Hempfield Area High School is a very large suburban high school in western PA where I attended. A recent post on facebook drew much attention from my alumni who now have kids in the school district. Here is how the comments went.
Some people wonder how former classmates got so fat, that's an easy answer. I wonder how former classmates got so jaded. My children attend this school and I am furious at the reaction of my peers and the action of the school board. Chime in please!
First here's the letter...
September 3, 2009
Dear Parent(s)/Guardians:
As many of you may know, President Obama is scheduled to deliver a speech to students and teachers on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at 12:00 PM EDT. According to the White House, President Obama wants to address our nation's students to challenge them to work hard, set goals and do everything they can to succeed.
While the goals of the speech appear to be appropriate, a great deal of controversy has arisen regarding the event. The Hempfield Area School District has received numerous calls from parents who do not want their child(ren) to view the speech in school. To that end, the district was hoping to obtain more definitive information regarding the content of the entire speech, however no such information is currently available.
(this was bold) THEREFORE THE DISTRICT WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE VIEWING OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S SPEECH ON TUESDAY.
At the elementary level, the district is leaving the decision to view this speech up to you, the parent. The speech is readily available at www.whitehouse.gov along with resources that you may download in conjunction with the speech to guide your child as he/she views it. For those of you who want your child to view this speech, you may view it together in the privacy of you home when your child gets home from school.
At the secondary level, we will download the President's speech, review it administratively and based on its content, make a determination as to the level of classroom relevance. If the speech delivers a sound educational message as stated above, the district may provide an opportunity for secondary students to (in bold) VOLUNTARILY view the speech. If the speech is made available to students at school, parents will receive prior notification.
We appreciate the support and encouragement you provide your child(ren) and realize the importance of educational discussions that occur in the home. These discussions strengthen the partnership between the school and home and reinforce what the Hempfield Area School District provides our students each day. If there are any additional questions pertaining to this matter, contact the central administrative office at (724) 850-2227 or (724) 850-2232.
Sincerely,
Terry J. Foriska, Ed. D.
Superintendent of Schools
Now, here is the facebook banter...
6 people like this.
1)Great job Hempfield Area School District, great job!
2)what exactly is supposed to be so controversial with this?
3)That is great!!! Leave the children alone!!!!!!!!!
4)I don't understand what is wrong with the President of our country telling students to study and do their best. The speech is being released on Monday so parents can preview it before it airs, so I doubt Obama is trying to send subliminal political messages to the children of America.
5)Amen....Amen!
6)We got something similar that said they would tape and review the speach and inform parents to what grade if any would view it, if at all. It must relate dircectly to the goals of education...I will be keeping my children home if I deem it inappropriate. Funny how I am seeing disapproval of this everywhere...how did he get elected to office??
7)We STILL know next to nothing about him. But forget that part for now - there is no reason for him to address our children. Worry about national security and the economy. Leave healthcare alone and stay away from my kids.
8)And most importantly remember - even if we disagree I still love you all ;-) and that ain't the beer talkin'
9)Glad to see Hempfield doing the right thing. I know I don't need the President telling my kids what he thinks they should do!
10)Maybe he should go give a speech in welfare offices and "preach" to the ADULTS about the importance of education and working hard so that they can be successful in life!!!
11)Man, I really wish I knew what everyone was so afraid of. Really? Like it or not, he is the CEO of the best country in the world. Coming fro
a house divided with lots of impressionable teenagers.....we try to teach our kids to look at both sides and not be afraid or judgemental. We also teach them to be respectful....even if they disagree. This paranoia is pretty scary to me
12)And that comment comes with all due respect to my Republican friends that I love...:)
13)No offense cuz I don't know you, but I'm wondering where all the respect was for George Bush and agreeing to disagree with his politics. He was butchered!!! All I heard when he was president was it's healthy to "debate" or question our leaders.
14)I love it!!
15)But. You're right....you don't know me and you're making a really wide general statement when you say that. Everybody has their opinions. We are saying the same thing. Our children should be taught to question and "debate". But this is not that! This is shutting him out completely. I am a Democrat through and through but always watched Presidential Debates and Bushs speeches. Some things I agreed with, some not so much. The same with Obama. But telling our kids they can't even HEAR him is teaching nothing but arrogance, impatience and superior thinking.
16)I know I get a "chill" up my leg everytime Obama speaks, oh wait, thats the "watchdog" media that is looking out for us that gets a chill up their leg....and now Obama is giving me chills, but for other reasons.
17)WOW and there it is...the name calling begins!!! I'm out of this conversation....I guess we are no longer allowed to give our opinions without feeling bad about it!! My son is 6 years and I would like him to go to school to have fun and learn reading and math. I will take care of his political beliefs and what I feel is important. There is a time and place for everything and I want my son to be an innocent child for just alittle while longer!! He has a lifetime to worry about the world!!!!
18)I didn't mean to name call. It's just that if this were Obama or McCain, I would feel the same way. An I agree, your 6 year old should be a 6 year old. But I think if we didn't make such a big deal out of this, it might actualy be "cool" to hear the president speak. I really didn't mean to offend anyone....I just think in letting our kids be kids....maybe we should keep ou personal politics out of it and let them live through this....I really do apologize if I've offended you....
19)It's all good.
- best part of Obama, Pelosi and Reid is that they are igniting a firestorm across the country with their careless spending and blatant disregard for the preservation of our country's fundamental principles. I am glad to see Americans actually showing up at town hall mtgs and speaking out against the reckless behavior that we are seeing daily! A lot more balance in congress is needed and soon!!
21)I think [they] are proving the point of this debate beautifully...what our children get taught about politics, there in beliefs, should come from the home and the parents, not the prsident...which ever party.
22)Sorry to jump in late my friends, but this isn't politics here. A lot of you are way off base. I'd be thrilled to have ANY U.S. President in all of history to do a PSA to re-affirm what I teach at home. Study, stay in school, be responsible and stay out of trouble. This is NOT a republican or democrat platform, this is what we all should want for ... our kids. Who else is a good choice to impress a kid as a role model (other than parents or maybe a religious leader) than the leader of our nation. Everyone take off your political masks and be real for once.
23)I teach my children to place value in a persons actions not words, so it matters not what is being said in his speech. The major point here is that parents have a say in what their children are exposed to in a school setting...this is no different than reviewing any material before it is shown to my children. It's a good thing. Still missing the point though...it's what YOU THINK we should want. He is still an elected official, not elected by me, values are different on many fronts, so I wanna hear the message he says before my children do. It's called parenting... and the only thing I wear is a crucifix, no mask ;) Have a great holiday weekend all!
24)C'mon. I voted for Clinton, Goerge W.(one term), and Obama. None of that has anything to do with the President of the United States telling my kids to study hard in school and strive for excellence. If what you say about actions and words is true, I'll bet that not one of our children should listen to a word we say when we guide them to stay out of trouble. Hempfield, like any high school was no bed of perfect absolute altruism.
25)Wow, you assume so much. I can't speak for all of Hempfield, but all the teachings I teach my children come from my parents and my church, the very same I was raised to believe. I take politics pretty seriously and I do vote by my beliefs and believe everyone should. Not one of us is perfect, but damn I come close! Haha, sorry I couldn't resist...
26)maybe that saying should be expanded to say 'do as I say and do, not as I did'??? I'm out for tonight...guess we will just have to continue on Obamas next big thing, whatever that will be?
27)Good night. :)
I don't know even where to begin. I'll just say that any U.S. president who who wants to tell my kid to strive for excellence is OK with me.
Discuss...