President Obama encouraged students of all ages across the country Tuesday to take ownership of their education, set goals, and stay in school, but Lake Travis ISD students didn’t immediately hear the message.

Stemming from comments from parents and community members in the weeks before the President’s message aired, district principals collectively chose to record the address rather than show the Web broadcast live in the classrooms. Teachers then had the choice of watching the recording and determining whether they wanted to incorporate Obama’s speech into their lesson plans at a later date.
Instructors who decided to use the speech were set to send notes home to parents informing them how and when it would be used in their curriculum. Parents could request their children receive an alternate assignment outside of the classroom.
“Initially, the district received notices from some parents objecting to having their children present during the Presidential address,” said Marco Alvarado, LTISD director of communications, media and community relations.
In response, the district invited parents to have control over their students’ participation.
“Frankly, the rhetoric reflected in various messages we have received from parents and community members following the statement the district released … [last week] reflects strong and emotionally charged sentiments regarding very different political ideologies,” wrote campus principals in a statement released Friday. “Although it was never intended that individual schools or the district at-large would be perceived as ‘taking sides’ in what has become a significantly divisive issue in communities across the country, it is always our desire and intent to be sensitive to the perspective and concerns of our constituency, especially if our students are involved.”
Alvarado also noted that showing the broadcast at 11 a.m. when most students, especially at the elementary school level, would be outside the classroom eating lunch or participating in physical education would have disrupted the school schedule.
“We are trying to be sensitive to the course of activities already planned for that day,” he said.
In January, LTISD showed the presidential inauguration in campuses’ common areas such as cafeterias or libraries for students to watch at their discretion, which resulted in a smooth school day.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on Friday acknowledged the logistical issues some districts would have in showing the address live.
The White House released the speech Monday for parents to read online, but the national controversy started to snowball on Aug. 26, when U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan sent a letter to school principals across the country regarding President Obama’s scheduled address.
Locally, parents in the school district valued the opportunity to have a choice in how the message was presented to their children.
Barbara Van Essen of Lakeway and mother of three children in LTISD schools said she would have preferred the President deliver his message on a Sunday evening to allow parents to watch the broadcast with their children and discuss it as a family.
However, she agreed with the district’s decision to record Obama’s message and involve parents in the process.
“I’m pleased with the fact that they are not going to show it [live]. I believe that the political agenda needs to stay out of schools. I’m glad we were able to choose whether our children were able to watch it,” said Essen, a former board member of Serene Hills Elementary School PTO.
Should her children’s teachers decide to incorporate the President’s address into their lessons, she will weigh the message and decide if it is relevant to their studies.
“If the content is suitable, I may not have a problem with it. It depends on what the message is. If it’s about other issues, then I would not have my children watch it,” Essen said.
Phil Gustafson of Apache Shores said he would be comfortable with allowing his son at Hudson Bend Middle School to watch Obama’s message without close supervision.
“I didn’t vote for Obama, but my son would have if he could vote. I’m not going to shield my son from alternate views to mine. I’ll let him make up his mind,” Gustafson said.
He said the President’s speech would be relevant to history, social studies, or government classes.
“I just don’t see why people are blowing this all out of proportion. I think if the president has a message, people should be given the opportunity to watch it. If you agree with it or not, that’s your choice,” he said.
Members of the Lakeway community also felt strongly about the broadcast.
“So our President, is going to address our school children directly, first time for a President to do this, and LTISD isn’t going to ‘suggest, encourage or require’ teachers to tune in? This should be a huge deal, and every school age child should listen to what our President has to say to them,” said Christy Muse, executive director of Hill Country Alliance.
The White House posted a copy of the President’s address on its web site Monday. In the speech, Obama told schoolchildren that the country is counting on each one of them to succeed in school.
“We need every single one of you to develop your talents, skills and intellect so you can help solve our most difficult problems. If you don’t do that – if you quit on school – you’re not just quitting on yourself, you’re quitting on your country,” Obama said.
The President cited his struggles to do well in school and several stories of schoolchildren who have overcome obstacles. He challenged students to make their mark.
“So today, I want to ask you, what’s your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve? What discoveries will you make? What will a president who comes here in 20 or 50 or 100 years say about what all of you did for this country?’
He closed his speech by telling students that he was working to give them the resources they need in order to learn and that he was expecting them to excel.
“Your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions. I’m working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books, equipment and computers you need to learn. But you’ve got to do your part, too. So I expect you to get serious this year. I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect great things from each of you. So don’t let us down – don’t let your family or your country or yourself down. Make us all proud. I know you can do it.”