. Whether it’s the president or a locally-elected official, using one’s position to promote policy is never okay. Encouraging children to set educational goals and get involved in society in a generic, universally accepted message though, is okay.

“As long as that’s the message, I don’t have a problem with it,” said Banz. He also pointed out that other presidents have set the stage for this type of speech to schoolchildren. Banz noted that the activities teachers are encouraged to use in their classroom that pertain to the speech should be policy-neutral as well.

Rep. Charlie Joyner, district 95, also said he hopes the president’s message isn’t political.

“I would hope that he would not try to use a captive audience of school children for a political purpose. I think that would backfire in a big way,” Joyner said.

He noted that he has faith in local school administrators to consider the best options for their community when it comes to viewing the video in the classroom.

“I suspect that local schools are hearing from parents on the issue and that the schools will take their wishes in account, as they should,” he said.

Rep. Mike Shelton, district 97, feels that President Obama’s speech should be a part of the school day.

“It’s civics. It’s what they are here to learn,” Shelton said. He also noted that if there was any chance the Obama administration was planning on putting any policy into the speech that after hearing the concerns of parents they would omit it.

Whether Democratic or Republic, Shelton said he feels that it’s absurd that people don’t want to take the time to listen to what the president will say Tuesday. He said that parents have a responsibility to educate their students on their views of right and wrong and state their case once children have been presented with information.