Little concern for second Obama school speech

The second coming of President Barack Obama's back-to-school speech that ignited criticism from conservatives last year isn't sparking any flames this time around.

Few seem aware that a second televised appearance is even scheduled this month.

The White House announced late last month the president will issue another nationwide speech to schools Sept. 14 - during which he will tell students to "study hard, stay in school and take responsibility for their education."

A time and place of the speech has yet to be determined.

Superintendent Bryan Blavatt was unaware that a national televised speech would be given, but said it shouldn't be a problem to discuss that matter with school principals and leave it to parents and students whether they want to watch the address.

"No matter what your beliefs are politically, my stance is that the president has the right to address the public," Blavatt said. "But at the same time, people have the option whether they want to hear the address or not. And just as they can do at home, parents or students will have the option to opt out of hearing the address."

He said he would also meet with other administrators and discuss the matter and added that presently little is known about the speech.

Blaise Ingoglia, Chairman of the Hernando County Republican Executive Committee, also didn't know about the speech and said he doesn't foresee it being an issue.

"If the message is that students should stay in school, reach for the stars and be all that they can be, then that's a message everyone can all get behind," Ingoglia said. "It just all depends on the context of the message. But I can tell you that it isn't an issue for the Republican Party right now."

Conservatives and parents spoke out against the president's 2009 speech last year claiming that Obama was trying to indoctrinate students to follow his political agenda. Their concerns partly stemmed from an accompanying lesson plan encouraging students to "help the president."

The White House later revised the plan, but by then the damage was already done and some schools across the nation - including a handful in Hernando County - refused to show the speech meant to challenge the nation's students to take pride and ownership of their education.

Obama isn't the first president to give a televised speech to students or face opposition from the opposing political party for it.

In 1991, Democrats criticized former President George H.W. Bush for making a similar televised address - particularly after his ending remark which he urged students to write him a letter about ways they could "Help us achieve our goals."

Democrats also claimed the Republican president turned the address into a campaign commercial and that making the broadcast was a waste of tax dollars.

They also criticized Ronald Reagan when he gave a 1986 commencement speech and question-and-answer session that was "beamed" over public television into 171 school districts.

Meanwhile, parents can contact school officials at the board office at 352-797-7000 or contact their child's school principal. A list of school numbers and addresses are also available on the district's website at www.hernandoschools.org.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.