Brockton and B-R high to offer Obama speech in schools

President’s speech to be shown in area schools; few parents object


By Elaine Allegrini
enterprise staff writerand Mike Melanson
Posted Sep 04, 2009 @ 10:58 PM

BRIDGEWATER — Bob Kostka says he decided on a teaching career after hearing President Kennedy’s 1961 televised inaugural plea to the nation, “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.”

So the social studies coordinator at Bridgewater-Raynham High School supports asking students to watch President Obama’s talk to schools on Tuesday.

“I support the president’s initiative 100 percent,” Kostka said. “It’s a great idea to address parents, kids and teachers about the importance of education.”

But others oppose broadcasting Obama’s talk to schools across the nation, saying his address will carry a political message rather than a purely educational one.

Rich Lembo of Brockton said he wants to see the speech before allowing his 9-year-old son, a student at the Baker School, to see it.

“We’ve taken innocence away from our children,” Lembo said Friday. “We’re not letting children be children.”

Brockton and Bridgewater-Raynham are among the school districts participating in the televised event.

The U.S. Department of Education is encouraging schools to create lesson plans around the address, in which Obama will talk about setting goals and the importance of hard work.
Kostka, who is retiring from B-R after four decades as an educator, said it’s important for students, especially younger students, to watch Obama’s national address.

Kostka said he has asked social studies teachers at Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School to let their classes watch, and then discuss, the president’s address.
Kostka said calls for parents to keep their children home from school and shut off their TVs in protest of the president are an overreaction. “Some people need to take a deep breath and relax,” Kostka said.

In Brockton, teachers and students at the South Middle School will be watching Obama on Tuesday.
“We’re going ahead with our plan,” said Principal Christine Olansen.
Olansen on Friday had not heard from any parents asking that their children not watch the president. That option was offered by Superintendent Matthew Malone after a nationwide controversy erupted over the president’s address.

“We value academic freedom,” said Malone, who has left the decision to show the program up to individual school principals. “Anytime the president of the United States speaks, it is an excellent civics lesson.”

But, at least one Brockton School Committee member has some concerns.
“I’m not in favor of disrupting the school day to broadcast this,” said Ward 2 School Committee member Thomas Minichiello. “It should be fit into the lesson plans of the class for which the subject is appropriate material. I do not agree with waiving the entire day’s classes.”
He said the age of students should also be considered. He does not approve of showing it to elementary school students.

The program, estimated to last 15 to 20 minutes, will be broadcast at noon, a change from the original 1 p.m. schedule. To accommodate the change, some schools are recording the program and will show it later.

“It’s something different and unusual. He is the president,” said Brockton Mayor James E. Harrington.

Councilor-at-large Linda Balzotti, a candidate for Brockton mayor, said those who do not watch the program should do something constructive during the time it is shown.
“It’s wonderful the president wants to reach out to young people,” she said. “It’s important that young people do hear from leaders.”

Parent Kelly Finn thinks it’s great the president is reaching out to the children of the country.
“The kids should be involved,” said Finn, mother of a 9-year-old boy at the Baker School in Brockton. “At this age, he should understand how government works.”
So far, few parents have expressed concern about their children watching the president’s speech, Brockton school authorities said.

Janice Beyer, Ward 3 School Committee member, said she got one call from a parent who felt it would be forced on his child. She called back and told the parent it was optional.
“I think it should be available,” she said. “If they don’t want their children to see it, they can let the school know.”

The president’s scheduled address — announced to schools in a letter from Education Secretary Arne Duncan last month — drew criticism from some conservative political leaders, and radio pundits and bloggers were urging schools and parents to boycott it.
They said Obama is using the opportunity to promote a political agenda and is overstepping the boundaries of federal involvement in schools.

At Brockton High School, plans are under way to offer the option of seeing the speech to the entire student body.

“To me, it’s not political,” said Principal Susan Szachowicz. “I wish people wouldn’t make it political.”

Students will be asked to respond to the speech in a short written assignment, but like watching the show, the follow-up will be optional and not graded, she said.

“I’m disappointed that people are making it a political issue,” said Szachowicz. “This is the first time ever that a president has addressed schoolchildren. To me, it’s not political.”

Elaine Allegrini can be reached at eallegrini@enterprisenews.com.

Source: THE ENTERPRISE