Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Controversy erupted last week over President Barack Obama’s plan to speak directly to students on Tuesday about the need to stay in school and work hard. The “back-to-school” address will be shown live on the White House web site and on C-SPAN at noon. The lunch hour is a time when classrooms around the country can tune in to watch.
Education Secretary Arne Duncan sent a letter to principals, urging them to have them watch. The decision, of course, is up to school districts. Many have already decided not to show the speech to students. Some are still deciding. Others are allowing parents to make the call.
Obama’s detractors say the president is using the opportunity to promote a political agenda. It’s the same criticism that President George Bush faced in 1991 when he did the same thing. (The Obama White House reworked the lessons plans offered up in conjunction with the speech after some criticized one of the lesson plans’ suggestions that students write letters explaining what they can do to help the president. Read the lesson plans here and here.)
The White House will make the text of Obama’s speech available for all to read on Monday. The administration says it is simply tying to deliver a message that hard work and staying in school leads to success.
So where do local schools stand? So far, I’ve heard nothing official. I’ve heard that some city schools are considering recording Obama’s speech for review first, then they may show it.
It’s time for you to weigh in. Here’s contact information for Buncombe County Schools and Asheville City Schools. Take some time today to make your voice heard.
Buncombe County Schools
Mr. Richard Greene
Chairman, Reynolds District Representative
28 Bee Ridge Road, Asheville, NC 28803
828.299.9880 Email Mr. Greene
Mr. Steve Sizemore
Vice Chairman, Roberson District Representative
123 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
828.232.1623 Email Mr. Sizemore
Mr. Pat Bryant
Erwin District Representative
12 Westmont Drive, Asheville, NC 28806
828.215.8765 Email Mr. Bryant
Mr. Chip Craig
Owen District Representative
204 E. State Street, Black Mountain, NC 28711
(828) 669-1072 Email Mr. Craig
Ms. Ann Franklin
North Buncombe District Representative
PO Box 14, Weaverville, NC 28787
828.252.8182 Email Ms. Franklin
Mr. Dusty Pless
At-large Representative
1921 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, NC 28803
828.254.7309 Email Mr. Pless
Mr. Bob Rhinehart
Enka District Representative
31 Challedon Drive, Candler, NC 28715
828.273.1789 Email Mr. Rhinehart
Asheville City Schools
Yes a Half white, half black president Changed my life the day he was sworn in . . . . . . Well maybe changed for the worse when I guy that has no Idea what hes doing out spends the last 4 presidents in the first 100 days, thats a great message, got a problem throw money at it.
To whom it may concern
Thank you first for reading this post. No one is forcing you to read this, but obviously you care about what other people think, and that is a gift in this day and time.
What exactly are parents who want to keep their children from hearing the messege President Obama is preparing hoping to accomplish? Do they want education to stay the same? Do they want their children to second guess our leaders and harbour disrespect, secretly hoping that our President fails? Do they want hopelessness to prevail and spill over into the second generation? Why? Most likely these people changed the channel the day President Obama was sworn in. What are these people thinking? It absolutely breaks my heart.
James, thanks for the information.
I can confirm that the principal of Ira B. Jones Elementary School has contacted parents to say:
(1) the President’s speech will be recorded "so that staff can review its contents."
(2) delivery of the speech to students will be delayed until Thursday, pending staff review, of course. This leaves open the possibility that the speech will be canceled in its entirety.
(3) parents are given the option to opt their students out of the speech, just as they are given the option to opt out of sex ed (my words, not the principal’s).
(4) the school will make "alternate activities" available to students whose parents have opted them out.
This is a major concession to the President’s partisan political opponents, in my view, and turns Asheville classrooms into venues for vendetta.
This is unacceptable.