President Obama to address school children
September 8, 2009
President Obama will address the nation’s school children in a speech about the importance of education at 9 a.m. Sept. 8.Officials from the U.S. Secretary of Education’s office and from the state Superintendent of Public Instruction’s office have asked local districts to inform schools about the event.
Teachers in the Issaquah School District have been given the option to show the President’s address, via online streaming, on C-SPAN or a recorded version, if it fits into the context of their lessons and schedule for the day.
According to national and state officials, the address is nonpolitical in nature and is a historic event.
“Teachers are expected to present the speech like any other real-world example of U.S. civics in action (which is a districtwide student learning goal),” district officials wrote in an E-news letter to parents. “Any teacher who chooses to air the address will do so objectively and in context of the curriculum without expressing personal viewpoints.”
Parents (or students) with concerns can contact their child’s (or their) teacher if the child wants to participate in an alternative activity.
Learn more about the president’s address at the U.S. Department of Education’s Web page, www.ed.gov/admins/lead/academic/bts.html. The full text of the speech will be posted on the site by Sept. 7.