Loudoun County Virginia Message from Superintendent Regarding Obama Address to Students

Last week the U. S. Department of Education sent an email to all principals in America advising them that President Obama would make a brief speech to students on Tuesday, September 8, about the importance of achievement, dedication to studies, and staying in school. Speeches with similar themes were given in the past by President Ronald Reagan and by President George H. W. Bush, although not on the first day of school. Unfortunately the email was not sent to superintendents or other school officials. We issued a memo to LCPS principals to let them know that they were not expected to stop all school activity at noon for everyone to hear the President’s speech at the same time. This was important because the chosen time for the live broadcast of the speech is on the first day of school and during the lunch hour for many of our students. Nothing in last week’s memo indicated that showing the speech was prohibited. At the time of the memo we had not encountered any public or parental commentary on the speech.

All of that has changed and now a number of parents and others have weighed in with support for or opposition to the President’s speech being shown in our schools. This controversy, unfortunately, is occurring throughout our Nation. In order to try to respect the wishes of all parents, we have issued additional guidelines to all principals. Recognizing the differences that exist between our elementary, middle, and high school students, these guidelines are different for elementary schools than they are for middle and high schools. Our intent is to be sure that students have an opportunity to hear our President speak to them but also respect the wishes of parents who do not want that hearing to occur in school. My hope is that everyone will take advantage of the White House’s posting of the speech on Monday to assuage any fears they may have.

We do believe that it is important for our young people to hear from the President of the United States of America, and we also hope that many parents will take advantage of the White House web cast or the posting that will occur on the LCPS website to view the President’s speech with their children to reinforce the important messages of working hard in school and sustaining effort as a student.

In any case, please be assured that middle and high school students will be given the opportunity to view or not to view the speech whenever it is shown in their schools. In addition, parents of elementary students will receive at least one day’s notice before the President’s speech is shared with students and will be told the explicit procedures to follow if they do not wish their children to be part of the viewing.

It is unfortunate that we live in a time when a speech that I believe will serve a good purpose evokes such strong, accusatory responses from those who support and don’t support the showing of the President’s speech, but that extreme reaction may reflect more the political times in which we live than the importance of encouraging our students, by every means possible, to do their best in school.

We look forward to working with you and your children this year as we attempt to create a Climate for Success for every student. I hope that this controversy will not mar what is traditionally a very successful opening of school in LCPS.

I wonder what would have been the reaction if President Bush had had the Department of Education put out the word that he wanted to "make a brief speech to students on Tuesday, September 8, about the importance of achievement, dedication to studies, and staying in school." I wonder how long it would have taken the state-run media to get reactions from, say, a "typical principal" of the Baltimore City Public Schools. Or of the LA Unified School District. Or perhaps the (acting) Superintendent of theh Detroit Public Schools.

Can you imagine the fun the SRM would have had with that?

Loudon County VA.

This letter does not jive with my ongoing conversation with School Board members.

They assured me the decision had been made NOT to show the Speech since the first day of school “IS” very scheduled and would upset the planning done for the day.

One member even explained his feeling about the President and White House not deeming it necessary to notify the Virginia Education Department or the Superintendent or the School Board. They went directly to the Principals.

He was angry too!

I told one Board Member who had replied she would be out of the office until Sept. 4 that I hoped she intended to remain out of her office permanently. She had several days to notify me of the change.

To one who slid past the fact that I was notified that “IT IS” not to be run on the first day of school, I responded: “ Was that just a cunning use of the language? Shall I begin to question the use of “IS” in the future?

I was so tired by 3 AM when I finished my replies, I realized I had been unusually “vocal”, for me.

I started this reply yesterday and got called away from the computer and just got back here tonight. Sorry.

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