Like others, I’ve been a bit disgusted with the tone of the conversations around President Obama’s Education Talk. So, let me get some quick points down so you’ll know where I stand:

• My children’s time could be better spent in class than watching the President of the United States. They can always watch the video on their own time if they are really interested.
• The only way this video should be watched in schools today is if it’s relevant to the content (e.g. current event).
• As a parent and educator, those whining about socialism and blah blah blah are to be avoided except for polite conversation about the weather. I respect their opinions but find them incredibly…well…let’s just leave it at that.
• I voted for President Obama and I believe in owning the consequences of my vote.

Now on to the more relevant question, “How should schools handle this?” This noise-making about keeping kids home from school, parents being the primary arbitrators/teachers of children highlights the serious problems that the conservative, angry know-it-all parent worldview has.

Many school districts are already ineffective as a result of the howling mess composed of parents, teacher unions, and more. Adding politics to the mess doesn’t help one bit. Parents who take advantage of this situation to bash their local school districts are pretty much worthless. Aren’t there better things to rally around than actions beyond the school’s control?

Schools have to just hunker down and take the garbage being heaped on them by vitriolic parents who are mustering to defend their children against an empty threat.

Here is the letter my children’s school district sent me (bold/italics are my emphasis):

There has been quite a bit of media attention recently over President Obama’s address to school students on September 8, 2009. I am sending this message home to inform you about North East ISD’s position on this.

To avoid a disruption to the school day and loss of academic time, NEISD will provide the President’s address for families to watch at home if they so choose. The district will tape the speech and provide a link through the district’s Parent Portal.

The decision to record the speech and make it available on our Web site is for logistics and convenience purposes. I realize the highly-charged political environment is in the news, but quite frankly, many students will be at lunch, P.E. and other activities outside the classroom during the original broadcast.

Regardless of political party, adults should model respect for the office of the President of the United States.

Thank you for your understanding on this matter.

Other districts are handling the situation differently. But I like the approach above and hope that my children will choose to watch the President and critically analyze his speech. I’ll be sure to do that with them…if only conservatives would do the same in as balanced a way as they can, too, we might begin to find common ground on issues rather than dividing ourselves.

I’m reminded in this discussion of a famous quote by President Lincoln in his “A House Divided” speech and I find it appropriate:

A house divided against itself cannot stand.
Adapted from Matthew 12:25

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