President's speech not shown to elementary, middle schools

Viewing made optional for high school students

Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009

This was decided on Friday by Calvert County Superintendent of Schools Jack Smith, who sent out a letter to families saying that while the speech — designed "to encourage students to set and achieve challenging goals as well as take responsibility for their learning" — was not a "political activity," it would be logistically difficult to show to students at elementary and middle schools.

High schools, Smith said, would show the speech during students' hour-long lunch period, though, "Students can choose from a variety of activities, and no one will be required to participate in the event," the letter said.

Smith gave two reasons for not showing the speech in elementary and middle schools, the first being that many students would be at lunch or in physical education, art, or recess at noon, which was when the speech was shown.

"In order to show the speech to all children, the school day at all 19 middle and elementary schools would have to be significantly altered, including lunch service," Smith said in the letter.

Secondly, Smith said that because of the short notice Calvert County public schools received about the speech, "we are unable to put a reasonable process in place that would allow parents to opt their children out of the event."

Smith did say that while school staff will not be using the lesson plan materials provided by the U.S. Department of Education for any activity before, during or after Obama's address, a link to the video will be posted on the school system's Web site, Calvertnet.k12.md.us.

"Once teachers and principals have had the opportunity to view the speech, they may find that it would be an appropriate instructional resource to use in a particular lesson during the coming months," Smith said, continuing that elementary and middle school students will receive a form to take home that parents may sign if they wish their children to be excused from any such lessons.

Though Smith never specifically addressed it in detail, he did say that when the school system learned of the speech last Wednesday it, "simultaneously … became a matter of controversy both in our community and across the nation."

Calvert County Board of Education member Rose Crunkleton said that she supported the superintendent's decision.

"I just think logistically it was going to be very difficult," she said, adding that with more advanced notice things could have been different.

" … We only had a few days notice before a holiday weekend and that put on a lot of pressure," Crunkleton said.

Beach Elementary School parent Greg Morris of Chesapeake Beach, however, disagreed saying that "I just feel that handling it the way they're handling it is pandering to the few."

He said that he did not see any reason why the speech could not be shown to elementary and middle school students at a more convenient time, as its message is a positive one for any student.

"Anybody that feels it's contentious is just being narrow minded … It's not about politics, it's about expecting a lot from our kids and how we're going to go about doing it," Morris said.

lbuck@somdnews.com