Arlington ISD lets students go see Pres. Bush but not listen to Pres. Obama

[BumbleBeep]

School refuses Obama speech, but will bus kids to see Bush A Texas school which refused to air President Barack Obama's live classroom address is planning to bus students to see the president. Did school officials reverse course after realizing Obama's speech wasn't political, as conservatives had claimed? Nope. They're sending fifth graders to see another president: former President George W. Bush, and his wife, Laura. Bush is speaking alongside several Dallas Cowboys players and prominent Texas business leaders. "District officials said it's part of a Cowboys Stadium field trip that the North Texas Super Bowl Host Committee invited 28 fifth-grade classes to attend several months ago," a local NBC affiliate wrote Wednesday morning. "The event launches the Super Bowl committee's largest-ever youth education program. Students must have their parents' permission to attend, school officials said." Students who had permission slips from their parents were able to watch President Obama's speech after being excused from classes. At least one local church is up in arms. "I do not understand the duplicity in this situation," Dwight McKissic Sr., the senior pastor of Arlington's Cornerstone Baptist Church said in a news release quoted by NBC. "I believe the students and the public deserve and need to have these differences explained." "The Arlington school district, like many in North Texas, decided not to broadcast the president's speech live after some parents expressed concern about its content," NBC noted. "The district said the recorded speech would be made available through its Web site."

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/09/09/obama-bush-bus/

Ok! Seriously!! Obama is the ****ing president!!! They won't let him be heard in the school but they are totally willing to bus the kids to the new football stadium and see Bush.

Come on out and just say it there was to be racism involved... It's the only thing I can think of. I dont care what your opinion of him is. He is your president! If you're an American citizen he is the elected official that will lead out country for the next 3 and half years. If you don't like him at least have respect for the office, if nothing else.

I'm so sick of the petty ****!



Well that's my opinion how do you feel about this?

[redpatch07]

I completely agree! Bush spoke to schools all over the place and schools showed it on the tv but when Obama does it, it's "spreading socialism". WTF!

[kensington]

Students who had permission slips from their parents were able to watch President Obama's speech after being excused from classes.

Oh come on... They let those who wanted to see it... see it. But, the speech was not mandated and no School HAD to let show it. It raised controversy and they opted out of showing it. They let kids go...

But, if this is a field trip... it's been planned since the beginning of the year, they always are, they are on the school calendar and has nothing to do with Obama deciding to make a speech.

It has nothing to do with race... making it about that is not right.

[EmeraldEyes]

You said it with more tact than I would have!!

[redpatch07]

The difference is that Bush's speeches were made a priority and there wasn't any permission slips needed or angry parents calling to make sure their child was not watching it. That's disrespect for the office of the President.

[ashley5]

Originally Posted by kensington Students who had permission slips from their parents were able to watch President Obama's speech after being excused from classes. Oh come on... They let those who wanted to see it... see it. But, the speech was not mandated and no School HAD to let show it. It raised controversy and they opted out of showing it. They let kids go... But, if this is a field trip... it's been planned since the beginning of the year, they always are, they are on the school calendar and has nothing to do with Obama deciding to make a speech. It has nothing to do with race... making it about that is not right.

I agree completely, this is all just getting ridiculous. Former presidents do all kinds of events, it's not that big of a deal. Plus the kids that wanted to watch the speech were able to do so. Don't see what the big deal is here.

[kensington]

Originally Posted by redpatch07 The difference is that Bush's speeches were made a priority and there wasn't any permission slips needed or angry parents calling to make sure their child was not watching it. That's disrespect for the office of the President.

But the thing is... School boards change.. YEARLY. And so do the administrative staff.

What a school board did 5 years ago... is not what a school board is going to do today.

One thing I do know... The first day of school... that "event" calendar is set. Every field trip, half day, holiday, dance or teachers day is on it... This trip is not about racism or about the speech. It's not.

[mrs.s]

Originally Posted by BumbleBeep http://thinkprogress.org/2009/09/09/obama-bush-bus/ Ok! Seriously!! Obama is the ****ing president!!! They won't let him be heard in the school but they are totally willing to bus the kids to the new football stadium and see Bush. Come on out and just say it there was to be racism involved... It's the only thing I can think of. I dont care what your opinion of him is. He is your president! If you're an American citizen he is the elected official that will lead out country for the next 3 and half years. If you don't like him at least have respect for the office, if nothing else. I'm so sick of the petty ****! Well that's my opinion how do you feel about this?

I completely agree. When Bush put our country through hell and high water, he still didn't receive half of the disrespect that Obama has received since he's been president. Of course it's about race, there's nothing you could tell me that would change my mind about it.

[katiedelta3]

Originally Posted by kensington Students who had permission slips from their parents were able to watch President Obama's speech after being excused from classes. Oh come on... They let those who wanted to see it... see it. But, the speech was not mandated and no School HAD to let show it. It raised controversy and they opted out of showing it. They let kids go... But, if this is a field trip... it's been planned since the beginning of the year, they always are, they are on the school calendar and has nothing to do with Obama deciding to make a speech. It has nothing to do with race... making it about that is not right.

I agree... the events were two separate and parents had the option to let their children go watch it or not. It was not forced upon TO watch it or to miss it.

Originally Posted by redpatch07 The difference is that Bush's speeches were made a priority and there wasn't any permission slips needed or angry parents calling to make sure their child was not watching it. That's disrespect for the office of the President.

Not true. Permission slips are ALWAYS required for ANY sort of field trip as per Texas law.

[kensington]

Originally Posted by mrs.s I completely agree. When Bush put our country through hell and high water, he still didn't receive half of the disrespect that Obama has received since he's been president. Of course it's about race, there's nothing you could tell me that would change my mind about it.

Concerning the speech... It may be about Repubs vs Dems... but it ain't about black and white...

And I know the field trip isn't. They just aren't. They are decided on by teachers, per the curriculum... The board or administration... and or the "principle" decided on showing the speech.