They needed to amend their decision, however you may disagree with our President, it is up for discussion but disrespectful to anyone in leadership to censor or disregard their message. What was so scary about what he said anyway?

wow rara. They didnt say they werent going to air it cause they disagreed with it. they want staff time to work things into the education of students.

Wrong Jason. They felt they did not have adquate time for the school administration to take a look at the content before airing it. Just another ploy by those loud mouth ot there who are trying to keep Mr. Obama from being and appearing PRESIDENTIAL. Like rara said what was so bad about telling kids to stay in school and work hard at education for the betterment of our "OUR COUNTRY". Do you think that those who are against this country and would do us harm care about our political affiliations? The scare tactics being used by some are just plain and simply meant to divide us as AMERICANS! Stop kidding yourselfs in the name of looking out for the kids. Its simply because you just don't want to have the man where he is. I'll bet you that most of those who rail took advantage of the cash for clunkers perks and drove home feeling good. What hypocrite there are that exist,such liars.It's ridiculous !!!

I guess it just depends who's ox is being gored. Apparently is WAS a problem to many folks on the left the last time a president spoke to students in school. And for pretty much the exact same reasons as well. LOL

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/When-Bush-spoke-to-students-Democrats-investigated-held-hearings-57694347.html

Carroll County did not show this speech. I was told when I called my son's school this morning that if you wanted your child to watch it you had provide permission in writing. This would be fine if Carroll County had provided advance notice but it did not. There was no notice sent home. Nothing was posted on the school board's website or the school's website. If I hadn't called my son would not have been able to watch it. The administrator had the nerve to imply that I should have watched infomration in the media. Again, nothing was mentioned about Carroll County. I am furious. At least Harford County was brave enough to tell people they wouldn't be showing it. Carroll County deliberately sabotaged this speech to students. There should be an investigation.

I am just glad they did not preempt the People's Court for yet another one of the Annointed One's speeches.

GMC you mean "ELECTED one" - we did have a vote and he won. Get over it.

i wasnt wrong look I quoting the article
The county previously said it would not air the speech Tuesday because its guidelines for broadcasts and videos require previewing materials shown to children and giving staff time to formulate responses and work the items into the regular classroom curriculum

Good Job Harford County, let's make this country better by shielding our children from hearing a message from OUR president telling kids to “work hard in school take responsibility for their education.” What a horrible message to send to the kids.

I think these are the same parents who think their kids are perfect and blame everyone else for mistakes….

I hope that the teachers in Harford County saw the media stir and actions of it's own Bd of Ed as a "teachable moment," which is what any presidential address should be considered...from K through 12!

I seem to remember President Bush giving a speech to school children and the Dems launched an investigation and held hearings. What hypocrisy!!!

Give me a break. When the decision was made last week by Harford County Board of Education, the subject matter of the intended speech was not fully known. What was known was that prep materials were to be distributed, including instructions for the students to write essays about "How they could help the President". Help the President do what? Convince their parents the importance of a Nationalized Health Care System perhaps? It is only after static was received back that word came out that the speech was to be about the importance of staying in school. I believe the subject matter of the speech was changed due to political pressure. Don't kid yourself. This administration will stoop to anything, including the indoctronisation of our children to spread their socialist ideology.

Before people accuse an administration of "spreading their socialist ideology" let them consider that their mail, military. fire, police are all provided by the state and most of time in an efficient manner. So stop with the fear mongering that "socialism" will destroy our country. It has been here for a long time and we are doing just fine thank you!

Wrote this on another board, but want to re-post it here:

I changed my view on the people that are against this speech. I hope they write on every newspaper forum out there explaining their disgust.

Why?

Well because independents and swing voters are terrified of loons who say the President shouldn't tell students to take responsibility over their own education. Voters in the middle think these irrational posters/commentators/talking-heads are wacko. What's the effect? Middle-of-the-road voters reject what "conservatives" are selling. Swing voters see the hate, the "party of no," and the terrifying emotions behind the anti-progress movement. They see/read/hear it, and they turn their backs, relegating the "conservatives" to uber-minority status.

In fact, I wish the democrats would get these posters and talking-heads on payroll. No better way to doom a political party then to allow it to crumble from the inside.

So, @Ballz Mahoney, @teacherman23, @GMC and @bob, PLEASE keep it up! Get a bullhorn and stand on the street to exclaim your viewpoints! Take out ads in the newspaper! Picket in front of city hall! We, here, on the side of progress and reform couldn't ask for better "conservative" standard-bearers!

Bill -- So, I guess the Democrats weren't wacko when they investigated President Bush for giving an almost identical speech in 1991? I guess Dick Gebhardt was justified in saying that taxpayer money shouldn't be used to promote Bush's political views to school-aged children? Bush spent $26k on the production, etc. Wonder what Obama spent? Or -- doesn't that matter?

The hypocrisy is sickening.

Bottom line---if this were not a black president, there would be no decision to be made. This comes as no surprise to me that Harford County, of all counties would make an issue of this. I strongly believe if it were Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton or any of the others, predominantly-Republican-residents-Harford County gov wouldn't have thought twice. Get over it. He's everyone's president!

Everyone, take a look at the bickering that occurs amongst the public. The political arena is just a "Microcosm of America", bickering and refusing to come together for even the most basic concept that we all want for ourselves , our families ,fiends and most importantly our children. America has seen and experienced enough of this President to know he is a stuot devoted family man and would not as soon impose a political agenda on our daughters as he would his own. Stop hiding behind polical views , speech content, threats of socialism,etc. Just say what it really is!

I am a long time Harford County resident but this county is full of bigots.
PS. I am white.

SJB, there's plenty of hypocrisy to go around on both sides, it depends on whose in power.

In 1999 Clinton loosened the governments belt on the lending industry. Since Republincans are for less government, wasn't that a very Repulican move? So, that allowed more freedom to the lenders, they could lend to more people. These companies did not have the government telling them to give everyone a loan, they did it to make money. That is what happens in a "Capitalistic" society. The bottom line is "Greed" and the pursuit of wealth-that is what put the econmoy in the state it is in. Not all governemnt. Anyone that had their hand in the "Housing Pot" did this. The real estate agents, the builders, the mortgage broker, the settlement company, the irresponsible home buyer, etc. Everyone wants more and more, just making a decent living wasn't good enough. You all know it. I am not a religious person but there is something to be said about the 7 Deadly Sins.
HarCo, is full on racists, the wealthy would throw their own family members under a bus to make a buck. I have seen it first hand. That is what is wrong with our country. Not the black president, or his socialist ideas. Really socialism has been around before most of you were born. Social Sec-socialism. Medicare- socialism. Your first mortgage, FHA, HUD-socialism.

It should NEVER be MANDATORY for anyone to be forced to listen to any government official. If there are parents in Carroll County that think it is important for their child to see the speeh then they are free to replay it to them at any time.
Carroll County schools are the finest in Maryland and this isn't CUBA.

It should NEVER be MANDATORY for anyone to be forced to listen to any government official. If there are parents in Carroll County that think it is important for their child to see the speeh then they are free to replay it to them at any time.
Carroll County schools are the finest in Maryland and this isn't CUBA.

When Harford and Queen Anne's chose not to air President Obama's speech to the children you struck a mighty blow to hamper race relations. Your actions said that Harford and Queen Anne's county only supports White presidents. Harford showing the speech late doesn't cover up their true feelings. You were wrong. The speech was inspirational. Some of the Harford County residents may NEVER FORGIVE YOU FOR THIS. You need to do what you can to apologize and try to strengthen your relationships with the families here. You're no different than the bigots in Mississippi. Harford and Queen Anne's county will forever be known as the schools that snubbed the president. The only thing missing is the cross burnings. For the first time I'm ashamed to be a resident of this county.
I don’t agree with everything President Obama does either. As a matter of fact I’m a Republican! I didn’t vote for him, but I don’t bash his character either. I judge my opinion of his decisions on a case by case basis. Your decision was based on matters not related to curriculum or sound judgment.

SJB: Nice try, but you're comparing apples and oranges. The Dems investigated Bush 18 years ago over his use of taxpayer money to give his speech. I've heard no complaints whatsoever from the Repugs/Faux News about the use of taxpayer money.

What I HAVE heard quite a bit from the right is crazy wingnut accusations that Obama is trying to indoctrinate schoolchildren into his "Socialist agenda" as a first step towards forming an "Obama Youth"-type group (apparently, AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps are also part of Obama's insidious plan plan to form his own private army consisting of America's children)!

Accusing the President of spending taxpayer money on a political speech is a far cry from accusing the President of attempting to brain-wash children into forming an army bent on destroying America from within!

(The Dems were probably suspicious of Bush's motives due to the speech to schoolkids that Reagan gave a few years earlier that probably marked the beginning of the Reagan Legacy Project:

http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1988/111488c.htm

how about we just give guns to everyone and the last one standing gives healthcare to all the dead

Longtimeharco-I know, I know. white republicans bad, everyone else good. I read that in the paper.

I will start by saying that I am not a supporter of the President and his policies. However, I feel I can separate a message from a policy. I read the speech and found nothing wrong with it. I see no problems with a message that tells the students they must work hard and not blame difficulties thrust upon them for not succeeding, as we all suffer from different difficulties.

My son did not see the speech today; not because his school did not show it but because I homeschool him. However, it is available on the White House web site and conveniently we have Social Studies/Civics on Wednesday. Thus he will see then and we will discuss it. I really hope he listens to the part about paying attention to the teacher, LOL.

Even though I don't like Obama as POTUS, I will not hide my son from things that are directed at him and which effect him. To do so to try and make him conform to my point of view would only rape him of the ability of learning to make informed decisions.

The decision to not show the speech or to say "it needed review" is a disgrace by the school systems involved. These school systems have caved into hysteria. If the president of the United States needs to be censored, then we as a country are done. I and many others condemn the outrageous and ridiculous decisions of these school systems. This decision set a horrible example for our children.

I don't disagree that Mr. Bush sometimes received similar treatment as Mr. Obama did during this tempest in a teapot. Sad really.

However, I am astonished to see folk with placards demanding, "Let The Children Decide." I found this odd insofar as, and I am making some assumptions here, most are of a conservative nature; most conservatives are typically Republicans; many Republicans are for "Family Values." Heck, I gotta believe ALL parents are for raising their families with proper values. I'm not so sure anyone who is responsible for their children would let their child decide all that is right and all that is wrong in that child's world. To quote G. H. W. Bush, "Not gonna happen."

@SJB - In 1991, I was probably in a public elementary school watching the speech. As a student. Don't think I had thought much about Dick Gephardt's actions back then.

Hypocrisy? Nope. But you can continue to grasp for straws if you'd like.

See, this is the beauty of democracy. The right to free speech flushes out the spectrum of opinions. It's hard to hide behind biases, irrationality, and ignorance when opposing sides have the chance to rebut. I guess time will tell what side will pull the majority.

Let’s not loose site of the true issue – the streaming of a live feed is dangerous and potentially problematic to say the least. I can recall sharing the live broadcast of the launching of the Challenger in my science class. We were totally unprepared for the outcome of that incident. The point is that live feeds are unpredictable whether it is the content or perhaps technical issues related to bandwidth, hardware or software issues.
Hats off to the HCPS folks for having the foresight to take the responsible approach in allowing for adequate time and preparation to ensure the appropriateness and maximize the learning potential for this historic event.

The streaming of a live feed of the President of the United States giving a speech is dangerous? Really???

Dangerous to the cause of keeping some children as ignorant as their parents, maybe...

I watched the live broadcast of the Challenger in a classroom, also. My biology teacher was one of the runners-up to be the first teacher in space. She was devastated after the explosion occurred; we students were much too concerned with her well-being to consider anything else regarding the accident. After all of these years, her reaction is what I remember most; however, it certainly didn't scar me or any of the other kids in any way.

Unpredictable content or technical issues? Just a lame excuse used to hide your own personal bias (political or whatever else it might be).

Following that "logic", I guess schools ought to videotape school pageants, plays, concerts, assemblies, etc. in an empty auditorium first before letting the other kids see them, so the principal can review the performance first. After all, the electricity might go out, the curtain may close too soon or, heaven forbid, one of the kids may seize the opportunity to share some of the new words he just learned from the big kids!

They better videotape sporting events first before letting the students see them, also. A player might get seriously injured, or perform a risque touchdown celebration! The faculty certainly wouldn't be "prepared" ahead of time to deal with that!

By the way, as a "teacher", you probably don't want to "loose site" of the importance of proper grammar and spelling! And as a "HCPSteacher", don't you think it's kind of boastful to be tipping your hat to yourself?

First off can I just ask am I the only one appalled at a Harford Co teacher comparing the uncertainty of the outcome of watching a speech from the President to the Challenger lift off and crash??? I love Harford County but the school is system is getting on my nerves. How many rules and regulations can you people possibly make? I work in a charter school in Baltimore City without half the rules and regulations that Harford Co schools have and we manage not to mame or kill any students. Our students are doing amazing academically and emotionally. Children can survive without being "policied" to death.

The excuse of the policy that Harford Co has for not showing broadcasts without previewing them first was a definite mask of the true feelings and beliefs of some of the leaders of Harford Co. They say that they decided to announce not showing it in schools because they didn't get fair enough time to review its “instructional and curricular value” but I feel that decision was made prematurely. The speech was published and various follow up questions were suggested appropriate to the grade level. Revisions were made as the questions were reviewed for clarity and appropriateness. How is that a majority of other educators, superintendents, school boards and parents have no trouble seeing the educational value in the presidents speech (some even without first previewing it) and felt there was adequate time for conversation and "curricular value" but Harford Co couldn't? Or is it they just "wouldn't?"

To suggest that a prepared Presidential message which was published in advance needs to be somehow reinterpreted by School Board approved ‘lesson plans’ is highly suspect. Are the individual classroom teachers incapable of responding to immediate information and applying it to the respective topics of their specialty or grade level? Must they get approval from the school board to discuss the daily news or current events in their classrooms? Even worse in my opinion is that the Board offers parents to opt their child out of the presentation with a note. For this organization to facilitate such segregation between students allowed or not allowed to hear our President speak to them also reinforces the message that the information is somehow inappropriate. A highly capable local school board should be able to fully stand behind their curriculum for all students and should help these unenlightened parents understand its importance and not be so eager pander to the lowest common denominator among them. The members of this board need to be called to task for perpetuating this kind of fear and ignorance and the negative impact it will have on their students and the dark cloud it casts over our State.

I am resident of Carroll County and amd completely furious that the children of this county were not allowed to see the speech. At least Harford county provided advance notice. Carroll county provided no notice, and my children did not come home with permission slips. I called the school begging them to take my two middle schoolers somewhere with a teacher leading discussion to see the speech. they said the speech was not going to be shown anywhere, so I went and got my children from school and we watched the speech on CSPAN. I feel that carroll county did what may have seemed to be politically expedient instead of what was best for the children. I am livid.

(hear the complete and total sarcasm coming from me as I write this)

I am so happy that Harford Co took the time to properly prepare to give the greatest amount of value and respect to the presidents address...only for the technology not to work and my daughter to gain inspiration and insight from the impact of the speech from The President of the USA by her teacher reading it to the class. Yay Rah. I bet that was a moving moment in my daughters life. Thanks Harford Co for fulfilling our wishes and expectations. The great benefit I hoped for my daughter of watching the speech with her classmates and teacher and discussing it with them has been wasted. I have no problem showing it to her and discussing it but there is something more gained by discussing it with people your own age.

Boooooooooooooo Harford Co Schools!!!!