Outrages (Susan Ohanian Speaks Out)

Outrages

9486 in the collection

Arlington schools issues statement on Bush appearance

I'm tempted to say that only Texas can produce an Outrage that surely will make you laugh. But so many other states are running a close second. . . .

by Traci Shurley

Some Arlington parents who would have liked their children to see President Barack Obama's address live today are upset with plans the district has to send about 500 students to a Sept. 21 event where former President George W. Bush will speak.

Some have suggested a double-standard.

The district just issued this statement in regard to the Sept. 21 event. [pdf file]

The event, to be held at the Cowboys Stadium, is hosted by the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Committee. A regional service-learning program, of which George and Laura Bush are the honorary chairs, to coincide with the 2011 Super Bowl in Arlington is to be announced. NFL officials, Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman are also confirmed speakers, according to the committee’s communications with the district.

Arlington chose not to show students Obama's live address, explaining that they didn't want to interrupt previous planned lessons. They said they'd make it available on their Website for teachers to incorporate where it was appropriate later on.

District spokeswoman Veronica Sopher said there is a difference between the two events.

"The distinction is it's a field trip that parents have to grant permission for students to attend," she said of the upcoming stadium visit. "With parental permission the selected classes will attend a filed trip at the Cowboys Stadium where they will hear from several different speakers."

Here is the Arlington School District statement regarding President Obama's address (posted on their website):

President Obama's Address

The district did not show President Obama's address to schoolchildren on Tuesday, Sept. 8 live, but the recorded speech is now available as an instructional resource as deemed appropriate to the district's curriculum. Parents will have the opportunity to opt their child out of the activity and request an alternative assignment if a teacher uses the recorded presidential address as an instructional tool. Students and parents can also access the recorded speech online.

Students with appropriate parent notification (phone call, e-mail, letter, etc.) were dismissed from school for one-half of the regular school day to watch the president's address at an off-site location (home, church, community center, etc.). This was considered an excused absence. Students were to return to school within a reasonable time after the address. For students that remained on campus, the day was a regularly scheduled instruction day.

this statement

Response to media inquiries

ARLINGTON, TX-September 8, 2009

Several months ago the North Texas Super Bowl Host Committee invited 28 fifth-grade classes to attend
a field trip to the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium to announce details of what will be one of the largest
youth-education program in Super Bowl history. Students will hear from business and community leaders
throughout North Texas, legendary Dallas Cowboys, and the 43rd President of the United States George
W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush, the program’s honorary chairs. Parents of students in the randomly selected
classes must grant written permission to participate in the event, as is the practice with any field trip.

The district did not show President Obama's address to schoolchildren today live, but the recorded
speech will be made available in the future as an instructional resource as deemed appropriate to the
district's curriculum. The district will allow parents the opportunity to opt out and request an alternative
assignment if a teacher uses the recorded presidential address as an instructional tool at a later date.
Students and parents will also be able to access the recorded speech through a link on the district's Web
site.
Students with appropriate parent notification (phone call, e-mail, letter, etc.) were dismissed from school
for one-half of the regular school day to watch the president's address at an off-site location (home,
church, community center, etc.). This was considered an excused absence. Students were to return to
school within a reasonable time after the address. For students that remained on campus, the day was a
regularly scheduled instruction day.

— Traci Shurley
Extra Credit
2009-09-09
http://startelegram.typepad.com/extra_credit/2009/09/arlington-schools-issue-statement-on-bush-appearance.html

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