By Bill Zeeble, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-859529.mp3
Dallas, TX –
After a week of controversy leading up to President Obama's speech to students, many schools chose not to offer it live. But Booker T. Washington Arts Magnet in Dallas did, and students enthusiastically responded. KERA's Bill Zeeble has more.
It was a big day at DISD's Booker T. Washington Arts Magnet in downtown Dallas. 435 Juniors and Seniors - that's half the school - packed the auditorium to hear the President address them directly. He said he would deliver a message that education is important and students need to stay in school. That's what he did.
Obama: You want to be a nurse, architect, a lawyer, member of our military? You'll need a good education for every single one of those careers. You cannot drop out of school and just drop into a good job.
Senior Bethany Bailey was impressed. She couldn't remember a president in her lifetime talking directly to students in school.
Bethany Bailey, senior: I thought it was really amazing he came to a public school & he decided "I want to speak to kids of America and tell them what I think & how I got through my troubles." It's cool to know he cares enough to speak to us in person.
Some critical parents, even grandparents, had feared the President would deliver a politically biased speech. That's why many schools did NOT offer it live. Carolyn Wood, who was picking up her grandchild Tuesday after school at Booker T., initially shared that concern.
Carolyn Wood: But if he was giving an inspirational, you know, study, and do good in life, and go to school. That was very good, that was very Presidential. Kennedy said "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." Not for what you can do for Obama.
Booker T. Arts High School told parents last week that the school would offer the speech live to students, with their approval. . Arts Magnet Principal Tracie Fraley said parents of only two students - out of 800 - opted that their children not see it.
Principal Tracie Fraley: Everybody's entitled to their opinion, that's one of the great things about our country. That everyone can have a difference of opinion and we can debate those things & dialog and discuss about them and I respect both sides of the issue.
One Booker T. parent, maybe it's most famous, is former Dallas mayor and current United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk. He visited the school for the speech, and took questions from students afterwards. But before it began, he told reporters he was befuddled by the controversy surrounding the speech.
Kirk: There are few moments in life where I'm embarrassed to say I'm from Texas. This is one of them. I think some of those that have been the most ungracious and discourteous, 5 years from now will be embarrassed by their behavior. For now I guess we can be embarrassed for them.
And so the education speech has come and gone. Mr. Obama offers another speech - arguably an even bigger one - tonight, on health reform. For those who argued the school speech was controversial, just wait.