- The School Board did not make this decision, or even discuss it. This was the Superintendent's call. The Board's first opportunity to discuss this will be on Tuesday evening at our regularly scheduled meeting.
- I spoke to a number of principals last night who said they hadn't heard much about the controversy yet but who agreed that the 1st day of school is always a challenging day and not a good day for the speech.
The president will speak directly to the nation’s children and youth about persisting and succeeding in school. The president will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning.Clearly there is nothing partisan about encouraging students to work hard, set education goals and take responsibility for their learning. Their future, and the future of this nation, depends on it.
People opposed to the President encouraging our kids to learn are trying to bring the health care town hall meetings into the classroom, and the classroom is no place for that kind of partisanship.
It is not a good day for America or this community when some parents pledge to keep their kids from school if the President's speech will be shown and others pledge to keep their kids home from school if it isn't.
No matter how deeply Americans disagree on policy, every Republican, Democrat and Independent agrees that a strong education is critical, and I can think of no better message for our children.
Thank you for your posts on this. I still think it's important for our school children to hear the President speak to them in real time. I hope that Supt Hatrick will change his mind on this one.
ReplyDeleteSo if the message were to be taped and played back to everyone in schools on, say, the second or third day of school, the message wouldn't mean as much?
ReplyDeleteI agree they should hear the message. But I also agree the first day of school is for establishing routines and rules for each class, and to watch a speech - no matter how empowering - that can be watched and discussed later - does disrupt that first day.
And John, I haven't read it as a town hall health care deal (your code words to criticize Republicans). It's been the other way around. Many of my neighbors are up in arms about it because back in 1991 - before the Internet, DVRs, cheap cell phones, etc. - a George Bush speech was televised in schools. They're twisting that into the decision being an attack on Democrats.
So if the message were to be taped and played back to everyone in schools on, say, the second or third day of school, the message wouldn't mean as much?
ReplyDeleteI agree they should hear the message. But I also agree the first day of school is for establishing routines and rules for each class, and to watch a speech - no matter how empowering - that can be watched and discussed later - does disrupt that first day.
And John, I haven't read it as a town hall health care deal (your code words to criticize Republicans). It's been the other way around. Many of my neighbors are up in arms about it because back in 1991 - before the Internet, DVRs, cheap cell phones, etc. - a George Bush speech was televised in schools. They're twisting that into the decision being an attack on Democrats.
@anonymous. No, it would still mean what it means. There are, however, benefits to seeing and hearing things as they happen and I think it's sad that the LCPS kids will miss being a part of something occurring in real time.
ReplyDeleteThere are things that the country used to stop what it was doing for, and an address from the President was one of those things.
The John Birch Society would be proud of this narrow minded decision by LCPS to censor President Obama. All kids need to hear this message stressing the importance of staying in school and working hard, but all too often decisions like this are made only to appease the extreme hate mongers who threaten to hold their kids out of school because they fear that the President is attempting to indoctrinate their children. This decision by LCPS sends the wrong message and only encourages these fringe elements to continue their campaign of fear and hate.
ReplyDeleteIt's unfortunate that as much as things appear to change, the more they stay the same.
A teacher friend posted this blog link that presents an education point of view:
ReplyDeletehttp://weblogg-ed.com/2009/the-obama-speech/
I plan to boycott Loudoun County and not spend a dime there. I used to live there. My brother still leaves there. I am going to encourage everyone I know to not spend a dime there.
ReplyDeleteWhat a backwards place this is. I remember being in school and getting extra credit if I watched the state of the union address (from Bush, Reagan, etc.) You can't get more partisan than that.
It's a free country. And I will freely not spend a dime in Loudoun County.
I plan to boycott Loudoun County and not spend a dime there. I used to live there. My brother still leaves there. I am going to encourage everyone I know to not spend a dime there.
ReplyDeleteWhat a backwards place this is. I remember being in school and getting extra credit if I watched the state of the union address (from Bush, Reagan, etc.) You can't get more partisan than that.
It's a free country. And I will freely not spend a dime in Loudoun County.
I didn't think it important to disrupt the school day schedule for the "pledge across america" back when the Republicans ran the DOE. I think some right-leaning teachers did anyway. Likewise I don't think it necessary for children to hear Obama in real time. Some partisan teachers will do so anyway.
ReplyDeleteIf the speach was in person, that is definitely better than on TV. But a TV presentation is a TV presentation. The only loss with delayed screening is not being first online to blog about it.(Wait, maybe it isn't a bad thing to have to think before pontificating, if there really are student political bloggers.)