Local Schools Refuse To Air Obama's Speech
Parents call president's speech "brainwashing" and "propaganda"
By TERESA MASTERSON
Updated 7:43 PM EDT, Tue, Sep 8, 2009
Some area schools did not allow students to watch President Obama’s speech to the nation’s children today – the speech telling them to stay in school.
The 18-minute back-to-school pep talk aired at noon and in it the president told students that the country needs them to develop their talent, skills and intellect.
"If you quit on school -- you're not just quitting on yourself, you're quitting on your country," said Obama.
While former First Lady Laura Bush cossed party lines to praise Obama’s efforts and endorse the controversial speech, local parents voiced outrage to schools that planned on airing the address. Council Rock, Central Bucks, North Penn and Pennsbury school districts will not be showing the address live to all students today after receiving complaints from district parents.
Council Rock Superintendent Mark Klein sent a letter to parents stating that a number of parents called Obama’s speech “propaganda” and “brainwashing.” Though Klein said that he doesn’t view the address as inappropriate, the elementary school classrooms did not view the speech and middle and high school students were only able to see it if their social studies teachers deemed it appropriate.
Pennsbury School District also referred to parents’ complaints. In a letter, district CEO Paul Long said that parents were concerned that the speech would be “political in nature.” As a result, elementary and middle school students did not watch the address. The only high school students that watched it were those whose teachers saw a “connection to the curriculum content of that course.”
Central Bucks will make the speech available on demand to teachers, but did not show it live either. If a teacher chooses to show the speech later, each parent will be notified.
As for North Penn School District, it announced that it wouldn't be televising the speech, but it would tape it and show it later to students whose parents approve.
All of the districts' announcements included the White House link to Obama's speech in case parents want to show the address to their kids on their own time.
First Published: Sep 8, 2009 10:42 AM EDT
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