Indian River school district doesn’t back down on not airing Obama’s address
September 8th, 2009 by TCPalm.comINDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Schools Superintendent Harry La Cava did not reverse his decision to record President Obama’s speech on education to be heard live in classrooms and play it at a later date, he announced just minutes before the scheduled noon broadcast.
The decision was affirmed after La Cava met with several members of his leadership council for hours this morning.
After reading a transcript of the speech today, La Cava said, “We believe the speech is appropriate and relevant. We also believe that it would not be prudent to reverse the decision at this late date.”
He noted parents and teachers already were advised the speech wouldn’t be shown live. The speech will be run during first period Wednesday.
“Because of the timing of the release of the transcript, and the disruption to the school day, if the decision was reversed now” it would cause more confusion, he said. “We stand by our decision to tape the live broadcast and show it to our students on Wednesday, Sept. 9, like many school districts in the state of Florida and the nation are planning to do.”
The speech will be aired in its entirety.
Last week’s decision outraged several residents, some calling the decision racist.
A group of about 40 people — made up of pastors, residents and others — early Tuesday showed up at the School Board office to protest the decision. They chanted and held signs throughout the morning in an attempt to persuade officials to reverse the decision.
One of the lead organizers was the Rev. Donald Brown, president of the Pastoral Association of Indian River County. He said the decision was “embarrassing and disturbing to me.”
The Rev. Willie Richardson called La Cava on Saturday, and the superintendent referred him to state statutes saying the School District has the right to review materials not within the curriculum.
“This is our commander in chief,” Richardson said about the address to students. “We believe this is politically based, with the sub-base of racism.”
Leaders for the Pastoral Association of Indian River County of about 18 churches met Sunday, after learning that Indian River County schools would not air the program live.
Elsewhere on the Treasure Coast, school officials for Martin and St. Lucie counties said they would allow students to watch the C-Span broadcast live unless parents wrote notes saying they did not want their child to hear the speech.
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September 8th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Dear uneducated rednecks, was the speech really that bad?
September 8th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
always gotta be some dumb negro talking about racism. But true enough the speech should be shown on all TVs in the nation. Th is is our prez whether you like it or not.
September 8th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
He won the election for crying out loud. What’s wrong with a harmless speech that reaches out to our youth who will one day run this country? Get over it and let the man do his job.
September 8th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Unbelievable!
Talk about taking your freedoms for granted!
How about teaching your children Respect for authority? Pride in being a citizen of our Nation? Respect for our Government? Loyalty to our National Representatives? Policy disagreements are no excuse.
As citizens, we are blessed with the freedom to disagree and even re-shape policy through the electoral process.
That doesn’t mean that you should take those freedoms so lightly that you teach your children to be disrespectful and dismissive of the Leader of the greatest Nation in the World.
Even worse, to NOT teach them the difference between factual journalism of national interest to it’s citizens youth and “for profit info-tainment” that generates millions by sensationally repeating and distorting the daily party “talking points” of only one side of an issue, is negligent parenting of an American child in itself.
Surrendering your right to research and form your own individual opinion over to any “party” approach,whose very survival is based on the generation of hate and fear of the other “party” is but one of your freedoms and easy to do. (you’re welcome).
Teaching your children to be disloyal and disrespectful of the elected office holder of the Nation that gave you that freedom, regardless of party, is just plain treasonous. (Actually, some of the latest commentary from Limbaugh/Hannety etc.. could serve as the definition.)
Disagree with policy openly; Hate if you can’t learn enough to stop it; Be afraid if you jump to the network programming machine…Just Don’t ever forget that you wouldn’t have those choices if you, or your children’s school, weren’t here in the UNITED STATES!
Keep the Respect for the Office even if you disagree, hate or are afraid of the temporary resident or his skin tone.
Don’t be a lemming! Drop the “parties”!
Stay free and think INDEPENDENTLY !!!!
September 8th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
I agree… It’s just a speech.
September 8th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Very well put DLH..
September 8th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Van Jones, self-described communist, truther, racist lunatic
September 8th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
“Teaching your children to be disloyal and disrespectful of the elected office holder of the Nation that gave you that freedom, regardless of party, is just plain treasonous. (Actually, some of the latest commentary from Limbaugh/Hannety etc.. could serve as the definition.)”
I find this rather humorous. Let me ask you, DLH: When people were being “disloyal and disrespectful” to President Bush during the past eight years, were you calling their actions treasonous as well? Or, more likely, were you one of those spewing forth treasonous words?
Seriously people, get a grip. That goes to both sets of extremists. A president talking to students is not brainwashing. Nor is refusing to let those same words heard live a treasonous act. If you want to find the people that are truly being destructive to the moral fabric of society, look in the mirror.
September 8th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Uhh, Frank? When did anyone ever encourage anyone to boycott a Bush address? Are you talking about the critics or comedians? They’ve been commenting on presidents long before Obama and will continue to do so.
What DLH addressed was telling children to not listen to the President, and telling schools they should not allow the President to address kids. That is disloyal and disrespectful. That is outside the accepted boundaries of maturely disagreeing with the administration which is our right.
Did we not let kids watch the State of the Union because we felt that Bush was being less than truthful? No; we respected the office if not the man, and watched it, and educated our children based on our beliefs and values. That is respect.
If you’re talking the comedians and pundits voicing opinions, that’s what they get paid to do. But encourage people to boycott the speech, and tell schools to not air it? That is disloyal and disrespectful to the office.