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Last modified: Friday, September 4, 2009 7:20 AM CDT
Superintendents say parents can opt out of speech
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Two North Dakota superintendents say information will be sent to parents about President Barack Obama’s speech to students next week and parents will be allowed to have their children opt out of it.
Obama plans to speak directly to students at noon Tuesday about working hard and staying in school. School districts are not required to show the speech, and some have taken calls from parents who question it. Republican critics call it an attempt to push a political agenda.
Mandan Superintendent Wilfred Volesky and Bismarck Superintendent Paul Johnson say callers have asked if it’s a good use of school time.
Volesky says he hopes the speech is unbiased. Johnson says a presidential address has always been viewed as part of a civics lesson.
He says children are not forced to take part in an activity if parents are uncomfortable with it.
The White House plans to release the speech online Monday and says it’s unfortunate that politics has been brought into it.
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