Post by title1parent on Sept 4, 2009 5:10:52 GMT -5
www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=318826&src=76
DuPage schools taking own approaches to president's speech
By Melissa Jenco | Daily Herald
DuPage County school districts are each taking their own approach when it comes to when or if they will show students President Barack Obama's speech next week on education.
Some educators and parents say listening to the address from the nation's leader will be a learning opportunity. Others are concerned about what message Obama will send their children.
The speech is scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday and will last about 15 to 20 minutes, according to a letter sent to school principals across the country from U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan.
During his talk, Obama will "challenge students to work hard, set educational goals and take responsibility for their learning," Duncan said in the letter.
Some schools will broadcast the address live. For example, fourth- and fifth-graders at Young Elementary School in Indian Prairie Unit District 204 will view the talk, then discuss topics such as the value of education and what they would like to tell the president.
Administrators in District 204, which covers portions of Naperville, Aurora, Plainfield and Bolingbrook, and neighboring Naperville Unit District 203 are allowing individual schools and teachers to decide how to proceed.
District 203 teachers "are being encouraged to make age-appropriate use of the president's speech," district officials said in a Talk203 e-mail to parents.
In classes where students will watch the speech, parents from both districts will have the option of exempting their children.
Other districts will be recording the speech. For Lombard Elementary District 44, it's a logistical issue because students will be in the midst of standardized testing. But in others, opting out of the live version is a matter of administrators feeling unsure about exactly what Obama will say.
"We understand what Secretary Duncan is suggesting the topic is," said Robert Rammer, spokesman for Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200. "But with any material we would like to see what's in that presentation before we just roll it out to kids on a live feed."
Villa Park Elementary District 45 and Bensenville Elementary District 2 are taking a similar approach.
Addison Elementary District 4 Superintendent John Langton is not requiring teachers to show it. He suggested they incorporate portions of the speech in a later lesson.
"The plan is, generally speaking, not to have anyone sitting and watching it on the day of the speech, but to take bits and pieces afterward," said Diane Junokas, public relations coordinator.
Most districts say they have been getting calls from parents wanting to know their plan for the talk.
Ed Leman, superintendent of West Chicago Elementary District 33, said he is flabbergasted at the uproar the speech has caused.
"I truly am really struggling to understand the concerns," he said. "We elected the man to be our president and he wants to give what I'm pretty sure is a pep talk to students. ... I don't see why there would be an objection."
He has instructed principals to give students a chance to see the address and the district will record it for those who miss it. Parents in District 33 still will be able to keep their children away from the presentation.
This is not the first time a politician has spoken to schoolchildren, whether it's a mayor or a president.
President Ronald Reagan was warmly welcomed in Geneva in 1982 when he had a question-and-answer session with an eighth-grade civics class at St. Peter Catholic School. He was promoting tuition tax credits for families that sent children to private schools.
Students asked him about the tax credits, but also whether he planned to change a freeze on hiring ex-air traffic controllers he fired during a strike the year before, gun control, inflation and his economic policy.
Daily Herald staff writers Anna Madrzyk and Robert Sanchez contributed to this report.
DuPage schools taking own approaches to president's speech
By Melissa Jenco | Daily Herald
DuPage County school districts are each taking their own approach when it comes to when or if they will show students President Barack Obama's speech next week on education.
Some educators and parents say listening to the address from the nation's leader will be a learning opportunity. Others are concerned about what message Obama will send their children.
The speech is scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday and will last about 15 to 20 minutes, according to a letter sent to school principals across the country from U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan.
During his talk, Obama will "challenge students to work hard, set educational goals and take responsibility for their learning," Duncan said in the letter.
Some schools will broadcast the address live. For example, fourth- and fifth-graders at Young Elementary School in Indian Prairie Unit District 204 will view the talk, then discuss topics such as the value of education and what they would like to tell the president.
Administrators in District 204, which covers portions of Naperville, Aurora, Plainfield and Bolingbrook, and neighboring Naperville Unit District 203 are allowing individual schools and teachers to decide how to proceed.
District 203 teachers "are being encouraged to make age-appropriate use of the president's speech," district officials said in a Talk203 e-mail to parents.
In classes where students will watch the speech, parents from both districts will have the option of exempting their children.
Other districts will be recording the speech. For Lombard Elementary District 44, it's a logistical issue because students will be in the midst of standardized testing. But in others, opting out of the live version is a matter of administrators feeling unsure about exactly what Obama will say.
"We understand what Secretary Duncan is suggesting the topic is," said Robert Rammer, spokesman for Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200. "But with any material we would like to see what's in that presentation before we just roll it out to kids on a live feed."
Villa Park Elementary District 45 and Bensenville Elementary District 2 are taking a similar approach.
Addison Elementary District 4 Superintendent John Langton is not requiring teachers to show it. He suggested they incorporate portions of the speech in a later lesson.
"The plan is, generally speaking, not to have anyone sitting and watching it on the day of the speech, but to take bits and pieces afterward," said Diane Junokas, public relations coordinator.
Most districts say they have been getting calls from parents wanting to know their plan for the talk.
Ed Leman, superintendent of West Chicago Elementary District 33, said he is flabbergasted at the uproar the speech has caused.
"I truly am really struggling to understand the concerns," he said. "We elected the man to be our president and he wants to give what I'm pretty sure is a pep talk to students. ... I don't see why there would be an objection."
He has instructed principals to give students a chance to see the address and the district will record it for those who miss it. Parents in District 33 still will be able to keep their children away from the presentation.
This is not the first time a politician has spoken to schoolchildren, whether it's a mayor or a president.
President Ronald Reagan was warmly welcomed in Geneva in 1982 when he had a question-and-answer session with an eighth-grade civics class at St. Peter Catholic School. He was promoting tuition tax credits for families that sent children to private schools.
Students asked him about the tax credits, but also whether he planned to change a freeze on hiring ex-air traffic controllers he fired during a strike the year before, gun control, inflation and his economic policy.
Daily Herald staff writers Anna Madrzyk and Robert Sanchez contributed to this report.
