Frightened for our students
I am not only extremely disappointed in Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200's decision to not air for our children the president's speech, but frightened and concerned for them as well. The speech was written for our children by our president, an intelligent family man we hope our children admire.
It was written, not with a political agenda, but to talk to our nations children on the importance of education. While I was not a supporter of the Bush administration, I did recognize that he was our duly elected president and therefore deserved respect.
Why would you need to preview such a speech? I am not allowed to know what the individual teachers are going to say to my children when they march off to school each day. What I would like answered for me as a parent of two children in District 200 is what exactly are the factors that brought the school district to this decision? It smacks of something that makes me very uncomfortable. I sincerely hope it is not political.
Given our current political and media climate where right-wing adults are allowed to out and out lie, and use fear tactics for their own personal gain on the air, I fear that these tactics are now being allowed to reach the growing minds of our children. This is out and out wrong. Students deserve nothing less than the truth from their schools and their teachers.
Show the students of District 200 that you are outside of politics and media when it comes to their education. Show them that you think of them when making decisions. It is only right that they receive this great honor from the president with grace and all the respect that the title alone deserves.
Laura A. Fox
Wheaton