Obama speaking to schools today

President Barack Obama's planned back-to-school pep talk for the nation's school children will apparently be a hit-and-miss presentation in Utah.

Some district and school leaders are choosing not to air the presidential address — which has generated controversy in some areas around the nation — at least for now. Nebo School District in south Utah County is one of the districts opting against airing the broadcast in any of its schools today.

With the speech transcript posted online early Monday, parents had an opportunity to read the message the president plans to deliver and decide whether their children should watch the live broadcast which will air at 10 a.m. Tuesday at www.whitehouse.gov and on C-SPAN. Obama will deliver the speech in person at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Va.

In the transcript, Obama tells the students he wants them to get serious with their studies this year: "I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect great things from each of you. So don't let us down — don't let your family or your country or yourself down. Make us all proud. I know you can do it."

Heather Del Rio, of Layton, who has three children at Sand Springs Elementary School, read the speech online Monday. The mom said she likes how the president addresses bullying. "In the school system, smart kids are kind of picked on," she said.

Del Rio plans to watch the broadcast with her children at the school today. "Then if they have any questions, they can ask me," she said.

Paul Eggleston, of Magna, who has a kindergarten student in the Granite School District, said he prefers educators delay the broadcast until parents have listened to it and make a decision. "The classroom is a place for education — not politics," he said.

Nebo School District Superintendent Chris Sorensen, in a memo to principals, cites the short time frame as reason for not airing the live address. Educators didn't have enough time to allow parents to sign release forms, he said. He further states, "adjusting for established school and class schedules, technology availability and previously planned activities on such short notice would have created administrative and curriculum challenges for schools."

Many school districts across the country are giving parents the choice of having their child opt out of the event for an alternative educational activity.