President Obama’s speech about studying hard and staying in school has caused a frenzied response from a few conservatives, who are considering the speech an attempt at indoctrination of the students, while others are saying the speech is an attempt at spreading around the “socialist ideology” of the Democratic President. Officials from the White House have expressed their surprise and ultimately, frustration at the reaction to a speech which was formed as more of a pep talk concerning education, stating that no political issues were discussed throughout the speech.
While there have been many other presidents in the United States that have previously given national speeches in schools, there is a line that is, and always has been, very closely watched between schools and politics. There have been many school systems that have been overwhelmed with calls from parents about Obama’s speech and their concern over broadcasting the speech throughout the school during the school day. A letter was sent nationwide by Secretary Arne Duncan to principals encouraging them to show the speech which will be shown live from Wakefield High School, located in Virginia’s Arlington County, along with the speech being released for parents to review and decide for themselves, however there are also several counties that are refusing to allow the speech to be shown. Some areas are taking the approach that if the speech can not be shown to all of the students, than the speech can not be shown to any of their students. Many of the president’s more staunch radio host opposition have also stated that it is quite unfortunate that politics was brought into an education issue.
