By Linda Storli-Koontz

The legally elected, duly sworn in President of the United States is giving a speech on Tuesday to STUDENTS.

I was in disbelief when I learned that our school district was allowing parents to opt their children out of hearing the President speech. I can not imagine parents opting their High School students out of hearing any seated President speak… or a school district that would allow them to do so. Can anyone fathom a student’s parents being allowed to opt their children out of a President Bush speech to students in this district?

IF parents would have opted their children out of listening to a Presidential address to the nation made by a Republican “we” would have called the parents and the children unpatriotic. We would have called them narrow minded and accused them of shielding their children from the “truth”.

The OFFICE of the Presidency deserves respect – no matter who is sitting in the chair.

As a Republican, that served on a Republican Presidential Commission, I still believe in people having the right to think for themselves. I believe that education is the only cure for prejudice and ignorance. I have had my students listen to and discuss Democrat’s speeches AND Republican’s speeches, THAT is how we learn!

The district and the State allow us to show videos of Hitler’s speeches … makes me worry about what the district/parents think is harmful and what is not!

I can understand a parent not wanting a student to miss their math time or science class to listen to political speeches but I teach GOVERNMENT… and History (Social Studies) to 11th and 12th graders.

I would hope that parents and educators from all places on the political spectrum will stand up for the right of a high school student to listen to a Presidential address in their Social Studies class.

To do less is putting us back 100 years. We are fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for their people’s right to hear different views than the dictators that have them captive. Shouldn’t your children, our students, have the same rights?

Parents I urge you to allow your children to hear THE President of the United States speak to STUDENTS this Tuesday.