Barack Obama's address to students and Atlanta school system responses

September 7, 3:46 PMAtlanta Northside Family & Parenting ExaminerJackie Kass

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President Barack Obama will address students

President Barrack Obama is scheduled to address the country’s school children tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. Several north Atlanta school systems have posted updates about the president’s address on their websites. According to a letter from Secretary Anre Duncan to the nation’s school principals, “President Barack Obama will deliver a national address to the students of America. During this special address, the president will speak directly to the nation’s children and youth about persisting and succeeding in school. The president will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning.”

The country remains divided on this address and its timing. Parents are threatening to keep their children home from school on Tuesday. In Atlanta, several of the county school systems have posted notices about this controversial address on their websites.

Cherokee County:
The Cherokee County School District focuses on instruction and teaching the State’s new curriculum, the Georgia Performance Standards, so that students can achieve - and exceed – their personal and educational goals. Daily instructional time is a precious resource; therefore, schools are under no obligation to watch the hour long address, either through the Web cast or on C-SPAN. Teachers who plan to show President Obama’s speech will notify parents ahead of time, as well as provide an opportunity for students to opt out of the broadcast. Although suggested lesson plans have been shared by the U.S. Department of Education, there are no plans or requirements to use them since they are not a part of the required curriculum. No child will be penalized if he or she does not participate in the broadcast.

Cobb County: 
The District has confirmed that the speech will remain available for viewing on the White House web site following the live broadcast, which provides an excellent opportunity for parents to watch this historic presentation with their children at home if they so choose. We encourage schools to recommend this option, and to also provide information to parents about how they can view the speech with their children.
Schools are not required to show the live broadcast. If schools decide they want to incorporate the speech into their curricular activities, they may do so on a voluntary basis provided they notify parents in advance and provide an opportunity for students to opt out of the broadcast. Students who do not participate will not be penalized in any way.

Dekalb County:
There is nothing currently posted on the website concerning the president’s address.

Forsyth County: 
President Obama’s back-to-school address to students will not be shown live on Tuesday, September 8 because of the 12:00 lunch hour. However, FCS families will have access to view the recorded message online at www.forsyth.k12.ga.us.
Teachers will also have access to video of the speech to preview and use for instructional purposes when it fits into the curriculum. If a teacher chooses to show the speech in class, parents/students will be notified. More information about the speech can be found at www.ed.gov.

Fulton County:
As parents know, the Fulton County School System focuses on instruction and teaching the state’s new curriculum, the Georgia Performance Standards, so that students can achieve – and exceed – their personal and educational goals. Daily instructional time is a precious resource; therefore, schools are under no obligation to watch the address, either through the webcast or on C-SPAN.
In the event a school plans to show the broadcast, parents will be notified ahead of time as well as be provided an opportunity to opt out their students through the form below. Although suggested lesson plans have been shared, they will not be used since they are not a part of the required state curriculum. No child will be penalized if he or she does not participate in the broadcast.
Families also have the option of watching the president’s remarks with their children outside of the school day, as the speech is expected to be available on both the White House and C-SPAN web sites after the broadcast.

Gwinnett County:
There is nothing currently posted on the website concerning the president’s address.

The notices are a bit confusing. My own children attend north Fulton schools, and since I did not receive advance notice of the address, I am assuming their schools are not planning to air it during class time. However, if you do not want your child to view the address, you should call the school tomorrow morning and simply ask if it will be aired during the school day.

The president’s address will be broadcast live on the White House Web site and on C-SPAN at 12:00 p.m., ET on Tuesday, September 8, 2009.

THIS JUST IN:

Prepared text of Obama's speech to school students was just published by the Associated Press.

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