Fortunately, We Still Have a Modicum of Local Control

Radio Commentary, WMVV 90.7 New Life FM, September 25, 2009
By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning, Jim. When the president says he wants to speak to every student in the country, he can set a time, tell school officials and do it … well, almost. So, the president chose Tuesday, September 8 for his speech to school kids. Some would get it on the web and others on C-Span. However, the president did not consult state school superintendents about his plan. Instead, he had Arne Duncan, his secretary of education, ignore the authority of state school superintendents and send a letter directly to local school superintendents and principals, inviting students to view the speech during regular school hours.

After learning of the president’s plan, Senator John Douglas, who represents District 17 in the State Senate, contacted the Georgia Department of Education with concerns that school districts might make the speech mandatory for students. But, thankfully, our department of education made it plain to local school officials that teachers were not obligated to show the speech. However, if they chose to show it, they must notify parents ahead of time, so their children could be opted-out without being penalized.

Georgia schools did notify parents about their plans and some showed the speech. Others, such as Johns Creek High and Evansdale Elementary, put it off ’til later, but some didn’t show it at all. A major objection to everyone was the lesson plans teachers were instructed to use before, during and after the speech and for future assignments. Those plans caused such an up-roar that the president threw them out and neutralized his speech, though it was clear from the students he mentioned by name that he was speaking, most directly, to minority children.

Before speech-day, several states had already refused the president’s invitation. Texas, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Virginia and Wisconsin decided not to show the speech to students at the time it was presented, but local educators could make the video available later. A PTA council president said it would be “cutting out the parent” for the president to speak to kids during school hours. When President George H.W. Bush made a similar speech to schools in 1991, Democrats accused him of making it into a campaign commercial. I guess the president’s speech to school kids this month deserves the same criticism. For Georgia Insight I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol Correspondent.