Stressing importance of education

Thousands of Utah schoolchildren watched President Barack Obama's live speech about the value of education Tuesday. Thousands of others didn't.

All eyes were glued to the big screen in Mark Ellis' history class at Hillside Middle School in Salt Lake City as the president delivered his heavily debated address directed at students.

"He really wants us to succeed. That made me feel good," said Hillside seventh-grader Ben Randle, 12.

Obama's speech came across as a back-to-school pep talk. He encouraged the students to study hard, choose career paths and not give up.

"I'm calling on each one of you to set your own goals for your education — and to do everything you can to meet them," he said.

The live broadcast led to much heated discussion nationally during the past week. Concerns from parents and educators ranged from the dangers of politics in the classroom to the fact the speech was live and uncensorable.

In Utah, state superintendent Larry Shumway allowed school districts to decide whether to air the speech. In turn, some district leaders left it up to principals and teachers, who based their decision on parent input, class curriculum, already planned activities such as testing and whether the technology was available.

School districts that aired the speech allowed parents to have their child opt out for an alternative educational activity.

Ninety-three students chose to sit in the library at Lone Peak High School in Highland. Senior Matt Oakman said he didn't need to hear the speech. "Yeah, stay in school," he said. "It's just a general speech you hear all the time from parents."

Lone Peak sophomore Collin Wright said he didn't watch the speech because his mother felt it would influence him, at a young age, to think a certain way and to vote for things Obama is promoting.

Other students at the Alpine School District high school said they felt listening to the speech was a waste of time, and they simply wanted to do homework instead.

At Provo High School, Obama's speech was broadcast in the school's commons area and west lunchroom because many classrooms don't have cable TV. Teachers who had other lesson plans and whose subjects didn't relate to the speech had the choice to opt out. Of the 1,700 students at the school, about 500 watched the speech, according to Provo High principal Sam Ray.

Provo High student Kaisha Ozone, 14, said she was upset that she wasn't able to see the address live.