Bryan and College Station Schools Make President's Speech Optional
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Updated: 10:49 AM Oct 2, 2009
Bryan and College Station Schools Make President's Speech Optional
The president wants to speak to school kids, but not all parents want their kids to listen.
Posted: 12:32 PM Sep 2, 2009
Reporter: Ashlea Sigman & Michael Oder
Email Address: news@kbtx.com
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The president wants to speak to school kids, but not all parents want their kids to listen.

Next Tuesday, President Obama will deliver a national address directly to students in grades Pre-K to 12th. It will be available on the White House's website, www.whitehouse.gov. In a letter sent to school districts across the U.S., Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said the speech will stress the importance of education. However, some see this as a political move and they're letting local school districts know it.

In Bryan, the end of the school day, did not mean phones in the district's administration office stopped ringing.

In a message left to the district's communication director, Sandy Farris, one parent said "I have a child in middle school and a child in elementary school and I am very concerned about the content and the intent behind President Obama's speech to kids on the 8th."

Phones were equally busy at College Station I.S.D., said Superintendent Eddie Coulson.

"It's a mixed bag, some people think its a great idea and others don't think it's such a great idea," said Coulson.

According to The Department of Education, President Obama's speech will air the day after Labor Day, on what is for many students the first day of school, and will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals and take responsibility for learning.

The challenge for BCS schools is that the speech will air at 11a.m., when many students are eating lunch. Also, not all classrooms have the capability to watch the online address, at once.

In both Bryan and College Station, students who have social studies at the time of the speech can watch it live. Those who miss it, will be have the opportunity to watch it later. Parents can also opt out.

"If it is mandatory in every room, we will pull 'em out," said Monica Martinez, whose three children attend Bryan's Harvey Mitchell elementary, "but if they have somewhere where they can go in a separate room, then they would be allowed to stay."

"You have choices and freedoms but I think everybody should watch it," said Charles Porter. Porter's two sons attend Bryan's Crockett elementary. "I think it should be a part of the curriculum of that day at school."

While none of the College Station parents News Three spoke with wanted to keep their kids home, none of them were happy about the speech.

"I perceive this as a socialist type of move," said Tammy Canatella, whose daughter is a freshman at Consolidated High School. "This should not be a forum to promote himself or his cabinet."

"I don't understand the logic of the President of the United States addressing elementary school children. I don't know what they will get out of it," said Jeff Gardner, the father of a Consol senior.

The department of Education also provided a list optional classroom activities to school districts.

Some of the discussion questions included were:
How will he (the president) inspire us?
How will he challenge us?
What other historic moments do you remember when the president spoke to the nation? What was the impact?

Farris said if the speech is discussed as a part of a civics lesson in Bryan classrooms, teachers won't rely on the Department of Education's questions. Coulson also said College Station's classroom discussions would be prompted by teachers.

Click on the link below to read the letter sent to schools on August 26th, as well as optional lesson plans.


Latest Comments

Posted by: Kate Location: College Station on Sep 8, 2009 at 05:52 PM

Have we gone crazy? Whatever happened to, "United we stand, Divided we fall"?
Posted by: Nala Location: Madisonville on Sep 8, 2009 at 11:30 AM

How bizarre and disheartening that this speech is being described as "controversial" in the media. The President is challenging our youth to take responsibility for their lives and rise to the challenges of education. Parents feel this is political? As an educator, I am regularly thwarted by this same kind of negativity from students' homes; however, I guess I have not wanted to face up to how many againers there are and how deep their hostilities run. What a lesson they are teaching their children: "The President of the United States is speaking, and I do not want you to listen." Of course, many of those same children listen to lewd music, they play violent video games and watch explicit movies, but their parents are "sheilding" them from a motivational speech by our duly elected leader. Wow. I'd like to thank President Obama for stressing the importance of accepting the educational opportunities of today's system. In my classroom, I am thankful to have him on my side.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 8, 2009 at 07:49 AM

To Observer- To are one of the few on here that actually make a true and accurate statement. Thank goodness there is still someone with simple common sense around this area.
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