Elmbrook says NO to Obama's speech

Good for them.

When President Barack Obama makes a speech Tuesday to America's schoolchildren that will be carried live on television and the Internet, students in at least one Wisconsin school district won't be allowed to see it - at least, not if they're where they're supposed to be.

Elmbrook School District Superintendent Matt Gibson told parents Thursday that schools in his district would not show the president's speech live on Tuesday, although he encouraged families to watch it at home and provided a link where it would be archived.

The district's decision comes after a barrage of criticism from conservatives who, in some instances, contend Obama is trying to indoctrinate the nation's youth with the 15- to 20-minute speech.

In its announcement of the speech, the U.S. Department of Education said Obama "will speak directly to the nation's children and youth about persisting and succeeding in school. The president will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals and take responsibility for their learning."

Regardless of the message, children are at school to learn from their teachers. This should not be interrupted everytime the President wants to make his face known to K-12-ers.

Milwaukee Public Schools is leaving it up to individual schools and teachers to decide whether to tune in for the speech.

"As always, these things are voluntary as far as what an instructor believes fits with the curriculum," district spokeswoman Roseann St. Aubin said.

She added, "This is a sitting president, and this is a district, too, that needs all help, all manner of assistance in encouraging kids to stay in school. . . .  To have a strong male figure, and I might add an African-American figure, many people in our district see that as an important thing for this majority-minority district."

Translation: "Our kids need to see a successful black man"?

In today's culture, they are seeing enough of it, folks. I think most "curriculums" wouldn't exactly call for the viewing.