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Lodi schools to show Obama message
One local school district sent a voicemail to parents Friday letting them know how it would handle the somewhat controversial speech being delivered next week by President Obama.
Although the Department of Education has encouraged schools nationwide to tune in during regular instruction time, some parents have opposed the address and even accused the president of trying to indoctrinate their children with socialist ideas.
The focus of the speech is expected to be staying in school. The president will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals and take responsibility for their learning, according to the Department of Education Web site.
In its districtwide message, Galt Joint Union Elementary School District Superintendent Karen Schauer provided for parents background on the president's 20-minute address to students.
"Our teachers may choose to make the speech a part of the instructional day or continue with plans they have already prepared," she said in the recorded message.
Parents are encouraged to write a note to their child's teacher should they not want their student to view the speech. An alternative activity will be provided if a classroom is participating, Schauer added.
That's how the other two large local districts are handling the issue, as well.
Galt High School teacher Alex Bauer plans on showing the speech in his classroom Tuesday. He said he has not received any negative feedback from neither parents nor students.
As of noon Friday, Liberty Ranch Principal Brian Deis said his office had received one call.
He provided his teachers with information on the speech and Internet links, but said they are to determine if they feel it can be fit into their curriculum.
However, the 9 a.m. event may be an issue since it starts during a time when students are passing between classes.
At Galt High, new principal Charles Howell said he plans to record the speech and replay it during next Friday's GTV time, typically set aside for a special video bulletin of what is going on at the school.
"(On Tuesday), we will preempt our bulletin for the speech. Our students will be told that they are not required to listen if they choose not to," he said, adding that offering an alternative assignment is a consistent practice when the school brings in outside presentations.
Howell has not talked to any parents about the event.
In Lodi Unified, Superintendent Cathy Nichols-Washer said administrators have left the decision up to each site. The district office field a few calls from concerned parents, she added.
It is not clear what district schools will be participating.
The full text of the speech will be available for parent review on Monday at www.whitehouse.gov.
Contact reporter Jennifer Bonnett at jenniferb@lodinews.com
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Lodian wrote on Sep 11, 2009 10:37 AM:
This has got to be the most asinine comment to date here on these boards. lol! "
IMO wrote on Sep 10, 2009 4:29 PM:
tiger wrote on Sep 8, 2009 11:56 AM:
parents are keeping their kids from watching the PRESIDENT SPEAK???
"..president of trying to indoctrinate their children with socialist ideas..."??? LOL! wow, I never thought people would be so paranoid?? Stop living in the 1950's!
don't forget its the majority of those kids that will grow up to go to college to become democrats anyways =p. unless they get rich they will switch it up. "
sparky595 wrote on Sep 7, 2009 7:57 PM:
sven31 wrote on Sep 7, 2009 6:56 PM:
jeff wrote on Sep 7, 2009 11:50 AM:
no matter which president is addressing the school children, it should not be overtly political. "
jeff wrote on Sep 7, 2009 11:46 AM:
freespeech wrote on Sep 7, 2009 8:46 AM:
mainframe wrote on Sep 7, 2009 2:16 AM:
mainframe wrote on Sep 7, 2009 2:13 AM:
mainframe wrote on Sep 7, 2009 2:09 AM:
flyguide wrote on Sep 6, 2009 10:33 PM:
veritas wrote on Sep 6, 2009 9:40 PM:
jeff wrote on Sep 6, 2009 2:36 PM:
oh, and most lusd schools do lack the ability to watch this live. "
1143 wrote on Sep 6, 2009 12:09 PM:
AT THE SAME TIME "WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP ACORN AND THE SOCIALIST MOVEMENT".
HILE.................BARACK! "
freespeech wrote on Sep 5, 2009 7:50 AM:
AND: Even though I do not have T.V. or cable reception in my LUSD classroom OR the technology to show the live web feed, I've already received parental "complaints" asking that a particular student be "excused without penalty" from the address becase it is "political and not educational." WTF?! And it's not about race, because this kid is part black. There are so many things wrong with that scenario I don't know where to begin..... "
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