Obama's speech to kids causes uproar in schools

When President Barack Obama gives a televised address to students in schools across the country on Tuesday, some metro Detroit school districts won't be broadcasting it.

Districts throughout the suburbs have been hit with complaints from parents who are worried about their children hearing a message from Obama that they won't have a chance to preview.

Farmington Public Schools is encouraging parents to pull them from class if they are uncomfortable with the speech.

Districts that have addressed the speech on their Web sites include Oxford Community Schools, Rochester Public Schools and Van Dyke Public Schools in Warren.

The districts acknowledge that the message is intended to stress the importance of education and taking responsibility for learning. Some parents say the uproar is much ado about nothing.

"I think it's great that somebody as high up and respected in our country is addressing our kids," said Tom Bejma, father of two South River Elementary School students in Harrison Township.

U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, a Livonia Republican, and U.S. Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., are asking Obama to release the text of the speech in advance.

Mike Reno, a member of the Rochester Board of Education, said the idea behind the message is noble, but the timing is bad because of the politically charged climate.

BY PEGGY WALSH-SARNECKI and LORI HIGGINS
FREE PRESS EDUCATION WRITERS
Staff Writer Melanie D. Scott and Bloomberg News contributed to this report.
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What's your opinion: Should schools broadcast Obama's speech live?

Why do you think that so many people are concerned over this address?

Mike Reno's statement that "the idea behind the message is noble, but the timing is bad because of the politically charged climate." What do you think he means by "timing"?

Do you think that people would have protested if former President Bush made a speech to kids during
his administration?

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