Dear Parents,
On Tuesday, September 8, President Obama plans to deliver a speech to students across the United States. Although we are entering our 5th week of school, the President has chosen to speak to the American school children as many students in the United States are returning to school in the next few weeks. The President is reported to discuss the importance of education for young people. This is the first address, of its kind by an American president to the American youth, since George Bush's anti-drug speech in 1989. As educators, we believe it is important for our young people to learn early in their lives the importance of being aware of the current affairs of the United States and what elected officials publicly say. Whether they are listening to the mayor, councilperson, governor, senator, president, or foreign leader, American citizens should carefully analyze the content of the speech and make informed decisions through their own reasoning.
Educators are trusted by the public to deliver an objective and balanced curriculum that includes, but certainly not limited to, current events. At Rocky Mount, we are educating young people who are learning to become responsible, educated, and informed citizens. With that said, discussions on political beliefs are most appropriate at home between parents and children, and not in the classroom. Our expectation is that when a child leaves the classroom on a daily basis, the content delivered by our staff on that day in no way exposed political beliefs or tendencies, because we recognize that students often assume the norms and beliefs of those adults they look up to, including parents and educators.
The administrative team has chosen to provide the speech to our students on Tuesday, September 8, 2009. Today each student will receive a form that provides parents the opportunity to “opt-out” their child from viewing the speech.
Anticipation of this speech has garnered much attention and questions as to the content. The administrative team at Rocky Mount researched and discussed the expected content of the speech, before making a decision. We appreciate the concerns addressed to us and respect the views of all. We sincerely hope that all parents use this opportunity to have developmentally appropriate discussions with their children on the importance of knowing who our decision makers are, how they arrived in those positions, and how to analyze the content of speeches to become better informed citizens.
Thank you,
Mrs. May & Mr. Giesler
