Reply #3: I agree with TayTay that the response...

[YvonneCa]

...may be regional. I also think that school districts...depending on the community reaction in their 'region'...will act accordingly, in self-protective way. I got caught up in this debate earlier this week and posted the following:

Some people come at this from a 'discriminate' against students perspective...what is fair if all students are included in or excluded from hearing Obama's speech.

And still others come at it from a parents' perspective...what is the parental role if the parent doesn't get his/her way. Some want opt in...some don't. Some don't want such a speech in the schools...some think it's discrimination if everyone isn't made to watch it.

There is another perspective, and it is the school's perspective. All school districts operate under an education/legal policy...by law. Schools notify parents to protect students and themselves legally. Some here are ignorant of public school policies. I do not mean to offend anyone by that, but I'm sure I will. Ignorance doesn't mean a person isn't intelligent...just that they have not had the opportunity yet to learned something. Sometimes they are unaware of that lack of information.

We who work in education have a perspective based on our experience with and knowledge of education policy.

This action by schools is preventative. It's about not getting sued by parents. Anytime a school or district adds something to the school's program, parents have the legal right to be informed and to opt out if they so choose. These are under-age students. The parents have rights. If it's a controversial curriculum or program (or speech), where many parents may have strong feelings, the school or district is legally protecting itself by informing parents and giving them the choice...in advance. It is standard practice by schools, that's all I'm saying.

Maybe a lawsuit would be laughed out of court, but it is not discrimination. It's CYA by the school district, because they know the community in which they live. Keep in mind the heated political environment right now...remember the crazies at the health care town halls? No principal or superintendent wants them showing up in his/her office with irrational complaints...and they WOULD be irrational.

If racism is a factor...and it probably is out there, judging by the town halls...I think it is better to throw water on it (by parental choice) than add a match to it. JMHO.

School districts ...depending on the community dynamics in their 'region'...have several choices here. Their goal is safety of students and trying to accommodate parents' wishes. They can show the speech, or not. Or they can show it on a voluntary basis (the opt in/opt out notification). At this point, I've pretty much given up trying to convince folks in GD, GDP or LBN that it's just school policy...even though it is. I'd be very interested in hearing perspectives from people in this group, though. I have much respect for all of you. :grouphug: