CENTRAL OHIO -- Should school districts allow students to view the presidential address Tuesday? Public outcry caused at least one district to change its mind.
Columbus City Schools plan to have students watch President Obama as he welcomes students and discusses the importance of education Tuesday, Sept. 8. CCS Officials said they plan to make the address part of the day's curriculum.
Hilliard City Schools also will allow the broadcast after what Superintendent Dale McVey called "a divided community outcry."
Students who prefer not to participate will have an alternate activity.
Initially, Dublin City Schools and Hilliard City Schools both decided to cancel the event in their districts after receiving complaints from the community.
Both districts sent letters to parents via e-mail announcing the change.
Some fear the address could turn political and the President could go off-topic.
Others say the decision not to air the address in school during the school day is political in itself and that children need to hear what the President has to say about education and setting educational goals.
"It's a very competitive world out there. They are working their tails off and I feel it's extremely important for them to understand the value of education," said Caroline Reagh, a Dublin Scioto High School parent.
The address will air on C-SPAN and will be streamed live at http://www.whitehouse.gov.
Hilliard had planned to allow its students to choose whether to watch the broadcast at school and will now go back to that original plan.
"My children are in public schools so they can hear a variety of viewpoints and sort of engage in the public discourse," said Rebecca Hamilton, a Hilliard parent.
Dublin plans to tape the broadcast and make it available to parents at a later time. If teachers feel the material is important to students, parents will be notified beforehand and alternate lessons will be available for students who opt-out.
"Oh I think it's censorship and it's also very political. I mean you have school administrators functioning as politicians. This is what's going on here," said Chuck Csuri, a Dublin grandparent.
WCSD Protocols Regarding President Obama’s Address to Students:
President Barack Obama is scheduled to present a web-based address to students across the country at 12 p.m. on September 8, 2009. If a teacher believes that it is appropriate to have students view the speech within the curriculum being taught then it will be viewed. If a teacher plans to have students view the address, they are being asked to make parents aware of their intentions and to make available an alternative activity if parents do not want their students to participate.
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