The Loudoun County, Virginia public school system has reversed course and will allow the live airing of President Barack Obama's speech to school children, reports the Washington Examiner. As with most other Washington, D.C. area school systems, principals will be allowed the individual discretion to block the speech in their respective schools and parents the discretion to keep their own kids from watching the speech.
Loudoun's reversal of its original plan to block live airings came after the White House released the text of the planned address, a day in advance of its delivery. Obama's speech as written is essentially innocuous, filled with exhortations for kids to work hard and even do basic hygiene to help avoid spreading the H1N1 and seasonal flu viruses.
The movement by some conservative political groups to block Obama's address has come off more as mindless hysteria than anything else. It seems they would rather have kids believe that Obama is the devil incarnate than actually let them be inspired to vigorously pursue their studies. Thankfully, Loudoun County has finally, if somewhat belatedly, wisened up.Labels: education, loudoun county, public schools, virginia
