We did it! In Shorewood, WI, with the mighty help from some like-minded parents and the inter-tubes and social media and ideas from DKos, we were able to get the Presidental Address broadcast on a system-wide basis this morning. It's what I did all Labor Day weekend - time well spent. Yes to GrassRoots organizing. Here's the story.
I'd heard on Friday that some districts in SouthEastern Wisconsin were "electing not to show the address." Feeling a bit smug for knowing (thinking) I lived in a progressive community where this wouldn't happened, I phoned my superintendent just to make sure. So I was shocked and saddened to hear that indeed, he'd made the decision to not air it system-wide, but to leave it up to individual teachers.
From reading annie em's diary that day, I knew "leaving it up to the teachers" was not a great option unless the teachers really knew they had the backing of the school board and superintendent.
I wrote a letter that was really only possible because of annie em's and manoffire's diaries - from which I blatantly stole. I sent it to school board members, the superintendent, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reporter covering this story, the head of our local Democratic blog, and every parent of a child at my kid's school for whom I had an email address.
It's here at Google Docs if you are interested.
It went viral--I got a number of replies, both pro and con, some of which I'd like to share.
Ms. CVS.
Wow. Please forgive me for saying this, but this was quite an ignorant and self serving email you sent to everyone. If you want to take your kids out of school to see the speech live, then go for it. But let them see the speech at home. That's your prerogative as a parent. However, forcing all of the children to see the speech is quite socialistic and not at all democratic.
I detest option one that you present that almost equates hearing Obama's speech to Halloween, the Easter Bunny, or Santa Claus. If Christians or Muslims don't want to participate, then stay home. I obviously need to remind you that almost 1/2 of America did not vote for President Obama. I do not agree with all of his ideals, which tend to be more socialistic. I closely monitor everything my children see and hear on the television. I guaranty, I will monitor his speech before showing it to my children. IF I deem it to be appropriate, then I will show it to them. Not before.
Dear Mr. D: Surprise! Almost 1/2 of America didn't vote for Bush, either!
and this:
Instead of taking up this cause, did you know that 70% of all children experiment with drugs and alcohol by the time they graduate from eigth grade? (Research done by Narconon., 2005.) Did you know that children are becoming sexually permiscuous in the fifth and sixth grades? Does that concern you at all? It should.
Maybe it does or doesn't Mr. E., but might a stern "stay in school and fly right" speech from a sitting president help stem the tide which you abhor?
Finally, this:
I love your fervor, your energy, and your willingness to fight for a cause. I simply hope and pray that you start fighting for the right cause, and stop supporting events that may present socialistic ideas.
OMG, Mr. H, you are right, I should immediate take my kids out of the government-run socialist public school system. As should you!
But many more were supportive:
CVS,
An eloquent, thoughtful email, as a parent of two Shorewood students, thank you for writing it.
I'm beyond proud to have you as a community member, fellow parent, and member of our classroom community
It is frightening that we are teaching our children not to listen to other people in anticipation of disagreement with their opinion
Or politely disagreed:
Thank you for sending for you letter to my family but we have already sent our letter in and my family and I strongly disagree with you simply put ..thank you ......the K family
Enough parents contacted school board members over the weekend that the statment Monday night from the President of the School Board was thus:
Please see the attached email I received from Dr McCann earlier this evening. I am happy to read that the students of the Shorewood School District will watch and listen to President Obama's address tomorrow and I applaud Dr McCann for his careful evaluation and thoughtful consideration.
Although the School Board could not legally meet within the compressed timeframe of the past three days and therefore could and did not act on this matter, I know that all Board members received a number of emails and phone calls from our community. Each of you wrote expressing your opinions and displeasure with the idea that Shorewood Schools would not broadcast/play/show President Obama’s speech. I want to thank you for sharing your thoughts – I feel vey strongly that our ability to openly and freely share our beliefs and opinions is what makes our country and our community strong.
To the vast majority of you that were kind and thoughtful in your emails expressing your opinions and beliefs, I thank you.
To the few that were rude, factually incorrect or (seemingly) purposely aggravating (using words such as "spineless, irresponsible, insane, ashamed, cowering, hidden agenda, caved in" in your message), I encourage you to call me directly in the future to be sure we are operating from a fact-based platform for our discussion before the "Send" button is pushed.
I was at the school this morning to help set up the technology (including running to the electronics store for a 50 foot cable) and so was able then to watch the broadcast live with the students. I watched with a set of 5-6 grades and then went also and sat for "post speech" discussion with 1st - 4th graders. The younger children, I have to admit, were much more excited. One of them piped up and said "I never thought of that! ALL jobs need an education!" Another said, "I learned that the president had to get up WAY earlier than me to do school." One child actually said "it's nice for the President to take time away from his busy schedule to talk to us."
It just wouldn't have been the same if this had not been a school-wide, "let's get ready to settle in and work" "we're all in this together" event. I was glad to be there.