KGUN 9 On Your Side, Tucson News, Weather & SportsSome schools avoid President's speech to kids

Some schools avoid President's speech to kids

        Some districts chose not to run the President's speech.

        Sahuarita schools did not show the speech except in a few middle school classroom where teachers made it part of their lessons.           

        District officials say parent calls and e-mails ran about 50-50 for and against showing the speech.

        They looked at the topic, looked at the controversy, and decided to devote their time to regular classes.

        Sahuarita's assistant superintendent watched the speech with us. He says it had the simple stay in school message he'd already seen in the advanced version but it was hard to separate it from current politics.

        Manuel Valenzuela says, "The fact is the message in the event is nested in a bigger context in the context of the role of government and of the current discussion of nationalized health care and it stirred very strong opinions on all sides."

     Sahuarita decided it made more sense to focus on regular classwork and post the speech on the district website so parents and students can watch it if they choose.

        Dustin Farmer is one parents who says he's glad Sahuarita schools decided to put the President's speech on the district website but not show it in class.

        He says he'll watch with his kids at home.

        "...And say what do you think about this, let's talk about this. This is how our family values affect this and how these things might affect us as a family."

        Tisha Salinas wishes her daughter had seen the speech.

        Craig Smith asked her, "So you're trying to keep your daughter in school and you're looking at this as back up from the President? "Basically, she laughed."

        If you choose to watch the speech and judge for yourself, you can see it at kgun9-dot-com. Click on your side links in the blue box.