Too much authority in hands of teachers
As a retired superintendent of schools, I have followed with interest the controversy over President Obama's address to children about the importance of education in individual lives as well as in the future of our country. I have just listened to the speech and found it full of practical advice and very inspirational.
The decision of Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 to tape the speech, provide it to individual teachers who could decide whether or not to present it to their classes and allow parents to request that their children be excused from listening was disappointing.
Why should individual teachers be allowed to deny students the right to hear their president because of their personal political views? Allowing parents to have their children excused is justifiable, but what does it convey to those children?
Are they not allowed to listen to their president because he is a Democrat, African-American, untrustworthy, etc.? The superintendent and board of education should have shown respect for the office of president and required teachers to allow students, with parental permission, to hear their president.
John C. Swanson
Carol Stream