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Dear Editor,
On September 8, 2009, many students in our community were denied an opportunity to be encouraged, inspired and mentored by the President of the United States of America. For those of you who missed President Obama’s speech to children in grades K-12, the theme can be easily summarized: “The responsibility each of you has for your education.”
Obama acknowledged that many students struggle with education due to circumstances beyond their control such as poverty, foster care and lack of parental involvement. He told personal stories of students able to overcome overwhelming odds and experience great success. From these success stories there is so much to learn.
Especially encouraging was his advice to struggling children: “And even when you’re struggling, even when you’re discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you — don’t ever give up on yourself.”
I believe denying students the opportunity to view and listen to this speech is nothing short of censorship and for no legitimate reason. It is difficult to imagine, regardless of political affiliation, how anything in this speech can be considered politically charged, as some have argued.
Below is a link to the speech in printed form. Surely if there is one thing we can all agree on it is the value of education. I hope students will be given an opportunity to hear from our president directly on this very important issue.
(Prepared remarks of President Obama’s back to school event, September 8, 2009, http://i2cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/0907/obama.school.speech.pdf).
Kala Spigarelli
Attorney at Law
Pittsburg
Dear Editor,
On September 8, 2009, many students in our community were denied an opportunity to be encouraged, inspired and mentored by the President of the United States of America. For those of you who missed President Obama’s speech to children in grades K-12, the theme can be easily summarized: “The responsibility each of you has for your education.”
Obama acknowledged that many students struggle with education due to circumstances beyond their control such as poverty, foster care and lack of parental involvement. He told personal stories of students able to overcome overwhelming odds and experience great success. From these success stories there is so much to learn.
Especially encouraging was his advice to struggling children: “And even when you’re struggling, even when you’re discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you — don’t ever give up on yourself.”
I believe denying students the opportunity to view and listen to this speech is nothing short of censorship and for no legitimate reason. It is difficult to imagine, regardless of political affiliation, how anything in this speech can be considered politically charged, as some have argued.
Below is a link to the speech in printed form. Surely if there is one thing we can all agree on it is the value of education. I hope students will be given an opportunity to hear from our president directly on this very important issue.
(Prepared remarks of President Obama’s back to school event, September 8, 2009, http://i2cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/0907/obama.school.speech.pdf).
Kala Spigarelli
Attorney at Law
Pittsburg
