State encourages local decision on broadcast ...
Local districts set policies prior to Obama's speech on Tuesday to schoolchildren

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette

Friday, Sept. 4, 4:30 p.m. -- Nelson County's two largest school districts have set their plans in the wake of next Tuesday's noontime address by President Barack Obama to the nation's schoolchildren. The address -- and the U.S. Department of Education's suggested curriculum in particular -- has sparked concern nationally among parents of school-aged parents.

Brent Holsclaw, superintendent of the Bardstown Independent Schools, told The Gazette he has received only one parent inquiry regarding Obama's speech next week. The balance of the inquires he has received were from the members of the media. The decision to watch the speech and take part in any related activities is being left to individual teachers at each school, Holsclaw said.

In the county school system, the decision whether to watch the speech is being decided at each school in the district. Dr. Janice Lantz, superintendent of Nelson County Schools, said the district was following the guidelines issued by Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday, which includes having alternative activities for those who wish to opt-out of the broadcast and related activities.

Alternative activities may include "reading groups, one-on-one tutoring, physical activities, special curriculum activities or any activity that would be offered at other times when students are permitted to opt out of presentations," Holliday wrote.

Holliday's e-mail to districts suggested the decision to view the president's message or take part in related activities "is one that should be made locally," he wrote. "Although the event appears to be nonpartisan and is designed to motivate students to do well in school, parental concerns should be addressed."

Parents of children in the city school system should consult with their child's teachers if they have concerns about the address. Parents of county school students should check with administrators at their child's school.

National reaction, backlash grows

The president's address to the nation's schoolchildren wasn't what directly raised eyebrows among parents and conservative pundits. Some of the language in the suggested curriculum handed down by the U.S. Department of Education had political overtones, raising red flags with parents nationwide.

These excerpts from stories across the country highlight parent's concerns that their agenda were being fed a political agenda:

From Politico.com, "School speech backlash builds": School districts from Maryland to Texas are fielding angry complaints from parents opposed to President Barack Obama's back-to-school address Tuesday – forcing districts to find ways to shield students from the speech as conservative opposition Obama spills into the nation’s classrooms.

The White House says Obama’s address is a sort of pep talk for the nation’s schoolchildren. But conservative commentators have criticized Obama for trying to “indoctrinate” students to his liberal beliefs, and some parents call it an improper mix of politics and education.

The White House moved Thursday to quell the controversy. First it revised an Education Department lesson plan that drew the ire of conservatives because it called for students to write letters about how they can help the president.

Then Obama aides said they would release the text of Obama’s address on Monday, a day before his speech is to be beamed into the classrooms – an apparent attempt to show skeptical parents ahead of time what he plans to say.

Superintendent Lonny Lemon said his office got about 40 calls that "hit like a load of bricks" Wednesday.

Obama on Tuesday plans to give a school-time speech on the importance of education, aimed directly at the nation's schoolchildren.

Meanwhile, school districts across Wisconsin are deciding whether students will watch Obama's nationwide address.

Madison schools are allowing students to leave class without penalty if they don't want to watch it. Green Bay intends to archive it and let teachers decide whether to show it later.