A Breath of Fresh Air -- One Superintendent with backbone and a clear head.

A Breath of Fresh Air -- One Superintendent with backbone and a clear head.
by Russells 10

Sat Sep 05, 2009 at 06:25:45 PM PDT

From the Superintendent of schools in Westport, CT:

Dear Parent:

The President of the United States, Barack Obama, duly elected by the people of the United States, will be addressing our Nation’s children on Tuesday, September 8. In so doing, our President, like his earlier predecessor, George H.W. Bush, will be delivering an important message to the young people of our great country that calls on them to do their best in school by working hard so they can be successful in their personal lives and in the global environment in which they will live and that will challenge them in every way in the years to come.

As Superintendent of Schools, I am pleased that the President of the United States will be taking time from his busy schedule to deliver this important message to our students.

I have instructed our building principals and classroom teachers at all school levels that I am fully supportive of having them integrate the message of the President of the United States into their lessons on Tuesday, or on any subsequent date. Toward this end, we will be televising President Obama’s speech, video streaming it, or recording it on DVDs for teacher use. I anticipate that our professional administrative and teaching staffs will incorporate the President’s presentation into classroom instruction in the best way possible to enhance this learning opportunity for our students.

As the integration of the President’s speech into our instructional practice will constitute a vital learning experience for all our children, it is my expectation that any child in any class where the President’s speech is incorporated into instruction will be a part of that instructional activity. Being a part of an instructional activity means that the child can participate fully or elect not to participate fully while remaining in the classroom, as would be the case with virtually any instructional activity.

Thank you for cooperation and understanding.

Sincerely yours,

Elliott Landon
Superintendent of Schools

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/9/5/777645/-A-Breath-of-Fresh-AirOne-Superintendent-with-backbone-and-a-clear-head.

:patriot:

Gives me faith that the entire US hasn't become Idiocracy.

Superintendent Landon is a true educator and a tribute to our profession.

:applause: for Elliot Landon

and crazy administrators, this really is a breath of fresh air.

Level headed and to the point. :yourock:

President Obama speaking to students as "creepy" and a local wacko Limbaugh wannabe radio talk show host in Lexington, was appalled because the "President was going to be speaking to the children without their parents present", reading this letter is a breath of fresh air or, simply, a sign of intelligence. The local Superintendent of schools in Lexington received some calls and is now tucking his tail in fear and declared that any student who wishes to not even attend school that day will be excused. In addition, there will be no discussion of the President's message afterward. Remember that Barbara Bush quote on Iraq? "Why should we hear about body bags and deaths? It's not relevant. So why should I waste my beautiful mind on something like that?" Looks like these morons have adopted her attitude; why should they discuss President Obama's message; it might waste "their beautiful minds."

What in the bloody hell has our country turned into? I have to agree with Bill Moyers...I don't want a buddy; I want a fighter.

He says they don't have to pay attention, if they don't want to, but they have to be in class. Good on him.

Doesn't have that bitter biting I am afraid to say something spirit that schools in the US are so fond of.

in case they lack the spine to do what is right. Seeing someone else take a stand can give courage to others. This could have been handled in a way that the anti-American thugs who are screaming about their president speaking to schoolchildren, would have been marginalized completely as they should have been.

Maybe we should secede.

Bravo!!

I'm a 66 yo woman. Been a Democrat all my life. I want to know when the powers in the Democratic party are going to stop pussyfooting around and start fighting these obnoxious republican thugs. You remember what the swift boaters did to John Kerry, no one fought back, because the powers believed "no one would take these people serious". What happened to all those liars after Kerry lost, that told all those lies about Kerry's medals, nothing. When are we going to face the fact that there are Americans, I'm sorry to say, who believe what ever the republicans tell them. If they are told the President is a traitor, must be true. A communist, must be true. A Muslim terrorist, must be true. This stuff IS NOT JUST HYPER PARTISAN. Sometimes you have to fight the bullies on their terms. I felt that B.O. could bring a new tone to Washington, but the republicans are not going to let that happen. So stop with the bipartisan attitude. Drive these a*holes into the ground.

I so wish we could recommend your comment!

:hi:

:patriot: :yourock: :patriot: :kick:

I certainly applaud the man for allowing the presentation as opposed to NOT allowing it, but it's not like he's a superintendent in Texas or Kansas or Arkansas or another backwards-ass state. While I'm sure there are ignorant rednecks in Connecticut, I'd certainly hope they'd be vastly outnumbered by rational, intelligent, thinking human beings, as opposed to the denizens of a more rural locale.

Why was this letter even necessary?

respective school superintendants and/or senior staff will record Obama's speech and review it before deciding if it is appropriate for children in their schools.

My daughter's school did not mention Obama's speech at all...nothing. Other then it will be shown.

Again it's ironic that these parents who are sooooo afraid of the
"socialist message" that Obama plans to deliver are sending their
kids to a public school system, which is of course one of our only
socialist programs.

But the presidents message is an important one that any caring intelligent parent would want their child to hear. I am glad that Mr.Landon composed and delivered such an eloquent prelude to President Obama's speech.

anyone's idea of the norm -- in any respect.
That goes for a lot of the south, although I'm never comfortable painting with a broad brush of generalities.

I just heard from a friend in S carolina , that she had to sign a
permission slip for her children to hear the President. It really ate
her up believing that the slip itself was racist .

Says she is receiving Hate mail from "freinds" over the issue.

:mad: it makes me so mad that there are so many racists in America.
We must continue to work on resolving this .

I think they have banned plastic bags there, and it was also the home of the late Paul Newman for decades. They also have outstanding schools.

Good for them.

:applause:

:kick:

you go mr superindentent!!!

:applause:

Here's someone on the CT Teaparty Patriots Facebook page who isn't sure what to think about the duly elected President of his county speaking to his kids


http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=60002567693&topic=12908


Thank God, Newt went on the TV and told them that is "appropriate" for the President to address the kids so now they know what to think. Wait, does Newt trump Rush and Beck ?

Bravo Elliott Landon

:applause:

But just as with the town hall loud mouths, the media has done its sensational thing and made it viral.

It's be decided the speech will be taped and "reviewed" for relevant content before be shown.
What a twerp.

We really do need an educator in that position.