Fort Bend ISD has announced that each individual school will decide whether or not to carry President Barack Obama’s Sept. 3 speech to American students.
FBISD Chief Communications Officer Mary Ann Simpson issued a statement outlining the district’s policy to local news media just before noon today.
Because of growing controversy and parental complaints about the planned speech, FortBendNow had asked the county’s three largest school districts – Fort Bend ISD, Lamar CISD and Katy ISD – whether they planned on airing the speech to students and how they would handle parental objections.
In the statement, which is being placed on the district’s website, Fort Bend ISD said each campus would decide what approach would be best for its student body.
“In Fort Bend ISD, the decision to show President Obama’s Back-to-School Message is a campus-based decision. The Department of School Administration sent a communication to all campus principals on September 2 stating that they should work with their Campus-Based Leadership Teams (CBLTs) to determine the best decision for their campus,” the statement reads. “For those campuses that choose to show the President’s message, they have been encouraged to work though their Social Studies department/classes.”
Still, the statement said, children whose parents object will be excused.
“However, as Fort Bend ISD has done in the past, if any parents or students request to be excused from viewing the message, the campus will honor this request and provide an opportunity for those students to engage in another constructive activity on the campus during the broadcast,” the statement went on to day. “A parent letter was provided to all secondary principals to send home with students that would allow a parent to opt-out of having their student view the message. Elementary campuses sent the letter with an opt-in, or opt-out, option.”
The district also admitted it has been receiving “numerous” calls and messages from upset parents.
“Within the past 24 hours, the district has received numerous calls and e-mails from parents expressing their opinion about the President’s address. Based on the comments we have received, we believe our position to provide parents with a choice as to whether their child does or does not view the message is in the best interest of all of our families in Fort Bend ISD,” the statement said.
Additionally, the district is telling parents whose children do not see the speech at school that Obama’s address can still be viewed on the Internet.
“Campuses that will not broadcast this event on Sept. 8 will encourage those parents who would like their child to view the message to do so via the replay or the internet. Parents can view the President’s address at www.ed.gov,” the message said.
The district asked any parents that have questions or concerns to contact their children’s school.
Earlier in the day, Katy ISD spokesman Steven Stanford said the Katy school system was working on a strategy on how to handle the Obama speech. He said the district expects to have an announcement later today.
Lamar CISD has not announced its plans nor responded to FortBendNow’s inquiry.
According to the White House, Obama will challenge students to work hard, set goals and take responsibility for their education. In advance of the speech, the U.S. Department of Education sent schools “outlines” of suggested activities students undertake before, during and after Obama’s speech.
Some of the “recommended” questions educators are being asked to pose to students include:
Who is the President of the United States?
What do you think it takes to be President?
To whom do you think the President is going to be speaking?
Why do you think he wants to speak to you?
What do you think he will say to you?
Students in grades Pre-K through 6 are being encouraged to “write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the President.”
Afterwards, under the Department of Education recommendations, children should be asked “Why is it important that we listen to the President and other elected officials, like the mayor, senators, members of congress, or the governor? Why is what they say important”?
Many parents have objected to the speech, categorizing it as “indoctrination” and “propaganda.” School districts and individual campuses across the Houston region are reporting “being swamped” with calls from upset parents.
At least one Houston-area school district, Montgomery ISD, has announced it will not carry the speech to students.
Aww… Joe lighten up and grow you some, afterall when the speech is over reality will again hit you that he is your President and I know that knicks at you every day of your natural life. That is even more amusing to think about how that takes you over the edge.
Your notes will not help you. I am sorry.
Just got this from my area Precinct Chair, Noel Pinnck, via email and he has asked for a response from the district and encourages others to watch it at home if possible:
Timothy, Susan, Amelia et al,
I hope all is well and that you have/had an uneventful Labor Day weekend. I am not righting this letter as an elected official (Precinct Chair for 2030) or a community advocate; however, I am writing this notation as matter of principle. Principles of being a parent, neighbor, and taxpayer. I have been contemplating this email for several days now given the recent flood of calls I have received from my constituency regarding FBISD recent decision to decentralize the airing of the President of the United States, President Barack Obama, “Back-to-School” message. Parents at Quail Valley Elementary received a “cut” slip letter without any sender signature that read:
“President Obama will address our nation’s children with a Back-to-School Message on September 8, 2009, at twelve noon ET. We encourage those parents who would like their child(ren) to view the message to do so via the replay or the internet at home with their children. The opportunity for a parent to view the message with their child provides a great time to set educational goals together. Parents can view the President’s address at http://www.ed.gov.”
Several things disturb me regarding the way FBISD handled airing of the historical and informing message from the President of the United States.
· First is the Superintendent and Board’s decision to decentralize this opportunity to the school principals. The letter above is an illustration of how schools show poor judgment in not taking the voice of the parents who are diametrically opposed to this decision. Given the Pareto’s Law, I suspect there may have been 20% of the population who influenced the decision and to be honest, I am given the process the benefit of the doubt because there was not a survey administered to determine support or the lack thereof…empirically, this would have been the best alternative to determine the polarization of the parents in FBISD jurisdiction. To simply make the assumption based on the “law of the few” is not only disrespectful but also unsound on a practical and philosophical basis. Timothy, you wrote on your address on September 03, 2009 10:27:03 PST (should have been CST):
“The Department of School Administration (DOSA) sent a communication to all campus principals on September 2 stating that they should work with their Campus-Based Leadership Teams (CBLTs) to determine the best decision for their campus.”
http://www.fortbendisdnews.com/go/doc/1934/319969/
Parents were not notified of this decision nor was your response sent home. We send permission slips home to garner parent’s authorization for our children to participate in field lessons or activities. Why could not this protocol be implemented? If you all took this route, then parents for or against the viewing of this message voice could have been heard. I can recall watching several national addresses while in public schools and they have all had an impact on my life and we have just criminalized this opportunity and robbed our children of an opportunity to hear from the Commander-in-Chief of our sovereign nation…a nation that prides itself on providing its citizenry with inalienable rights…the right to liberty in the pursuit of happiness among the most prominent.
· Second is the fiduciary and fiscal responsibility that we elect and hire you all to demonstrate on a daily basis. Currently, classrooms have been equipped with data projection devices, computers, and other technologies that would make viewing this message painless. As a taxpayer who subsidized the acquisition of these technologies then why are we not using them in innovative and integral ways. You and I both know that watching it live is much better than watching a rerun. If bandwidth were a foreseeable issue, then I would question your information technology strategic plan as well as the appropriate use of Technology Infrastructure national funding (TIF). Parents like me will keep my chid(ren) at home to watch the message as we have been involved in the campaign from the very beginning. As Precicnt Convention Chair for 2030 and Senate Convention Speaker, this experience is more than historical but it is culiminating.
· Third is predicated on the message we are sending our children, our cites, county, state, and nation. Texas is one of the few states in the union that has had a polarized reaction to this historical message. We are intimating division, hatred, and dissenion. Students and parents alike are asking the question, why have we come so far in closing divides i.e. technology, education, racial, etc. that we continue to nestle on the fence of mediocrity and biasi when it comes to issues like the one we are facing right now.
If you have child(ren) or have raised your child(ren), then you can attest that they interpret and synthesize messages and the undertone that they send just as critically and discerning as adults. As leaders either through appointment, election, or hire, we must steward the messages we send our child(ren) because at the end of the day, they are listening in more ways than one.
–
Best Regards,
Noel Pinnock
“…our energy will convert to synergy…one voice and one message…”
http://www.noelpinnock.com
taking notes from today’s dumbing lesson.
If you vote for Obama because of his skin color you’re enlightened.
If you disagree with Obama’s policies you’re a racist.
and once again who is Mr Green Jeffery Immelt?
What dis you learn class? LBJ was right you can fool some of the people all the time. Yes we can.
“where were these people when Bush admin.was wrecking this countries economy? Allowing his oil company buddies to bankrupt the automakers..insurance buddies to walk away with millions…Mortgage companies to bankrupt themselves….and.kill the economy but , yet get rich! Not to mention killing our kids in a war we are trying to forget is still going on…….”
ANSWER: The people were asleep, but they have been awaken by the same corporate interests that you have listed above, including the insurance industry. These corporations know that if they can can trigger racism between voters then a thick smoke screen will hide the corporate pillaging of our taxes and our needs. We are all in this thing together…
It amazes me how the typical Repubracist in this area feel the way they do toward Obama….where were these people when Bush admin.was wrecking this countries economy? Allowing his oil company buddies to bankrupt the automakers..insurance buddies to walk away with millions…Mortage companies to bankrupt themselves….and.kill the economy but , yet get rich! Not to mention killing our kids in a war we are trying to forget is still going on…….we have a new administration ..get over yourselves nuts.
Maybe we should just let Sarah Palin give the presidential address, I’m sure that will make these trolls happy.
Isnt it funny that when Bush gave the presidential speech we didnt mind letting the demon into the classroom, but now we are opposed that Obama wants to give a stay in school speech. Are you kidding me ?
I don’t think you crackajacks are moving Obama one bit. I would laugh in your faces.
Megabich, do you ever shut up ? You always wine wine about everything. It is clear that your dysfunctional liquid did not produce any children to even watch this address, so why does it concern you so much?
Sounds like quite a history. I’m sure we will learn a great deal more before the race. Has the incumbent already announced he isn’t running for re-election?
first thing,, Ben never said that HE was watching it with his kids,, he said that many parents were watching it with their kids,, Boy do things get twisted when folks dont listen or try to mold things to fit their adjenda..
SillyAnthony don’t you have some little old ladies to kneecap?
Did I ever share that story when smelly tried to sell a fleet of vehicles to the district from his days as a salesman? Remind me sometime, it’s pretty funny too.
Just excuse the paranoid corporate welfare queen tabor. That was a very funny response and I like the one advanced by Joe regarding him marking his territory.
I’ve never seen a poster ever engage in so much useless banter. What’s really hilarious to watch is this “I’m more conservative than you” game he likes to engage in with everyone.
I’m sure he will be a big supporter of another vendor feeder Steve Smelly running for county commissioner as a ‘shoe in’ for the exiting Patterson. I wonder if the public will recognize the negative budgets, deficits, record debt and tax increases this guy was responsible for during his tenure on the board catering to those same special interest and his pushing for the 30 million dollar global “taj mahal”. I’m sure we will see fbc lurking around that campaign. I just hope a real conservative jumps into that precinct 4 race and forces him to spend those vender contributions.
Can you imagine what a guy like Steve Smelly will do on the court with Bob Hebert, the biggest vendor feeder in S.E. Texas? They probably would have some sort of competition called, who can raise the most from county contractors. Sort-of like that record spending going on at the new jail with that tunnel project (the most expensive in the counties history and just so the criminals won’t get wet crossing the street). That’s an expensive umbrella. “Goldwater my bu__ . LOL
Now the fact you’re amazed is amazing. Now if you agree with me then what’s your problem? Need some attn?
I’m just amazed that you came around to my line of thinking ftbendconservative and support the option for families to decide. And to think you didn’t even have to go to Rice to figure that out.
Joe you labeled Rep Pete Olson a Rice Grad and a UT law Grad and a Naval Aviator as stupid. That pretty much tells us all we need to know about you.
Great one joe!
So it was fbconservative who I saw next to my fence line yesterday morning. I knew it was him, and it was not the first time that he and his cronies have tried to transfer my property in this way! Someone needs to stop these guys and their territory marking behavior.
SillyAnthony Tabor addressed me, but feel free to change the subject if I get too rough on him.
Tabor, the troll prides himself on circular double-speak. In other words, he has no logic, no brain to speak of and reverts to name calling and lower animal functions. He may even urinate in an attempt to covet your territory.
You see he doesn’t get the fact that he has gone full circle from criticizing those that supported the “opt out” measure to his own support of it. As usual he accuses all of being the dreaded “L” word. You can’t get any further right than he, because he feeds company vendors and spins their lies to manipulate the masses and covet our taxes (for his corporate welfare crony-boys – you know the government vendors who pick most of our candidates around here and then tax us to death).
Just ignore him and continue with the dialogue. I’ve seen some good ideas being presented and you see, he must too, because he has changed his position to one of accepting the “opt out” that was offered in the first place. You are right to point the finger at his duplicity.
yep all these parents not wanting their children to attend the forced viewing of Pres Obama are liberals. I love liberal logic.
Tabor replace liberal with radical leftists if that helps your reading comprehension.
“FBISD is doing the right thing allowing schools to opt out.”
Doesn’t this statement make you a liberal? Isn’t that what everyone has been saying on these threads?
As our schools have become nothing but propaganda factories for liberals, they see nothing wrong with forced viewings of An inconvenient truth or Pres Obama. FBISD is doing the right thing allowing schools to opt out.
Smelly is one person who can best serve his community by getting completely out of public service. Smelly smells of “vendor service” with our public service tax dollars.
Joe- I just had to chime back in. I finally agree with our troll, Marshall, on something…..he does make some pretty “inane comments” when he has no facts to rely on.
I still love that one where Smelly compares himself to “Goldwater”. lol
After reading some of the inane comments its easy to understand why enrollment in private schools and the home schooled has reached an all time high.
Education is about research, analysis,questioning and respect. When we are manipulated into polarizing each other, no education can leak through. There are interests that profit from our inability to think. These interests would be thrilled to dumb down our schools and indeed put every kid in a “secured room.” One especially secured from real analysis, questioning, and indeed respect.
FBISD, be bold, be fearless…teach our children to think, and we will try and do the same.
That’s common for him tabor.
Joe, isn’t this the same fool that was defending Jenney’s $30+ million dollar “Taj Mahal” project for the vendors? I recently saw a piece on Steve Smelly, who helped push this spending project through and supported the tax increases to cover the special interest bond debt claiming he is a “Goldwater” conservative. Now that’s what I call a major stretch of the imagination, unless the new definition for such is tax, borrow and spend what we don’t have considering he was on the board as this current budget crisis developed under his presidency and vice presidency. I notice he got off pretty fast this year as the deficit approaches 20 million dollars.
What’s he running for, Mr. Patterson’s commissioner seat? Looks like it’s time to get out and knock on some doors and expose his real “Goldwater” record while serving on the school board feeding all those hungry vendors our tax dollars, while is wife served as director of the foundation that housed so much of those vendor contributions.
….”Goldwater”…..you just gotta luv this stuff!!!
Joe, I just wonder who hires these paid political hacks to protest stuff like this? I was reading on another thread some pretty rationale responses. Those that wanted to attend were and those that didn’t want their kids to attend won’t. It seems to make perfect sense except to the troll.
Well gotta get back to work for now.
PS Sounds like someone is teacher bashing now.
Its scary when when think about it, some of these posters are teaching your kids.
All Perry’s fault now? Oh brother. You people slay me. haha
Why is FBISD so afraid to teach science and social studies that they need “permission slips”? If our kids go to school that should be permission enough.
Never before have we needed permission slips for our Kids to hear a public address from the elected leader of the free world.
Governor Perry seems to be using our children to orchestrate his secessionary plans for Texas. This manipulated “split,” is costing us in more ways than we can count. Perry needs to be fired ASAP.
In addition, our school district should know better!
The first version was obviously written by a clueless lefto.
Someone at KISD must have a pretty good sense of humor:
Katy ISD Issues Apology, Retraction For Language In Statement On Obama Speech
September 4th, 2009 | by John Pape
The Katy Independent School District has issued an apology for language it used in yesterday’s announcement about parents being able to have their children excused from Tuesday’s Presidential message to America’s students.
Yesterday afternoon, the district announced all of its schools would present President Barack Obama’s speech, but said parents who object can have their child excused.
The final sentence of the lengthy four-paragraph statement said, “Allowing parents to opt their children out of listening to our president or any other elected official will be honored as we honor requests of those who desire to opt out of saluting our nation’s flag and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.”
Good point tabor and thanks for posting it. Basically I feel this entire PR effort by the national republicans and their corporate backers has back-fired and is hurting the cause to find a legit non-neocon to run against the incumbent, or maybe not the public has a pretty short memory.
Hopefully the hysteria leaders will soften or just go away after the speech is released and all he says is what they’ve been claiming they will say. Maybe more parents will take an interest too in their kids schooling and at least discuss this presentation with them no matter how they feel.
Oh tabor, joe, etc, just ignore the troll.
Notice the Obama camp has stated it will release the transcript of the speech on Monday ahead of time.
Why not today? have to do some last minute editing? hmmm
B-b-but Reagan did it! B-b-but Reagan did it! So since Reagan did it, it’s OK now? Your line of reasoning is laughable at best.
For the others, not trolling and really discussing this issue seriously I found this on a news site looking deeper at the tradition of presidential addresses in the schools:
“On November 14, 1988, Reagan addressed and took questions from students from four area middle schools in the Old Executive Office Building. According to press secretary Marvin Fitzwater, the speech was broadcast live and rebroadcast by C-Span, and Instructional Television Network fed the program “t o schools nationwide on three different days.” Much of Reagan’s speech that day covered the American “vision of self-government” and the need “to keep faith with the unfinished vision of the greatness and wonder of America” but in the middle of the speech, the president went off on a tangent about the importance of low taxes:”
Excuse me, I’m going to go put my rubber boots on, it’s getting pretty deep in here. haha
A bully is a person that brings little to the table except loud bursts of false information and fear. When students do this, other young people often have too fragile a sense of self to combat it. They are often sucked into the ignorance just so they are not targeted as different. Clearly this is why bulling is so antithetical to education in general, and also in the case of political education for adults.
There are a great number of people who think that Megabite speaks for a majority of people in Texas. This is not likely, but because this bully is so loud, others do not speak up. This is how a loud ignorant minority of bullies steal education from our students, and a civil society from the rest of us.
Glad to see more and more school aren’t even showing it at all. They’re telling the parents to record it and show it at home. That’s where it should be shown anyway.
Quit being so naive and gullible, leftists.
No one is holding anyone hostage, more sensationalism and diversion. B-b-but Bush! WHAAA
There is another tragedy here. Our schools are holding up our children to bullies like Megabite by creating this permission slip ploy.
I did not need a permission slip to show my students Bush’s address to the nation, even though it was clear that Bush was using it to scare the public into going into a useless war that would ultimately only enrich Cheney and his other good friends at our terrible expense. Naturally, my students were required to analyze what was and was not said in Bush’s speech.
That, my friends, is what education is. Don’t fear it.
It’s all a publicity stunt, Joe. You can’t see that? Notice he also getting his face on TV that night for his address to Congress over Obamacare. Put your silly little race cardsaway.
It would seem that our president, through asking the kids to participate in their education and indeed, to help their educational system help them, is another way of saying, “Don’t ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” This is a powerful lesson that needs to be renewed in every generation.
Also, very few people or groups of people would claim to be racist, however, when we make school policies that make only one president’s speech, out of all our previous presidents, “optional” for our public education students, then we have to question our motives. In addition, when we continue to fiercely defend excuses like Marxism and other false “beliefs” then we need to take a even closer look at our aims. I doubt that the Marshall community received the letters to opt out of the presidents speech. Another data point…
My real concern is that corporate interests have tapped into this racism and are feeding these false beliefs so that they can push their own agendas. It is for this reason that people must push past this brainwashing and get the important and accurate information in order to make good choices for our communities, choices that may not put corporate interests first.
Our schools should be bold enough to teach and not bow to political maneuvering or bow to parents who are ill informed. Education is the law.
Easily amused?
Morning all. So this is still going on? I noticed that in the post above this one the commenter implied he is not an adult because santhony is talking to him. Now that’s pretty funny. jlmao
SillyAnthony try learning to speak to adults it might give you some credibility.