Here's the message I sent to all our supporters as our very short campaign ended, a campaign designed to convince principals and school administrators to change their minds and televise President Obama's speech Tuesday morning. We live in California's Sierra Nevada on the highway 4 corridor. We're tiny, rural, and have little to no economy to speak of right now. Our median age is just shy of 50 years old:
As a parent of two Avery Middle School students I received Vallecito Unified’s automated message at approximately 12:30pm today. The message stated the speech will be taped and televised within two weeks. It further stated the school district received the classroom material on Friday of last week, leaving little time to prepare for what they are calling, 'this special day'.
Thank you to everyone who participated in sharing their concerns with our school district administrators. It truly is incredulous to think Vallecito Unified is stepping outside the boundaries of what is considered normal. Motivating students to succeed is something we desperately need in our schools. Barack Obama is fully capable of delivering on this, not to mention he is the President of the United States.
Last fall a mock Presidential election was held at Vallecito Union schools. Middle school election results at all grades (6,7,8th) was overwhelmingly in favor of Barack Obama.
Maybe we need to take a lesson from our students whose votes last November reflected their wishes for a country not torn apart by failures, not separated by red or blue, and not defined by a narcissistic morality of personal advantage.
No, I believe these students voted to be a country unified behind one President for all.
Sincerely,