Opinion - Sept. 10, 2009

The President’s speech: Now the discussion should change

The President of the United States, Barack Obama, gave a speech Tuesday to the nation’s school children. It was to be broadcast nationally to schools.

Days before the President even reached the podium, the speech became embroiled in controversy. Many parents demanded that the speech not be shown at their child’s school. Many educators worried about the message it would give students.

Early on, several states decided not to run the speech at all. Elsewhere, schools were left to decide whether or not to air the broadcast on their own. Some schools did not run it. Some others screened it for future use.

For those students able to see the speech at their school, they heard the President express his belief that students needed to pursue their education, learn as much as they can and work hard. In all, the President reinforced the role of education in successful lives. The speech gave an important message and a fitting one for the start of the school year.

That such a message would be censored is astounding. The text of the message was released the day before and could have been studied and reviewed. Surely, not too much homework for educators or even parents.

Schools should be a place of ideas and of exposure to a variety of thought and theory. That is part of a good education. Aside from its motivational value, the speech provided the ideal opportunity for schools and students to openly discuss education. It also offered parents and teachers the opportunity to talk over ideas and goals with their children and their students.

For some, it was a missed opportunity.

Now the discussion should change. Now the discussion should be opened as to why the speech was censored and why it was feared. It is an appropriate subject for all educators, parents, students and community members.

Motivation and encouragement can be fleeting. What the President said may soon be forgotten, but a meaningful exploration into the very purpose of education could have much longer lasting, and more important, results than the speech itself.

Gordon Forgey

Publisher