Obama speech to students stirs classroom controversy

A planned speech by President Obama to the nation's students Tuesday has ignited debate across the country about the politics and motivations of the president. But the speech and the controversy are being embraced as a “teachable moment” by Sonoma County educators.

Obama will give a 20-minute speech Tuesday morning about “persisting and succeeding in school,” according to the U.S. Department of Education. Tuesday marks the first day of school for many students across the country, but also comes at a time when Obama is embroiled in a heated battle over the future of health care — a battle that has erupted in passionate town hall meetings across the country.

“This is a historic moment and we do try to take advantage of historic events — the launches of some of our flights in space and elections and other events that are important for students to have as part of their general knowledge,” said Sharon Liddell, superintendent of Santa Rosa City Schools.

But opponents have called Obama's address propaganda and abuse of his position. Local schools and district offices have received calls expressing concern about students watching the talk.

“We got a couple...of calls or emails that were from people who were strongly opposed to it,” Liddell said. “They didn't identify themselves as parents and just said they were opposed to it.”

Many schools and districts have issued emails, autodialer phone calls and hardcopy permission slips if teachers plan on airing the speech Tuesday.

At Rincon Valley Middle School in Santa Rosa, the address will be recorded and seventh- and eighth-graders will watch it during their regular reading and homework period at noon so no core curricular time is lost, said Principal Matt Marshall.

“I'm a longtime history teacher. I like it,” he said. “I can't think of a time when the president of our nation was directing a speech toward our youth.”

Marshall expects about a dozen students to choose not to watch it, but said he doesn't believe the content of Obama's speech is meant to indoctrinate young minds.

“I don't buy into that, but do honor the people who are concerned,” he said.

The speech reached elevated political debate this week after Jim Greer, the chairman of the Florida Republican Party issued a scathing indictment of the planned talk.

“As the father of four children, I am absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama's socialist ideology,” he wrote.

“The idea that schoolchildren across our nation will be forced to watch the president justify his plans for government-run healthcare, banks and automobile companies, increasing taxes on those who create jobs, and racking up more debt than any other president, is not only infuriating, but goes against beliefs of the majority of Americans, while bypassing American parents through an invasive abuse of power.”

Sonoma State University political science professor Andy Merrifield said a president feeling the heat on political matters isn't likely to get relief from the opposition, even over a school talk.

“I would suggest it's not unusual for the opposition party to make suggestions that any time the president does anything, there is a partisan aspect to it,” he said. “When you throw kids in the mix, it allows the opposition to make it seem more nefarious.”

“The president of the United States saying that they ought to go to school, work hard and do swell is about as innocuous a thing as possible and yet it's being portrayed as indoctrination,” he said.

Teachers and administrators in Sonoma County say no one will be forced to watch Obama.

“A presidential message of support to our kids is important and refreshing,” said Windsor Middle School principal Lisa Saxon. “It sounds like a real positive kind of thing.”

Windsor Middle School careers teacher Sunni Stecher, who said she will watch the speech with her first period class, hopes Obama does get specific — about education and career pathways.

“I'm really hoping he talks about future jobs,” she said. “I am hoping that his message really is ‘stay in school, do your best, because when you get out into the world, you are going to need it.' I would be very surprised if it wasn't just a kind of cheerleader kind of speech.”

Biella Elementary Principal Winnie Hogoboom said her campus is hamstrung by technology, and many classrooms aren't equipped to watch the speech via an internet feed.

Still, one teacher is going to work the speech into her lesson and sent permission slips home Friday allowing parents to opt out or join their student in class Tuesday morning.

“I think they have every right not to have their kids watch,” Hogoboom said. “We all need to get our inspiration and our motivation from people we respect and admire and if they have families who are suspect...it's not going to carry the same impact anyway.”

The speech will be carried on C-SPAN at 9 a.m. PST.