letter to principal.

[barbtries]

comments welcome, thank you

Dear ---,

I am writing to learn the reason why my son was not allowed to take part in listening to President Barack Obama's back to school speech to the nation's schoolchildren today. I am incensed that he could not share in the nationwide experience of the students of America being addressed directly by our President.

I certainly hope your reasons do not involve a contrived and absurd controversy invented by radio hatemongers and right-wing propaganda cable television.

Please respond.

Sincerely,

[Inspired]

1. Please let us know how they respond. n/t

[The Wielding Truth]

2. Very good with a recommend. Hope you post the response.

[calimary]

5. I hope you GET a response.

I think these people just have to be called out on this stupid shit. EVERY TIME. AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.

[barbtries]

14. thank you

i'll try to remember to do that, if and when.

[panader0]

3. Does your child attend a public school?

For the life of me, I cannot understand how a public school could bar the President's speech. Isn't the President the leader of the public? Private schools, religious schools maybe. But even charter schools take public money. How could they legally ban the speech?

[FLDCVADem]

7. Easy

Local, not federal control of public schools.

[itsrobert]

8. Nobody said "control"

Public schools, are funded on the local, state, and federal level. Federal: IE Stimulus Bill, School Lunches, etc.. And the President is the civic leader of the United States.

[FLDCVADem]

13. Yes he is

That still doesn't mean that the federal government can or should be able to dictate to schools what they show the students.

[robinlynne]

15. sure you're a Dem?

[FLDCVADem]

18. Yes I am

But that doesn't mean that I'm in favor of federal control over public schools.

[lib_wit_it]

23. It's not federal *control* to expect that the President of the United States be given the respect

that previous presidents were given by school districts when they addressed the school children of the nation via television. The rabid objections are just another part of the hatred of the president based on lies and distortions, as well as deliberately manufactured hysteria over perfectly acceptable presidential behaviors.

Did you object to W's unfunded, punitive federally imposed mandate, No Child Left Behind? I highly doubt it.

[barbtries]

10. yes he does.

i'm so naive, when the school didn't send out any notices or leave phone messages addressing it, i thought, good, they must realize this is a non-issue and will show the speech. i am pissed that they didn't.

[itsrobert]

4. This is what I emailed....

Principal ------------,

Why wasn't the President's speech shown to my son and the rest of the students of ------- High today? When is a lack of respect for our elected President tolerated at a public school?

Thanks,
-------------


Your letter is better, I think.

[Kerrytravelers]

6. I would also include the School Board on the letter.

If you don't get a response within 5 business days, I think it is fair to send a second one indicating that this is now the second letter you've sent.

[mecherosegarden]

9. and follow up with a copy to the school district. N/T

[barbtries]

11. i don't know if it was a district-wide black out

i only know my son's school didn't turn it on.

[Kerrytravelers]

16. The school board should be made aware of this fact. Even if everyone but your child's teacher

watched it, I'd still inform the school board.


I'm an educator. The last thing we want is the sb on our ass.

[Kerrytravelers]

17. In fact, you should write a LTTE informing them that your child's school didn't see it.

Tax dollars pay for schools, so taxpayers have the right to know.

[barbtries]

20. okay

i'll forward it. according to my son, nobody at his school watched it.

[barbtries]

21. i hadn't even thought of this

until i read the responses to my post. to i went to the school district website, and found this:

Earlier this week, we received information regarding President Obama's video webcast scheduled for next Tuesday, September 8th. WCPSS considers this an optional instructional activity. Should individual schools choose to participate, they are asked to follow our practice for any additional enrichment activity.

Schools may participate if:

* The video webcast activity is aligned with the state's Standard Course of Study;
* Parents of the students who might participate be made aware of the activity; and
* Should a parent choose not to have their child participate in the video webcast activity, an appropriate alternative educational activity be provided separate from the event.

there's a feedback form on the same page so i left a note including the text of my email to the principal.

i almost feel personally disrespected.

[lib_wit_it]

24. So, every activity in every class must be parentally approved and opt out activities provided,

even though the activity is aligned with the state's Standard Course of study? No, that does not happen. Lies, damn lies, and republican rationalizations.

[barbtries]

25. you got that right.

i just posted the principal's response.

[lib_wit_it]

26. Where is the post? Thanks. : )

[barbtries]

27. here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6497934&mesg_id=6497934

welcome :)

[LisaM]

12. I don't envy the teachers and principals. I'm sure most of them wanted to show it.

Blame the bullies who prevented them from doing so. I also wouldn't trust a school board - the right wing has been stuffing local school boards for years, which is why we're now dealing with all this nonense about evolution, school prayer, and abstinence.

My suggestion is that parents join or attend the next PTA and create the stink there.

[Kerrytravelers]

19. I agree, joining the PTA is a great idea.

Having parents pressure the sb and letting them know you're watching what is happening is important, too. This thing might get the public's attention. They might be very surprised as to what is happening in their local schools. Often times, school boards do a lot in private or just gloss over things that the public is never aware of.

[Drifter]

22. Where was the outrage when AWOL ...

was reading My Pet Goat to children while the worst attack on America was unfolding.
Not to mention the half hour he continued to sit there after learning of the second attack.

Cheers
Drifter