Posted: Friday, September 4, 2009 12:00 am
Tim Turner & Peter Adelsen | 0 comments
President Barack Obama has been under attack after announcing he would like to address the nation's public school children on the principles of working hard and staying in school; two principles the President discussed numerous times during his campaign for presidency.
Despite Kokomo Center Schools having three schools that failed adequate yearly progress, they have decided not to broadcast the president's address live in their school.
According to a statement released by Dave Barnes, KCS's school community consultant, they were concerned about political messages in the presidents statement:
"Because of mixed messages included in communications from the United States Department of Education about whether the President's message will advocate particular political positions, Kokomo-Center Schools will not broadcast the President's live address to students on September 8."
Barnes provided the documents that the school received:
Department of Education Materials
Barnes said that the reason that they would not allow students to watch the address was because they couldn't review it in advance. The address is going to be shot live at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Va. The White House said they plan to release the text of the speech online on Monday so that schools and parents can review what the president is going to say. Despite that, schools have decided to not air the address rather than review it and make a decision.
President Obama used KCS facilities during his election to campaign for president, for which he paid a fee. The school sees that as a completely different situation. Barnes said, "If you are using Memorial Gym as a rally, then, as a parent, if I have a child, I make the decision whether or not I attend that event." However the school is not providing any alternative for parents who want their children to see the President's address on Tuesday.
KCS also seems to use a different standard for live addresses compared to recorded ones. They claim they are concerned about political statements the President may make, but they used political speeches as historical tools in the classroom.
"There are a number of addresses from Presidents that we have used after the fact as part of our curriculum," said Barnes in defense of wanting to review the statements in advance. "President John F. Kennedy's address about the Berlin Wall has been used many times."
They use the speech despite Kennedy using the Berlin Wall as an illustration of the tyranny of communism and trumpeting the principles of democracy.
"We have reviewed it; it was taught," said Barnes. It is a teaching moment."
The school has said that after review it will be decided if individual teachers can use the material in the classroom. "If, after review, the content of this address fits within the adopted state standards for their subject area, teachers may include the address as a part of their normal educational activities in future lessons," said Barnes. However, working hard and staying in school are not state standards in any subject area according to doe.in.gov/standards.
Barnes broke down what the school's real issue is, "We don't know what the man is going to say."
When asked if there was pressure from parents or groups, or if this was based on existing school policies, Barnes said, "You have our statement."
KCS later submitted a revised statement based on questions about what was the difference between former presidential addresses like President George H.W. Bush's address to school children in 1991, and Obama's address.
Barnes said:
"The major difference is that the president's address is during the instructional day. The examples of other presidential speeches you cited were not made during the school day and were addressed to the general public.
"Kokomo-Center teachers are encouraged to utilize materials that support the teaching of state standards. Our teachers utilize a methodical planning process in preparing lessons, which includes previewing materials used in class.
"The materials from the U.S. Department of Education do not specify a consistent preview of the content of the address. This, along with the fact that our school schedules would have to be realigned to accommodate a live address, Kokomo-Center Schools is choosing to integrate the address within our normal educational activities in future lessons that relate to the state standards."
Bush's address to students was broadcasted at 12:15 p.m. Barnes could not say if KCS showed that speech to students live.
Mayor Greg Goodnight said schools should let students watch the address.
"Not knowing the ins and outs of the reasons why, I would think if it is a targeted audience to students, most schools should make an attempt to let students watch the speech," said Goodnight.
Three other local schools have also decided not to air the address for different reasons.
Western School Corporation
Western School Corporation officials have decided not to air President Obama's speech on Tuesday. However, the speech will be archived in its video furnace onto the computers.
"If the school principal and teacher agree that it has educational merit it may be shown later," said Abby Rodgers, secretary to Superintendent Peter O'Rourke.
If Western would air the speech, the district would send a letter home informing parents about the decision and they would allow parents to opt out their children from the speech.
Eastern Howard School Corporation
Superintendent Tracy Caddell said he was surprised by all of the controversy regarding the president's speech. However, Eastern Howard School Corporation has decided not to air the speech live to its students.
"We are not going to view it live," he said. "However, if teachers would like to download it to their classroom's computers to preview it they can. They can show it if it's tied into their curriculum or has historical importance."
Taylor Community School Corporation
Superintendent John Magers sent out an e-mail to all of the corporation's principals on Thursday saying that Tuesday would not be a good day to participate in viewing the speech.
He said in the e-mail that it is not a good time for schools given all the activity around that time of day and also its appropriateness given the focus on instruction and Indiana standards. He also said that the speech may be beneficial to some students.
He gave parameters to the principals:
* Given the timing of the event, Tuesday is not a good day to participate (short notice and lunch period) unless you deem otherwise
* For those teachers who request to participate, assist them if needed
* Important: Accommodate any parent who does not want their child involved
Northwestern School Corporation
The Perspective made three attempts to contact Northwestern School Corporation by phone and sent an email to superintendent Ryan Snoddy with no response.
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