SF Catholic Schools Say Obama Speech Should Be Family Time [Diocese Decides Not to Show Speech]

KSFY Sioux Falls ^ | 9/8/09 | Brian Allen

[marshmallow]

While thousands of kids in our area watched President Obama's speech today, kids in Sioux Falls' Catholic Schools did not. They continued their normal class work as the President delivered a speech meant for them. We wanted to know what went into that decision so tonight, we asked.

As the President spoke, urging kids to stay in school and become the leaders of tomorrow, kids in Sioux Falls Catholic Schools were not watching. A decision made by Catholic school district leaders and backed by parents like Barbaba Paa. "I was not sure what was going to be the content of the speech."

And Nicole Barnes. "I feel that...if they showed it, it would be taking some time out of the day."

Both moms have kids attending Saint Mary's Elementary School where Courtney Tielke is the principal. "We didn't have an opportunity to preview Obama's material although we support the work of the government and what they do to help make schools stronger."

Tielke tells us Catholic school district leaders decided not to show President Obama's speech, believing it should fall to students' families to decide if they want their kids to see it...and if they do...to show it at home...not school. "We actually had a couple parents that asked if we were. Their focus was they would want to choose to do that as a family."

Mom Nicole Barnes says her family is not making solid plans to watch the speech, nor are they intentionally avoiding it. "If it happens to be on TV and we watch it together as a family I'll be happy to answer any of their questions and talk about it at that time."

And while Barbara Paa agrees with the President's message of staying in school and becoming a leader, she also tells us; "That's also something we talk about around the dinner table at night."

Barabara Paa also told us she was worried the President would use the education speech to promote his health care reform plan...and she was glad to see he did not.

[Buckeye McFrog]

evidently they weren’t comfortable that Bam was not going to come on and plug Free Abortions for Everyone....

[MarineBrat]

If you compare the success of Catholic school children against that of government schools, you’ll see that government has no room to talk on this issue.

[NoRedTape]

Thank you, South Dakota Catholic Schools!

What a wonderful article of strength and clarity; a true breath of fresh air.

Thank you for your wise decision for the kids in the classroom.

(applauding them).

[livius]

The kids who do best of all at Catholic schools, interestingly, are black children. I once read that as a group (and granted, they’re not a large group) they actually have a higher average income than white Catholics when they become working adults. A far cry from the average black public school graduate (or non-graduate)!

[DadOfFive]

My children all attend (or attended) Catholic school in Sioux Falls (one graduated, serving in Kuwait as we speak) and I was glad to hear they were not going to show the speech. Something about having one dime of tuition wasted on watching him made me ill. I know the speech was probably harmless, but I think only because they were caught in time to ratchet down the “praise Obama” rhetoric. Thank you Sioux Falls Catholic School System!