From the Superintendent of schools in Westport, CT:
Dear Parent:
The President of the United States, Barack Obama, duly elected by the people of the United States, will be addressing our Nation’s children on Tuesday, September 8. In so doing, our President, like his earlier predecessor, George H.W. Bush, will be delivering an important message to the young people of our great country that calls on them to do their best in school by working hard so they can be successful in their personal lives and in the global environment in which they will live and that will challenge them in every way in the years to come.
As Superintendent of Schools, I am pleased that the President of the United States will be taking time from his busy schedule to deliver this important message to our students.
I have instructed our building principals and classroom teachers at all school levels that I am fully supportive of having them integrate the message of the President of the United States into their lessons on Tuesday, or on any subsequent date. Toward this end, we will be televising President Obama’s speech, video streaming it, or recording it on DVDs for teacher use. I anticipate that our professional administrative and teaching staffs will incorporate the President’s presentation into classroom instruction in the best way possible to enhance this learning opportunity for our students.
As the integration of the President’s speech into our instructional practice will constitute a vital learning experience for all our children, it is my expectation that any child in any class where the President’s speech is incorporated into instruction will be a part of that instructional activity. Being a part of an instructional activity means that the child can participate fully or elect not to participate fully while remaining in the classroom, as would be the case with virtually any instructional activity.
Thank you for cooperation and understanding.
Sincerely yours,
Elliott Landon
Superintendent of Schools
EDIT: One commenter suggested including Mr. Landon's address. Another tracked it down (easy enough to do): Elliott Landon, Superintendent / 110 Myrtle Ave. / Westport, CT 06880