President Barack Obama's plans to speak directly to the nation's students Tuesday have sparked a dispute among area parents and politicians, with some expressing concerns that the president could use the speech to promote his agenda - and others calling it a valuable classroom lesson.
School systems have been inundated with phone calls this week from both sides. Most Baltimore-area districts are letting individual schools determine whether they will show the noon speech, which the White House says will call for students to take responsibility for their education.
But at least one district - Harford County - has decided not to broadcast the address.
"We're not actually denying the opportunity for students; rather, we just want the opportunity to review it and see if there's a way that we can put it in instruction," said Teri Kranefeld, communications manager for the school system, who added that the district received "quite a few" inquiries from parents on the matter.
Kranefeld said Harford's guidelines for broadcasts and videos require previewing materials shown to children and giving staff time to formulate responses and work the items into the regular classroom curriculum. The timing of the speech won't allow for that, she said.
Most districts will excuse children if their parents do not want them to see the speech. The White House is expected to post a transcript of the speech Monday on its Web site.
While other presidents have addressed the nation's schoolchildren, Obama's speech comes at a sensitive time in his administration. His approval ratings have been falling, and the country has been mired in debate over his plans for health care reform. And while he has talked about the need for bipartisanship, the divide between left and right seems to be growing.
Many parents feel strongly about the speech, whether they are for it or against it.
For Baltimore parent Jessica Ryan, the live nature of the address leaves too much room for uncertainty.
"You really don't know what the content of the speech is going to be, and what direction the message is going to go," said Ryan, whose kindergartner goes to private school. "I am concerned about the motives behind this speech."
The president's place is not in the classroom, she added.
But Helen Washington, a parent and former city educator, said she saw the event as a "teachable moment."
