Montgomery County school districts should listen to students

The recent flap over the President's address on education has been especially apparent here in Montgomery County where 4/6 school districts chose to completely censor it. The other two only showed it to those who had parental permission.

A small but loud minority of parents combined with reactionary school administrators caused these school districts to take these unprecedented steps. At no other time in history, have they taken this sort of action in preparation of an elected official speaking to children. While the school administrators were obviously feeling some pressure from some parents, this sort of mob rule cannot drive all decisions. At some point, common sense and dedication to the mission must weigh into the decision-making process.

While some districts may have seen offering an opt-out option as a compromise, it only compromised their credibility with more sensible parents, students, and the greater community. It encouraged too many parents to treat this opt out form as another opportunity to vote in the 2008 election, rather than an opportunity to make a good education decision. That's why school districts must lead, rather than be led around at knife point. These districts could have easily cited precedent, stating that their longstanding policy has been to allow community leaders into the classroom without permission due to the benign nature of their message. After all, they are charged with advancing the education of their students and cannot be expected to have parents weigh in on every decision. It is their duty to stand up for these principles and provide educational leadership. Yet, they took the easy and less courageous route in this case.

We can learn a lot from the high school students who are sadly, more mature than the parents and school administrators who sought to censor the message.

Magnolia High School Junior Matt Korman:

“I am just one of the many who feel like this is not right and unfair to the student body of not only MHS, but to all kids of MISD,” Korman said. “I do not understand why we are not allowed to watch a presidential address to the students of America, that is, after all, about us and how to set educational goals and to take action in our learning.” Korman read the advance script of the president’s remarks released Monday and said it was not “overreaching in trying to indoctrinate young, impressionable minds.” “We have brains of our own,” Korman said. “We form our own opinions. … I believe your actions were premature and more politically driven and I am extremely disappointed as a student.”

Oak Ridge High School Senior Dani Myers:

“President Obama delivered an important message,” “We need to listen to what the president says. He cares about our future.”

Montgomery, Willis, New Caney, and Splendora ISD should do the right thing and show the President's address in the classroom to all students, without restriction. Otherwise, their credibility as a objective, fact-based, education-oriented institution is greatly at risk.

Source: The Courier 9/9/09

Congressman Brady, where are you now?

In recent article of The Courier, Congressman Kevin Brady said this of the President's Address on Education that airs tomorrow:

"U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, agrees with schools not airing the speech. He said he and his wife are opting their fifth-grader out of viewing the broadcast “unless we can preview it ahead of time and determine if it’s appropriate.”

Now the text of that speech has been released by the White House. Congressman Brady is a leader of this community and his statement has undoubtedly influenced many parents in their decision whether or not to expose their children to the President of the United States. Now that the speech can be previewed, we call on Congressman Brady to announce whether or not he feels the president's message is something he considers "appropriate."

Read the text of the speech.

UPDATE:
In an interview with CNN, Former First Lady Laura Bush has become the first major Republican to take a stand on the side of common sense, rather than fear-mongering lunacy. Said Laura, "I think it's also really important for everyone to respect the President of the United States." Hats off to Laura Bush having the courage to say what is right. Hopefully, Congressman Kevin Brady can summon similar courage.

Conroe ISD Censoring the President

In an email obtained by MoCo Report, it is clear that some CISD schools are giving parents the option to "opt out" their child from watching President Obama's upcoming speech to children on persisting and succeeding in school. In a letter, to school districts, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan encouarged school leaders to play the speech, which will be broadcast live via the White House website on September 8th. In the letter, Secretary Duncan says, "The president will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning."

CISD has not yet returned our inquiry and we are in the progress of reaching out to other school districts to understand what their plans are.

However, Bush Elementary in The Woodlands, is going forward with the "Opt Out" program:

> Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 17:00:14 -0700
> From: jmills@conroeisd.net
> To:
> Subject: President's Address
>
> Bush Parents,
> You should have received a letter today about the President's address to the students in America.
> Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has requested that all students in the nation watch as the President delivers a national address on the importance of education. CISD students will watch the address which will be delivered Tuesday, September 8, 2009. It will be broadcast live on the White House website www.whitehouse.gov at 12:00 noon eastern standard time and 11:00 a.m. CST.
>
> If you request that your child not participate in watching this message, please return the note to your child's teacher or write a note indicating your choice. Your child will be allowed to participate in another activity, such as reading in the library. If you do wish for your child to participate in watching the President’s message, you do not need to return the note.
>
> Thank you,
> Judy Mills
> Principal

We respect the rights of school districts to decide whether or not a Presidential Address fits into their planned curriculum and to act accordingly. However, to allow an "opt out" program sends the message to the public as well as young children at a formative age that something is potentially wrong with what the President will say. That inference is absolutely unfounded as the Department of Education has made it clear what the intentions of the Address are and they have even provided suggested lesson material to possibly accompany the speech. Review of the material reveals the same thing, that this effort is obviously benign in nature. This type of address is not unprecedented, as former President George H.W. Bush gave a similar school speech in 1989. When I was in school, we watched Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush at in-class televisions at various important times in history.

We have asked CISD if they have implemented similar "opt out" options for past Presidential Addresses. It's important to note that a Republican political figure, then First Lady Laura Bush visited this very elementary school in 2008 with her daughter to read to students and no similar opt-out option was offerred. I would contend that Barack Obama talking about the importance of perserverance in school is just as harmless as Laura Bush reading a children's book that she wrote.

Regardless of policy differences we may have, I think we can agree that children should learn to have respect for the office of the President of the United States.

See: Houston Chronicle 9/2/2009 , Politico.com 9/2/2009