Response from our school board about not showing Pres Obama's speech

[Cass]

Thank you for your concern that your child can not watch the Obama speech during school hours. This has gotten a lot of attention both locally and nationally but, in our particular case, it will NOT be played in the XXXX County schools next Tuesday. Not due to any other reason but that we have a procedure and process for reviewing EVERY educational tool and this falls into that category. The program will be recorded by our media department (in the same manner as many other education related programs are recorded) and sent through our standard process of review.

If it meets the requirements and criteria that supports the Sunshine State Standards and is not detrimental to current school policies or detract from our mission or academic goals, it would be made available at the library of schools for teachers to check out like any other material that is currently available that has been vetted and meets the aforementioned guidelines.

If the message is deemed to be politically biased or have a negative connotation, it will not be accepted or made available within our District. The Superintendent has already responded to calls and will be instructing principals to continue to adhere to our current procedures and guidelines. If there are some parents that want their children to see this program, they can record it and review it with their own children at home.

Please note that the “in the library” will only be after the standard review given to every instructional supplement that is submitted to the District for use in our schools. While I have not seen it yet and can’t be prematurely definitive, it is my firm belief that it will not be made available in our schools.

Personally, I believe that any type of broadcast of this nature should have been done at 8pm on a nationally broadcast channel rather than during school hours when the parents are not with their children. That way, parents could either elect to watch it with their children or not. I intend to tape it and review it with my wife and determine if it is suitable for our children and I recommend each household do the same.

He hasn't seen it but believes it is politically biased enough that he firmly believes it will not be available even after review. :wow:

I also contacted our local chapter of the ACLU and am waiting to hear back from them.

[eleny]

1. I thought America couldn't embarrass itself any more than when W was in office

[Teaser]

2. Can we please have the address of this dumbass school board?

.

[Cass]

17. Here you go..

http://www.leeschools.net/info/contact.htm

[timtom]

38. I'm sorry.

Here in Palm Beach County, the announcement was made that the President's speech WILL be shown in classrooms.

I'm saddened that this is not a matter of course throughout the country.

(To be fair, I would have felt the same if Bush had done the same thing. I would not want my children exposed to such trash as he.)

[Laf.La.Dem.]

They are just trying to protect the children (HA)

They did the same thing when Reagan and Bush made their speeches to our schools:puke:

[Cass]

8. In my letter I asked what other elected officials had been prevented from addressing the students

and what elected officials had been given permission. He didn't answer that but I'd like to know the answer to that one.

[droidamus2]

3. Hey wait a minute

This person obviously has absolutely no bias. So what if they haven't seen it it's still propaganda. Of course the parents should be able to watch it with their kids so they can point out what a terrible man that Obama guy is (and he isn't even really an American)! :sarcasm:

[WeDidIt]

4. Pull your kids out of school so they can watch it live.

If we don't fight them, they will continue to pull this shit.

[Cass]

6. Yes, I think I will do that. This is ridiculous.

I am none too pleased that they are using the students as political pawns to advance a political agenda.

[countingbluecars]

5. Here's the reply I received

from one of my school board members. His position is clear.

Dear,

Thank you for your heartfelt letter. I appreciate your sentiments. The
decision was made by the Loudoun County Public Schools administration,
not the School Board. I am fairly confident that had the School Board
been asked to decide the question, the vote would have been not to show
the event. I would certainly have voted not to allow the event to be
shown.

I have no idea if it is a policy speech, a political speech, an
education speech -- whatever it is -- we will not show it on September
8. It may very well be that high school and middle school teachers find
a way to work it into our curriculum in the future, and students will
have the right to opt out.

By the way, School Board members usually give speeches at BackTo School
Nights in Loudoun, the purpose of which is extol the virtues of voting
for school bonds in November. Since we have no bonds on the ballot this
coming November, we are not making speeches. Our cousel advises against
it because it might be seen as “political,” by some parents.

Our first day's activities are tightly planned out ahead of time, as you
may know. Secondarily, neither the President nor the White House
bothered to inform -- much less ask permission to broadcast this event
from the Superintendent of Schools. As it happens, neither the
President nor the White House bothered to inform the Virginia Department
of Education of the event.

What they did was write letters to school principals. They apparently
also included curriculum lesson plans

I seriously doubt very many school principals in America, let alone
Loudoun County, who would actually schedule this event for each class --
and force school children to watch it -- without permission from the
school administration, the parents of school children or the local
school board.

Your letter is one of only a few I have recieved from someone who
desires the video to be shown -- but I have a couple of dozen from
people who are more outraged than you, because they seem to believe
everything they see on Fox News or hear on Rush Limbaugh. They think we
are showing it, and they are seriously upset.

I have had quite a few parents write to me and call me to express thier
outrage, and to request that if we were to broadcast it in their child's
classroom -- I daresay, demand -- that we permit their student to opt
out.

[quiet.american]

7. Can the disrespect be any more blatant? "... the Obama speech" - not "President Obama's speech."

At least this reply certainly makes clear that personal ideology is the sole reason for the school board's decision, despite all the B.S. "policy" window-dressing.

These people stink.

[Cass]

9. Yep, I noticed that disrespect, too.

And you are right that it removes any doubt about why they made the decision they did.

[NotThisTime]

10. Holy MF'er, WTH?? He hasn't seen it yet firmly believes it will not be available? What about Bushco

They felt happy to put Bushco on, I'd respond to that shit pointing it out.

[Annces]

11. This is kind of like whose holidays we celebrate

where we get X-mas off and Easter. A culture change.

[damntexdem]

12. Well I can certainly understand their worry that a talk by a constitutional scholar ...

and president of the U.S. might not meet their high educational standards. LOL!

So basically the school board is politically biased enough that they will try to censor the President of the United States.

[Cass]

40. Lol, it is beyond absurd, it really is.

Your post reminded of that college out in Arizona who didn't think President Obama had earned an honorary degree from their school. Remember that one? My school district and the Arizona college are a match made in heaven. :crazy:

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

13. Elmbrook Schools (WI) aren't playing it, either.

My e-mail to the Superintendent:

Let me see if I understand the situation correctly. The President of the United States wants to talk directly to my kids about the importance of education, and YOU think that his speech should be censored because it might not be "appropriate for all age levels?" (Note: this quote was from the official message the School District put out today) Are you serious, or are you simply a moron? Do you really think, seriously, think that the President of the United States is going to drop the F-Bomb on live television while talking to school children?

Only the nutjobs like Fox News and Rush Limbaugh are pushing the meme that Obama is going to "indoctrinate our school children" with his address. When you stand with them, you're standing with people like Glenn Beck, who recently announced that the President is a "racist....with a deep-seated hatred for white people and for white culture." You're standing with the people who send out race-baiting e-mails and show up at public forums carrying semi-automatic weapons.

It would appear that the message you're sending to my kids is either a) we shouldn't respect the office of the President of the United States and that he's not to be trusted or b) we shouldn't trust the leadership of the Elmbrook Schools because they are stupid and cowardly beyond belief. I think I'll go with the second option, and tell my children on September 8th that the reason they could not hear the President's message is because some people, particularly the Superintendent of the Elmbrook School District, are ignorant and utterly unworthy of the positions that they hold in this life.

It's a hard lesson to learn, but I suppose they need to learn it sooner or later.

And just so you know, since this is clearly a politically-motivated decision on your part (and please don't insult my intelligence by pretending that it's something else), Barak Obama received more than 10,000 votes in the Elmbrook School District last year. Good luck passing your next levy without our support.

[Cass]

15. Wow, that is an outstanding letter!

:fistbump:

[WeDidIt]

16. Pull your kids out of school that day

and tell the superintendent that the reason you did so is they would receive a more valuable educational experience by watching the president's speech than by attending the first day in a bigotted school district.

[petersjo02]

18. Nice letter.

Just so you know for another time words that end in "ly" don't need a following hyphen. "Politically motivated" is all you need there. I'm kind of a grammar nut.

[emulatorloo]

14. I thought it was going up on a website ahead of time so WingNut School Boards could review it.

I beleive the wingnuts are shooting themselves in the foot with this one. STUPIDITY.

[Contrary1]

19. Seriously, when did all this stupidity begin?

When I was a kid, if the teacher thought something was worthy os the students' viewing, they would just wheel out the TV and turn it on. No notice, no special permission needed, no pre-viewing by some politically motivated school board.

This country has gone bat-shit crazy. :crazy:

[WillieW]

20. This is stupid Did they prevent Bush from reading Pet Goat?

from the news, President Obama will talk about education and will urge the kids to stay in school. What is wrong with that?

[babylonsister]

21. I'd love to know if he vetted idiot son's speeches first. This is

beyond the pale. I hope the ACLU responds (though their dockets are overflowing with cases from what I hear).

[Cass]

27. In my letter I asked him what other elected officials had been given permission

to address the students and which others had been denied...he ignored my question.

I am floored by this whole situation.

[imdjh]

22. Why did you XXXX out the county?

[Cass]

28. Privacy issues but then I realized I was only protecting them.

Its Lee county in Florida.

[imdjh]

32. Oh. I think you have bigger problems than the schools.

Look in the eyes. This man appears to have mental problems. I get crap for saying stuff like that, but I am right more often than not.

[Cass]

33. The sheriff is in some hot water again - this time for paling around with a kidnapper and

and money launderer. You can't make this stuff up if you tried.
http://www.news-press.com/article/20090816/SS15/908160369

[ohtransplant]

23. My e-mail to the principal and response.

PLease see below - best read from bottom up. You can bet I'll be there on Tuesday to pick up little Miss OHT.



Mr. OHT,
I will forward your comments to the Superintendent and Curriculum Director. I do have great respect for our President and encourage you to
tape his message or you may come get your child that day to watch at home with no issue of attendance to view his message.

Sincerely,

Ms. Principal






Dear Ms. Principal,

I'm very disappointed in this treatment of the president of the United States as described in you e-mail.

Respect for our government, our institutions and our duly elected president is very much in line with what we should be teaching our children. Teaching them to respect and pledge allegiance to the flag is another good example.

Fear of, or disdain for our president is not a worthy example to set for our children - regardless of whether we voted for him or agree with his policies. Also, I suggest he is not a textbook or a resource as referred to in your e-mail.

As I understand, the intended message is to stress the importance of education and encourage our children. That's a message I want my child to hear. In fact it's an honor for the president to take the time to speak with them in a direct fashion. George HW Bush provided a similar message as president.

When I entered the building yesterday I noticed a message board that said, "We Teach Character." This seems to be a real opportunity to demonstrate and teach character. I want my child to learn character and she needs as many examples as possible.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

OHT


Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 14:29:41 -0400
Subject: September 8th speech


September 8 Web Message From President Obama
On September 8th, President Obama will send a message via the White House Web site to all school children. Our Local Schools will capture this video message and review it for its curriculum relevance as the district does with all resources such as textbooks. If the message directly relates to the state standards, then the district will develop curriculum based talking points and communicate this to the appropriate grade levels/subject areas that teach those standards.


Once the message has been reviewed and if it is deemed an appropriate resource, then it may be available for teachers. If this resource is used as part of the curriculum in a classroom, parents will be notified prior to the class presentation. Should parents desire that their child be excused from the presentation, arrangements will be made to respect that decision. If parents have additional questions related to this issue, they should contact their child’s school.

Ms. Principal

[Cass]

36. You made great points in your letter - especially about the POTUS not being a textbook.

They are instilling disrespect and disdain for the President by making it seem that he has some kind of sinister message for the students. Its really disturbing that this is going on.

Good to know there will be no attendance issues if you take your child out to watch the speech!

[sinkingfeeling]

24. Wow, good to know that Florida still doesn't have a clue. I lived there (by mistake) for almost 2

years. The school system in Broward County was so bad and so underfunded that they were holding elementary school in shifts. I ended up putting my then second grader in a private school. This was in the late 1970s.

[MiniMe]

25. The fundies just don't get it - they want separation of Government and School

They don't want separation of church & state. I'm scratching my head over this one.

[fascisthunter]

26. because he himself is politically biased

[graywarrior]

29. This is unreal.

[LynneSin]

30. But if that was Bush they would be linining the kids up to get front row seats

:grr:

[lpbk2713]

31. It wasn't too far away from Lee County ...

... where Shit-for-Brains was reading "My Pet Goat" one September morning about eight years ago.

And he was welcomed there like a rock star at the time.

[Berry Cool]

34. The response the OP received isn't even well written.

These are the people running your school district?

[road2000]

35. Right, BerryCool

That person is an educator? My first reaction was that a fourth-grader wrote it.

Back on topic... for those of you who have children in these districts, I have a question. Has there been any comment or outcry from AA teachers or administrators? I would think there would be, since race seems to be the true decisive factor.

[Cass]

37. I haven't heard any yet but I intend to watch the local news broadcasts tonight to

see what the reaction is today. This is so infuriating.

[Arugula Latte]

39. OMG!!!1!! Obama iz gunna say that teh edukashun iz gud!11!

Whaddarewe gunna tell them childruns?!1! Only them soshalists like edukashun!!1!!

[Raschel]

41. There is NO WAY they would have done this to any other President.

These people are disrespecting our President, and our country.

And they accuse Obama of doing harm to our country...