Obama makes a speech to your child in school on Tuesday, September 8, 2009

On Tuesday, September 8, 2009, President Barack Obama will be making a national speech.  It will not be televised at 8pm or 9pm EDT, the traditional time to address the adults of the nation.  The speech will be at noon, EDT and broadcast by C-SPAN and viewable on the White House Web site.  The speech is not meant to enter our homes.  Rather, it is meant to enter our schools.  The speech is not geared towards the voting adults, rather, to the school- aged minor.

  President Obama and Ed. Sectretary, Arne Duncan (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

The 15-20 minute speech is proposed to be one of encouragement to our school aged children across the nation.  The themes are supposed to encourage our youth to set goals, work hard to achieve them and be accountable for their personal responsibility in their education. 

After the banking bailouts and automotive bailouts made by our government, this speech can be seen as one of two ways.  One thought is that it is hypocritical to hear from the same administration that Americans of any age now need to be accountable for their own actions.  Others may view the speech as a refreshing change of tune.

Although the address may be intended to fortify No Child Left Behind, the "atta boy" pat on the back may not be necessary.  The National Center for Education Statistics reports that the national drop out rate from high school has decreased from 14% to 9% from 1980 to 2007.  The NCES also predicts that the New York State has seen an increase in graduation rates of 6.2% from  a 2001-05 study done by EPE Research Center in 2008.

Besides the questionable need to have this Presidential Pep Talk, some parents locally and across the nation feel that they have been omitted as an important part of the equation.  If President Obama wanted to send a message to the children, our children, perhaps making the address at a time when parent and child can sit down together would be more appropriate.  PTA Councilperson, Cara Mendelsohn of Dallas, TX says that this approach is, "cutting out the parent".

Meanwhile, some educators feel that, although the US Department of Education has posted lesson plans based on grades Pre-K - 6 and 7-12,  to enhance the Presidential Address, they are left with little knowledge of the speech.  These teachers feel that they will not be properly prepared to field any questions or comments that their students may have.

After reviewing these lesson plans, the only virtual window into the address, one can see questions that teachers can ask their students, such as,  "Will President Obama inspire us?" and "Will President Obama challenge us?".   Arizona State School Superintendent, Tom Horne says the lesson plans, "call for a worshipful rather than critical approach".

Then the question rises as to where to draw the line in federal involvement in education.  Is there an overstepping of boundaries by the US Department of Education Secretary, Arne Duncan's sending a letter to the Principals of our children;s school across the nation "urging" them to take part in the viewing.  "This is something you'd expect to see in North Korea or Saddam Hussein's Iraq", says Oklahoma state Sen. Steve Russell.  Florida GOP Chairman, Jim Greer released a statement to the public that he was, "absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama's socialist ideology".

President Obama is not the first President to make an address to school children.  Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush made addresses to our youth.  Perhaps it is the difference that President Reagan had an open forum discussion with school aged children?  Perhaps it was that the October 1, 1991 address by President Bush began with the words, "I am not here to teach you a lesson.  You already have a very good teacher.  I am not here to tell you what to do or what to think.  Maybe you are accustom to adults talking about you and at you.  Well today I am here to talk with you".

The controversy over the address has left many parents feeling uneasy enough that they prefer their children to opt out of the viewing.  Locally, the Newburgh Enlarged City School District is leaving the viewing up to the classroom teachers.  The District says that alternate arrangements will be made for those whose parents wish their child not see the speech.  No details of what the alternate arrangements will be or how the situation will be handled were offered.  A letter from the NECSD Superintendent, Annette Saturnelli, was not sent home to parents in regards to President Obama's address.  Parents of the district do not know what their options are.  Some parents may not even be aware of the address taking place.  Balmville Elementary School Principal, Carla Sigelbaum, made an announcement over the public address system to let teachers know that participation was not mandatory.  She furthered to say that if any parent wishes for their child to opt out, the parent must tell the teacher, and the teacher must tell Sigelbaum by 9am on Tuesday morning.  Unfortunately, at the time of the announcement, the walkers were dismissed, the school buses were gone and half of the teacher parking spaces were empty.   The Labor Day holiday weekend gives student ans staff the day off on Monday.    Balmville School parents who have internet access can email Carla Sigelbaum their wishes before the Tuesday morning deadline. 

As for the rest of the Newburgh School District, Chris McKenna of the Times Herald-Record reported on September 4, 2009 that New Windsor parent, James Petro says, “If you believe anything this White House says, you need to see a psychiatrist”.   Parents of children within the Newburgh Schools can contact the individual Principals through the District web site.

As parents, I personally urge you to investigate how your school Principal plans on handling the address.  As President Obama is expected to say, "do your homework".  Be involved in your child's education, no matter what your political views are.  At the least, your child will see that you have taken a vested interest in him/her.