Dear Tyler ISD Parents & Community:

On August 26, Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education, sent a letter to schools across the country indicating that President Obama would address the nation's school children on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. Central Standard Time.  In his letter Secretary Duncan states, "This is the first time an American president has spoken directly to the nation's school children about persisting and succeeding in school.  We encourage you to use this historic moment to help your students get focused and begin the school year strong.  I encourage you, your teachers, and students to join me in watching the President deliver this address.  It will be broadcast live via the White House website at www.whitehouse.gov at noon Eastern Standard Time."

The message appears to be a motivational presentation aimed at encouraging our students to raise their levels of performance.  According to information provided to school districts by the U.S. Department of Education, the President will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning.

Over the past few days, the District has received several inquiries from parents and community members regarding whether the District intends to broadcast the Presidential address to students, including using the requisite lesson plans provided by the Secretary of Education. As a result of these inquiries, we would like to communicate the following to parents and community members.

The District does not have the technological capability to simultaneously accommodate all classrooms throughout the District with video streaming, thus the address cannot be presented live.  The District does want to honor the request made by the office of the President of the United States and the Department of Education, so we will request that our elementary teachers and our secondary social studies instructors utilize the speech at an appropriate time in their lessons during the coming weeks.  |

We will not, as a District, be utilizing the requisite lesson plans provided by the USDE; however, we encourage parents to take the time to view those materials which can be accessed at: www.ed.gov/teachers/how/lessons/prek-6.pd (for PreK-6 students) and www.ed.gov/teachers/how/lessons/7-12.pdf (for students in grades 7-12).

Perhaps most importantly, the District believes that parents should be encouraged to go to the White House website, www.whitehouse.gov, watch the President's address, review the lesson plan provided by the Secretary of Education, and make their own decisions regarding viewing and discussion with their school aged children.  Parents who wish to exempt their children from viewing the address when it is presented in class should provide the school with a written request to opt out.  Those students that are exempted will be provided a supervised setting and an alternative lesson for the short duration of the address.

If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact your school principal.

Sincerely,
 
 
Randy Reid, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools