President's Speech Met With Little Uproar In Arklamiss
By: Janice Park
Updated: September 8, 2009
Educators say they were preparing themselves today for an uproar.
Some parents across the country have been speaking out against President Obama's motivational speech which was broadcast to school children all across the nation.
But the anticipated storm turned out to be quite calm.
Critics of today's speech say the President was trying to fill young, impressionable minds with partisan thinking. But most local teachers wound up showing the speech at 11 am today, and very few students chose not to watch.
In Monroe, the lights were turned off and students turned their heads to the screen. The students at Shady Grove Elementary, like millions across the nation watched President Obama speak about responsibility, education and overcoming failure.
In Ouachita Parish, the superintendent made it the parents decision. If a parent objected to watching the speech, a student would instead go to a study hall. In Richland Parish, it was up to the teachers. The superintendent says out of 3400, about 20 chose not to watch.
The President's speech is unique in that it's the first time a president has directly addressed students in about 20 years. George H.W. Bush was the last president to make such a speech.
Critics of today's speech say the President was trying to fill young, impressionable minds with partisan thinking. But most local teachers wound up showing the speech at 11 am today, and very few students chose not to watch.
In Monroe, the lights were turned off and students turned their heads to the screen. The students at Shady Grove Elementary, like millions across the nation watched President Obama speak about responsibility, education and overcoming failure.
In Ouachita Parish, the superintendent made it the parents decision. If a parent objected to watching the speech, a student would instead go to a study hall. In Richland Parish, it was up to the teachers. The superintendent says out of 3400, about 20 chose not to watch.
The President's speech is unique in that it's the first time a president has directly addressed students in about 20 years. George H.W. Bush was the last president to make such a speech.
