"He's basically saying the same things that every president before him has said: Stay in school, get a good education," said Washington, whose son attends St. Pius parochial school in Baltimore County. "This isn't about the parents. It really isn't. I'd like someone other than myself to say to my children ... 'I believe in you, I think that you're destined for greatness.' ... If you're mad at that, you have issues."
Politicians on both sides of the aisle have weighed in on the matter, too.
"It is the height of incivility and decidedly out of step with our traditions of open and honest public discourse to attempt to prevent children from hearing the words of our president - regardless of political party," Gov. Martin O'Malley, a Democrat, said Friday.
But state Sen. Nancy C. Jacobs, a Republican whose district includes Harford, said she applauded the county school district for its decision.
"I definitely feel like they're cutting parents out of the process by speaking to kids during school hours," said Jacobs, adding that she and others thought the speech was a "veiled attempt ... to promote a political agenda."
"It would be much more powerful if parents were able to watch this with their child in the evening," she said.
City schools have seen little reaction from parents, said Michael A. Sarbanes, executive director of the school system's community engagement office.
"It's the president of the United States talking about education, so it's a valuable conversation," said Sarbanes, who had yet to hear complaints from anyone. "There's a lot of interest in it."
Even though principals and schools must decide if they will use it, he said, the district will rebroadcast the address at 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday on Channel 77 for those schools and families who wish to see it.
A group of students at Meade High School in Anne Arundel County will watch the speech with a member of the Obama administration: Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki will deliver remarks to about 500 students in the school's auditorium, where they'll view Obama's address.
"I think what has caused a lot of consternation is the suggested lesson plans that the White House put online" and later rescinded, said Bob Mosier, a spokesman for Superintendent Kevin M. Maxwell, adding that his office fielded about 100 calls over the past few days for and against showing the speech.
