Local districts react to Obama speech

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Individual school districts will be making their own decisions about President Barack Obama's education speech next Tuesday. The Texas Education Agency has not issued any written guidance, but spokeswoman Debbie Ratcliffe said it was a local decision.

"This is a decision that's up to an individual school district," Ratcliffe said. "It's not unusual for classes to tune in when the president speaks. Of course, this will be a little different because the speech will be aimed at students. We think it's appropriate for the individual school districts to make these decisions on whether to watch."

Here are some of the statements being issued by individual school districts.

From Austin Independent School District :

On September 8, 2009, the President of the United States plans to address students across the nation on the importance of education. The web address can be seen locally in Austin at 11 a.m. (CDT) on the White House website, www.whitehouse.gov/live, and broadcast live on C-Span.

The Austin School District believes such speeches by any sitting President are worthy of Americans’ time, attention, and consideration. Thus, teachers who believe that a viewing of the President’s remarks are in alignment with their classroom instruction — and offer age-appropriate and meaningful connections related to staying in school, learning, and enhancing opportunities for the future — will allow their students to take advantage of the opportunity afforded them through this address.

The District fully embraces the diversity of Austin, and that includes philosophical and political diversity. We believe that it is not the District’s prerogative to emphasize one group’s philosophy and/or values over another. Moreover, as an educational institution — one that is committed to the development of good citizenship in students — we feel it is our responsibility to offer young people the opportunities to listen to American presidents who have valuable messages for students.

It is AISD’s expectation that viewing of this web address will vary by campus and by classroom. Parents will be advised by their campusprincipals to alert the school if they have a specific desire to have their child included in, or removed from, the viewing of the President’s remarks.

From Superintendent Jeremy Lyon of the Hays Consolidated ISD:

Hays CISD will treat President Obama's address to students on Sept. 8 as any other national news event. The speech will be available for simulcast throughout the district, it will be archived for later viewing, and individual teachers will make the decision as to whether or not to make it part of their instruction.

"The professional judgment of our teachers drives day to day instruction around an aligned curriculum," Lyon said.

From the Lake Travis Independent School District to parents:

Dear Lake Travis ISD Parents & Community:

On August 26, 2009, Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education under President Barack Obama sent a letter to school principals across the country regarding President Obama's scheduled address to the nation's school children on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. Central Standard Time. In his letter, Secretary Duncan states:

This is the first time an American president has spoken directly to the nation's school children about persisting and succeeding in school. We encourage you to use this historic moment to help your students get focused and begin the school year strong. I encourage you, your teachers, and students to join me in watching the President deliver this address on Tuesday, September 8, 2009. It will be broadcast live via the White House website.

In advance of this address, we would like to share the following resources: a menu of classroom activities for students in grades preK-6 and for students in grades 7-12. These are ideas developed by and for teachers to help engage students and stimulate discussion on the importance of education in their lives. We are also staging a student video contest on education. Details of the video contest will be available on our website at www.ed.gov. in the coming weeks.

Over the past few days, the District has received several inquiries from parents and community members regarding whether the District intends to broadcast the Presidential address to students, including using the requisite lesson plan provided by the Secretary of Education. As a result of these inquiries, and in anticipation of more to come, we would like to communicate the following to parents and community members.

Lake Travis ISD has no plans to suggest, encourage or require teachers to revise the lesson plans they have in place for classrooms during the school week of September 7th. Thus, it will be "business as usual"in all classrooms across the District. Accordingly, there are classrooms whose course description and content are appropriately situated for integration of the President's speech and associated lesson plan into the classroom instruction.

For example, it seems reasonable to conclude that social studies and government courses are particularly suited to consideration of the Presidential addresses into their lessons. The District has reviewed the requisite lesson plan materials provided by the Secretary of Education. The lesson plans appear to be rooted in the context of asking students to consider the importance of doing well in school, and the importance of education.

Perhaps most importantly, the District believes that parents should be encouraged to go to the White House website and watch the President's address, review the lesson plan provided by the Secretary of Education, and make their own decisions regarding home viewing and discussion of the lesson plan content with their school-aged children.

If parents have specific questions regarding whether their child's teacher intends to access the Presidential address in their classroom on Tuesday, September 8th, or what the nature of the lesson will be on that day, they are asked to contact their child's teacher or the principal at their school.

From the Round Rock Independent School District :

President Barack Obama announced that on Sept. 8 he will deliver a national address directly to students on the importance of education. The President will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals and take responsibility for their learning. He will also call for a shared responsibility and commitment on the part of students, parents and educators to ensure that every child receives the best education possible so they can compete in the global economy for good jobs and live rewarding and productive lives as American citizens.

It is not required that schools show the address, however, Round Rock ISD is treating this like any other national news event, such as an election or shuttle launch, and allowing individual teachers to determine if their class will view the speech if it aligns to the curriculum and is timely. Any parent who objects to their child viewing the Presidential Address can request that they be excused from the activity by contacting their child's teacher or campus.

 From the Eanes Independent School District :

On Sept. 8, the President of the United States plans to address students across the nation at 11 a.m. (CDT). According to information from the U.S. Department of Education, the content of the message is on the importance of education, challenging students to work hard, set educational goals and take responsibility for their learning.

Although school-wide broadcasts of President Obama's speech are not planned, schools and teachers have been given discretion in determining whether this national news event fits in with their classroom schedule and aligns with the grade level and course curriculum.

Any parent who wishes to request that their child be excluded from viewing the speech may do so by contacting the classroom teacher for that time period.