President’s speech feared as attempt to spread agenda

CHARLOTTESVILLE — Most students attending Central Virginia public schools will have a chance to watch President Barack Obama’s live back-to-school address Tuesday, but some will have to wait until school administrators review the recording first.

The speech has been a point of concern for some Republicans, who believe Obama may take this as an opportunity to spread a Democratic political agenda. Some conservative officials have called for a boycott of the address, which they said isn’t civics education but political propaganda.

Controversy over the address reportedly started after U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan urged principals to let students watch it.

Robert P. Hodous, chairman of the Charlottesville Republican Committee, said the content and context of the speech are what’s in question.

“It’s going to be hard to say that it’s something worth worrying about until after you see what it’s going to say,” Hodous said.

If there is a political agenda in the address, Hodous said he doesn’t know if schoolchildren will pick up on it. However, he said students could accept what Obama says without recognizing a partisan message.

Local Democratic Party officials did not return calls by press time for this story.

School divisions in the region have been fielding phone calls from parents concerned about the content of the speech and whether it would be shown in classrooms.Most of the region’s schools reported received calls and e-mails from parents about the address, many of whom were unsure about the topic of Obama’s speech. Greene County Superintendent David Jeck said he was contacted by both parents who want and don’t want their children to watch Tuesday’s address.

“I would say most are concerned about the time being used during the school day for the president’s address,” Jeck said.

All area schools will allow parents to opt their children out of viewing the address, either through forms sent home Friday or by calling the schools.According to the Virginia Department of Education, Obama is expected to discuss the importance of education during the live speech starting at noon. The speech will be shown on C-SPAN and at the White House Web site, http://www.whitehouse.gov. The department said students wouldn’t be required to watch the broadcast, leaving the decision with local educators.

The White House is expected to release the full text of the speech Monday on the media resources page of its Web site.

Each area school division has come up with a plan governing whether and how the content will be screened.

l ALBEMARLE: Each school will make a decision based on the students’ ages and school schedule. The division sent home a form Friday to give parents an option to opt out.

l BUCKINGHAM: Individual schools will decide whether to show the address, although some schools may decide to tape it and show it later. Parents may opt out children by contacting the school.

l CHARLOTTESVILLE: Teachers will decide whether to show it during class and may tape it to show later. Each school will decide if the address is shown live during lunch. Gertrude Ivory, the division’s associate superintendent of curriculum and instruction, said parents who are concerned about the showing should call their children’s schools to opt out.

l FLUVANNA: Each teacher will determine if the address is shown. The address may be played live or taped. The elementary schools sent home slips for parents to use if they don’t want their child to watch the speech. Parents of older children who don’t want them to see it should contact their schools.

l GREENE: The division will record the broadcast and give a copy to the schools. Superintendent Jeck said he’s asking principals to show the address at an appropriate time, “preferably not during instructional time.” Greene sent a letter home to parents Friday that gives them a chance to opt out.

l LOUISA: School officials will tape the broadcast and review it to see if it serves an instructional purpose, said Jaclyn O’Laughlin, the division’s spokeswoman. If the division decides to show it, parents will be notified and have the opportunity to opt out. O’Laughlin said the division doesn’t have the technological capabilities of other schools, which is a contributing factor to the decision not to show the address live.

l MADISON: Individual teachers will decide if the streaming video of the address will be shown during class. Parents can opt out by sending a note into school with their children.

l NELSON: The address will be shown. Parents may opt out their children from viewing the speech.

l ORANGE: Teachers will tape and review Obama’s address to see if it fits the curriculum. Superintendent Robert P. Grimesey Jr. said the plan is in line with the division’s policies regarding supplemental educational materials. Parents can opt out.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Tasha Kates is a staff writer for the Daily Progress in Charlottesville.