By Bill Zeeble, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-859011.mp3
Dallas, TX –
President Barack Obama speaks directly to students tomorrow morning at 11, via the web. Some controversy still surrounds the speech. KERA's Bill Zeeble has more
It's been touted as a rare, presidential speech delivered directly to students and designed to encourage them to stay in school. But reports of some parents fearing a politically driven, propaganda speech has led several school districts to delay or even cancel the event. And that suits this mom - who did not want to be named - just fine. She has a 10 year-old in Armstrong Elementary.
Mom: I think it is brainwashing when you have somebody push themselves on your children.
When this Park Cities mother heard the speech's content would be clarified to ease concern, she wasn't buying it.
Mom: I'm sure that's a big cover-up for what he was originally going to say. I just don't think it's something that is particularly educational that they need to be doing. Children going to school to be educated. and to force somebody to make their children listen to that, if they have a different view, it's not appropriate.
Kate Anderson: I think those people are paranoid and I think it's just ignorance if you don't want to hear it.
That's Kate Anderson, with a senior in DISD's WT White High School. She thinks it's ridiculous to fear Obama's speech, and welcomes it.
Anderson: He's the President. You're supposed to respect your President, number one. You send your children to school to learn different opinions so they can learn to form their own opinions on things. I heard he wants to promote staying in school. What's wrong with that?
To parent Steve Tortolani, with children in 5th and 6th grades, this issue has been blown out of proportion, by us, the media.
Tortolani: People need to lighten up. Focus on things that are bigger.
Some districts, including Dallas, will offer the speech live leaving its use up to teachers and principals. Others will offer it on a delayed basis. In Dallas's Booker T. Washington Arts Magnet School, former Mayor and now U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, will join some students to watch the speech at 11. A discussion will follow.