Okay ... approaching the edge of sanity today with the public outcry against the President's upcoming address to students returning to school. This whole thing, the politicization of this event by some, makes me a little sick to my stomach. He is tasked with making students do better, but is not allowed to simply ask them to do better. Perverse, no? If you don't want him trying to improve government, then you shouldn't have elected him to head the government. As it is, since the federal government spends $100 billion on education, I don't think it is wrong for the chief federal officer to address the recipients of those funds directly. In fact, I think it is a pretty cool, and potentially effective, idea. I am actually impressed at the President and his staff for even thinking of the idea. Who better to tell our underachieving African-American males to work hard in school?
But, so be it, the common trend I am seeing from administrators today is to a) either don't interrupt the schedule for it, or b) allow students to opt out. I am seeing some administrators on the various listservs I belong to requiring their students to see it - and I commend them for it - but they are the exception. The safe route here is to permit students to opt out. In fact, the new Commissioner here in KY has said that schools need to "provide alternatives." So, as long as you are providing an alternative (hello, study hall) to students or parents that are on the edge of the deep end, then you school administrators should be fine.
This, too, shall pass.