“The president will speak directly to students about the value of education and the importance of staying in school as part of his effort to dramatically cut the dropout rate,” Amy Brundage, White House spokeswoman, said via e-mail. “It’s not a policy speech.”
Hamilton City Schools will not show the live Obama speech. It will be taped and made available at school media centers, said Joni Copas, district spokeswoman.
“We encourage parents to talk to their children so in the event their teacher wants to show it in the classroom, the student has the option not to watch,” she said.
Fairfield City Schools spokesman Randy Oppenheimer said all teachers will show the speech at some point during the day, but parents can request an alternative assignment for their child. Edgewood City Schools officials said they would do the same, and parents can send a note if they want their children to opt out for an alternative assignment.
Fairfield has received 15 to 20 phone calls from parents since sending a letter home on the matter.
Oppenheimer said parents fear the president will go off the education topic to talk about health care or the environment. Others just don’t want their child listening to him, he said.
Debbie Alberico of Middletown City Schools said teachers have been asked to alert parents if the broadcast will be shown, and parents may send in a note to excuse the child from the speech. Teachers will have alternate assignments prepared.
Lakota Local Schools released a statement that students would not watch the address live, but would have access to the taped version in media centers and in some classrooms where teachers elected to show the speech.
“We recognize the political interest our community has in this topic,” officials said in a letter to parents. “We strived for a common-sense approach that both valued the instructional time while still offering our students an opportunity to view a special message from the sitting president of the United States.”
Monroe Local Schools representatives said the speech will not formally be shown and students will not be required to participate.
In the speech, the president will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning, according to the White House.
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