Politics, glitches censor speech

Partisan concerns and technical glitches prevented many students in the Stanwood- Camano School District from watching President Barack Obama's speech to students on the importance of education last Tuesday morning.

District Superintendent Jean Shumate said it was up to the discretion of each teacher/school as to whether or not they would have their students watch President Obama's speech.

"Parents were encouraged to contact the school principal if they wanted to opt their children out," said Shumate.

Teachers were told that alternative learning options should be provided for students who opted out, she said.

Shumate also instructed teachers that students should be told that opting out would not be held against them in any way.

"Some schools sent parents permission slips home last week," said Shumate.

The district office received 17 phone calls and three e-mails for and against allowing students to watch the address, said Shumate.

Nationally, several conservative groups expressed dismay over possible propaganda in the speech and recommended lesson plans they believed would indoctrinate American students.

Pam Gentz, Twin City Elementary principal, said the elementary did not show President Obama's address to the school children.

"I requested that if a teacher wanted to show it at a later date they could record it," said Gentz. "Prior to its showing, a letter approved by me, would have to be sent to parents requesting their permission."

If a parent did not want their child to watch it there would be an alternative activity for that child, she said.

Stanwood Middle School Principal Barbara Marsh said she left it up to the individual teacher to decide if the speech fit into their curriculum.

Students had the option not to watch it if they or their parents wished, she said.

Christine Gruver, Stanwood High School principal, said the high school received some calls of concerns prior to the speech.

"Originally the speech was going to be aired during our advisory period and so we were not going to show the speech," said Gruver. "However, the time was changed and the speech was actually aired at 9 a.m. That allowed those staff who wanted to show the speech to do so, as long as they had an alternative activity for students who didn't want to watch it."

Elger Bay Elementary Principal Jon Evavold said watching the speech was not much of an issue at his school.

"Elger Bay doesn't have cable, so we weren't able to watch," said Evavold.

However, Evavold said he received two calls from concerned senior citizens prior to the broadcast.

Nate Christensen, Lincoln Hill science teacher, said although he was baffled over the discord surrounding the televised address, he did not show it to his class.

"I didn't show the televised speech — not due to any personal agenda — it just wasn't part of the lesson plan for my science lab," said Christensen.

However, Christensen didn't see any basis for contention with the speech.

"It's the President of the United States speaking earnestly and directly to students about the importance of education and personal responsibility," said Christensen. "When did those values become controversial?"

Jennifer Kelly, retired Stanwood High School teacher who currently substitute teaches, said there was no reason not to show the speech to students.

"I substituted that day at Lincoln Hill High School and when I found out we could show the speech, four students in a class of about 20 wanted to see it, so I set them up at the back with a computer," said Kelly. "I had read it on the Internet that morning, and thought it was great — very inspiring, as well as educational."

Some teachers, who said they fear administrative reprisals by going public, argue that they were legally obligated and duty-bound to present the broadcast.

The Revised Code of

Washington (RCW) directs

that teachers "must

........

teach morality and patriotism"

in public schools.

....

Specifically the law states,

"It shall be the duty of all teachers to endeavor to impress on the minds of their pupils the principles of morality, truth, justice, temperance, humanity and patriotism; to teach them to avoid idleness, profanity and falsehood; to instruct them in the principles of free government, and to train them up to the true comprehension of the rights, duty and dignity of American citizenship."

Former President George H.W. Bush addressed the nation's students on live television in 1991.

During last week's speech, Obama said the road to success is not an easy one.

"We need every single one of you to develop your talents, skills and intellect so you can help solve our most difficult problems," said Obama. "If you don't do that - if you quit on school - you're not just quitting on yourself, you're quitting on your country."

The president stressed staying in school and studying hard.

"The story of America isn't about people who quit when things got tough," said Obama. "It's about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best."