The head of Port Townsend public schools says teachers likely will be too busy to show President Barack Obama’s televised address to students on the first day of school Tuesday.
“The first day is pretty hectic,” said Port Townsend School District Superintendent Thomas Opstad. “We’re not going to stop everything and everyone” to watch it.
The address will focus on encouraging students about working hard and staying in school, according to the U.S. Department of Education, but Republican critics are calling it an attempt to push a political agenda on the nation’s youth.
Obama will go live at 9 a.m. Tuesday on the White House Web site and C-SPAN.
A transcript of the address will be released Monday.
Opstad said that he doesn’t see anything inherently negative about a president addressing students, and added that it may be appropriate for students in a current events class to watch at a later date.
“Like most presidents — Bush, Ford — everybody had messages they’ve read to students as part of their presidency,” he said.
“I just think that when the president of our country encourages students to work hard and get a good education, that’s probably a positive thing.”
Up to teachers
In Clallam County, Port Angeles and Sequim school districts are leaving it up to each teacher to decide whether they will show the address.
“We have no plans to show the address to the students district-wide,” said Michelle Pace, executive assistant to Port Angeles school Superintendent Jane Pryne.
“Some teachers may plan to include it in their instructional time either during the speech or later.
“If parents want to exclude children from it, they can contact the school to opt out.”
The Sequim School District is using the same policy.
“There’s no district directive that would require that any teachers show the broadcast,” said Sequim Superintendent Bill Bentley.
“That being said, an individual teacher could elect to show the broadcast if they so chose, under the provision that matches with curriculum we’d expect students to receive,” he added.
“If a parent has a concern about that, they can always contact the teacher to find out if they are showing the broadcast in the class.”
Bentley said students can opt out of viewing the broadcast.
Officials from each of those three school districts say they have had few phone calls — maybe three at the most — from parents who don’t want their children to watch the address.
But critics, such as Clallam County Republican Chairman Dick Pilling, say parents have reason to be concerned.
‘Establishing a cult’
“I think he is trying to bring his agenda to children before they are able to think for themselves,” he said.
“I think that he is almost establishing a cult or is trying to.”
Pilling referred to classroom activities that the federal Department of Education has recommended teachers have students do before and after watching the address as an example.
Republican critics nationwide have called those proposed activities an attempt to deter a critical approach to the address.
Jefferson County Democratic Party Chairman Matt Sircely said the criticism has been “pretty silly.”
“I think it’s a shame to politicize the president speaking to kids in school,” he said.
“It seems absurd to me.”
Quillayute School District Superintendent Diane Reaume is out sick with the flu and could not be reached for comment. No other school district staff members were willing to comment.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.