Parents Not Welcome at President's School Speech

By: Michael Noyes | 2009-09-04

BOZEMAN – Parents of students in Bozeman schools may not be welcome if they want to watch the President’s address to students on Tuesday morning with their child.

Bozeman Public Schools Superintendent Kirk Miller said the president’s address falls under the district’s policies on guest speakers. That policy states that, “Unless the principal approves otherwise, the teacher will not allow non-class members to hear the speaker.”

Miller said principals could prohibit parents from attending. While calling it an “historical event” in a written message to staff, Miller also said on Friday that no media will be allowed to observe.

The superintendent denied a request by the Montana Policy Institute to send a reporter to observe the President’s speech and classroom participation, stating that he did not want a “significant disruption in the learning environment.”
Asked if he believed allowing a reporter to silently observe the session would be disruptive, Miller said, “I believe it would.”

While policy states the principal may approve requests, Miller said he is taking that authority for himself in regard to any media requests to observe classroom activity during the address.

“In this instance I’ve already made a determination on that,” Miller said.

Parents are allowed to opt their children out of hearing the speech.

Miller said the district has received about 15 phone calls and 20 emails regarding the president’s address. He said around 90 percent of those contacts do not want the president to address students, while the other 10 percent don’t believe students should be allowed to opt out of the event.

“This isn’t a political matter, although I think there are many that are trying to make it political,” he said.
President Barack Obama’s speech to students has garnered national media attention and is scheduled for Tuesday at 10 a.m.

Details and guidelines for the district’s handling of the address are available online at http://www.bsd7.org/.
 

Comments

Joan Stanley
Posted on: 2009-09-04

There should be a protest outside of the school. The media should be allowed to witness/report just what is being said. Obama will go to every length to implement his fascist agenda. Going after kids makes sense. Reinforce the kids of parents who support him and try to indoctrinate the ones who don't. Sickening!

Tim Ravndal
Posted on: 2009-09-04

It is our constitutional right to participate in the educational process of our children. If there is a policy of the shcool district that infringes upon that right, the elected shool board officials need to be served walking papers by the citizens. If that revolution is to begin with a gathering of the parents at the school on Tuesday, then lets rock and roll across Montana.

David Mazanec
Posted on: 2009-09-05

Keep your kids home that day. Don't let these people inject their agenda into the minds of your children. And yes, protest protest protest!

Jan Amende
Posted on: 2009-09-05

Keep your kids home. Let the superintendant know in advance. This will hurt the schools tremendously since they get paid by the government per student per day. this may make our bozeman schools change their mind.

tony
Posted on: 2009-09-07

why can't parents attend

Nick
Posted on: 2009-09-08

We spoke to our kids teachers and both of them are not showing the speech. "If you want to watch it you can on the internet at home." Some teacher in Bozeman are smart enough to know the right choice.

Nancy MacDonald
Posted on: 2009-09-08

The President has a right to free speech and we have a right to hear that free speech. If there is nothing to hide why not make it public? Those who do not let the media or parents in are responsible for making an issue out of it.

James Schell
Posted on: 2009-09-10

Wow. Thanks for reporting this MPI!

I attended my fourth grade child's class in East Helena with no problems. I found it as I expected, nose picking and all.