When I heard that Barack Obama would be addressing all school age children about education I thought what a great opportunity this would be for kids to hear the president. Then I found out that there was apparently a lot of controversy about the speech, and that schools were sending home special permission slips stating that parents did not want their children to watch the broadcast.  How absurd?! I did not vote for Barack, nor do I agree with many of his policies, but how often does a president of the United States speak directly to school age children? I absolutely wanted my kids to see the address. If, for some reason, he would have said something that I disagree with...well, isn't that what we have dinner table discussions for?

I think that the reason for most (maybe all) of the controversy revolving around this speech was the ill conceived and very poorly timed video called "I Pledge". Some school districts heard about this video and saw that it was about service, so they thought that they would show it in their classrooms. They did not preview the video before they showed it (that was the big mistake). When parents got wind that their childrens schools showed this video, many were outraged (as well they should be). The sad thing is that because this video stirred up so much anger, I believe that many parents let that cloud their judgement in deciding  that their children will absolutely not watch the public address of the President of the United States.

Apparently there was so much of an uproar in our school district that the superintendant had to send a letter home explaining that parents could choose whether or not their child will watch the address and that an alternate activity would be provided. The teachers were instructed that there should be no discussion  and that no assignments should be made in association with the Presidents address. I know of at least one entire school district that decided not to air the broadcast. Have we become so intollerant of other oppinions that we can't tune in to our nationally elected leaders?

I watched the address online while my kids saw it in school. What a terrible message! How dare President Obama suggest that my kids should work hard and better themselves through getting a good education?! Oh wait! Isn't this exactly what I'm trying to teach my kids all along? He even dared ask the kids to not talk back to their teachers, and to listen to their parents. The message is exactly what I hoped and thought it would be. There was no political positioning and had no hidden agenda. It was a president encouraging kids to be all they can be AND explaining that it is not possible without hard work!

I am saddened that not all kids were able to watch this broadcast. It would have been well worth their time. I am a conservative republican, but today I am ashamed at how many of us reacted because of a politically charged video that had nothing to do with President Obamas address on education. What exactly does it teach our children when we censor our elected president? How often do we have guest speakers in our schools? Do we ever get a permission slip explicitly stating that we don't want our children to participate or listen to the guest? NO! Then why would we treat our president that way?

It is unfortunate that the "I Pledge" video was ever produced, but particularly that it was released so close to this broadcast. Instead of inspiring millions of Americans to pledge to do good, it inspired a lot of anger, and ultimately made possibly millions of children miss a very inspiring address from their president. Well done Hollywood!