While it was never to be required, USD 250 Superintendent Destry Brown was originally planning to allow his staff to show today’s address to the nation’s schoolchildren by President Barack Obama in their classrooms if they so chose.
The 11 a.m. speech encourages students to stay in school and work hard to accomplish their goals, advice Brown thought could be beneficial to some, if not all of the students.
Then came the unexpected.
Brown began receiving calls and e-mails from parents concerned over what Obama may say. Many worried that the president would use the speech to advance his political agenda. Some were so concerned that they threatened to keep their kids from school today to prevent them from viewing or hearing the address.
“A lot of them mostly felt that Obama was going to use this as a platform to talk about his health care plan,” Brown said. “They were concerned he was going to try to talk to the students about that, and in turn, try to influence the parents through the kids.”
In light of the concern from parents, and the nationwide controversy Obama’s address has stirred, Brown decided not to allow the speech to be shown live at any of the district’s schools. However, in a letter posted on the USD 250 Web site, Brown said he will allow teachers to show the speech to students at a later date, as long as parents are notified before it is shown.
“We understand that some families may not wish to have their child watch the president’s speech at school,” Brown writes in the letter addressed to parents and patrons. “We are asking all teachers that if they plan to include the speech as part of a lesson, they need to inform parents and allow them an opportunity to opt their child out by notifying the teacher or the school. Students who have been opted out will be given supervised alternative learning activities out of the classroom during the 20-minute speech and any immediate follow-up discussion.”
Pittsburg schools are not alone in deciding not to air Obama’s address.
The speech also will not be broadcast in Girard schools, as Superintendent Gary Snawder said he does not want USD 248 to “get involved in that controversial issue.”
“This is more of a parental issue,” Snawder said, “and if (the students) want to watch it, there will be plenty of chances to see reruns of it when they get home.”
Fort Scott schools also will not air the address as it happens. Instead, the district will play a recording of the speech in the commons area at Fort Scott Middle School during two evenings this week, giving parents the chance to view it with their children.
Obama’s speech will be shown live at Northeast schools in Arma. According to a letter posted on the USD 246 Web site, students will be allowed to watch the live address in their classrooms. However, parents were also given the chance to remove their children from class if they do not want them to see the speech.
“The students who choose to opt out will be placed in another classroom to do school work (during the speech),” according to the district Web site.
The speech will not be broadcast live at Frontenac schools, but Superintendent Dale Slagle said that is partly because of timing issues, as it is set to begin while most students are changing classes. Slagle said the speech will be recorded, however, and copies will be distributed to teachers for them to use as they see fit. And unlike at other schools, Slagle said USD 249 does not plan to notify parents if teachers elect to show the address in class.
“I don’t think people should opt out,” Slagle said. “It’s the president of the United States. This isn’t a political message. He’s encouraging the kids to stay in school and work hard. I don’t see this as controversial at all.”
It was unknown at press time how Southeast USD 247 schools are handling Obama’s address, as district officials could not be reached for comment.
On Monday, in advance of today’s address, the text of Obama’s speech was posted on the White House’s Web site. In the speech, the president explains the importance of a good education, hard work and perseverance.
“You want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer? You want to be a nurse or an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You’re going to need a good education for every single one of those careers. You can’t drop out of school and just drop into a good job. You’ve got to work for it and train for it and learn for it.”
Obama acknowledged that "being successful is hard," but told the students the country badly needs their best effort to cope in an increasingly competitive global economy.
"What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country," Obama says. "What you're learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future."
He also warned students that if they quit on school, "you're not just quitting on yourself, you're quitting on your country."
“I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do,” Obama says.” I expect great things from each of you. So don’t let us down — don’t let your family or your country or yourself down. Make us all proud. I know you can do it.”
To read the speech in its entirety, click here.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
