URGENT ACTION: Everyone should call their local school administrators and school board members to make sure that the President’s speech will be shown on the first day of school.

On Tuesday, September 8th at 12 noon EDT, President Obama will speak directly to students in a national address on educational success (Press Release). The President will speak from Wakefield High School in Arlington (4901 S Chesterfield Rd, Arlington, VA 22206). The 20 minute speech will be broadcast live from C-SPAN and the White House web site (http://www.whitehouse.gov/live/), and it will also be available online on Monday for anyone to review before the first day of school.

More information and resources about the speech, including classroom activities, are available from the Department of Education, click here.

Fairfax County Public Schools are not clear on the availability of the speech to all students.

Right wingers are accusing the President of having a hidden agenda. Yes, he does … the hidden agenda is the importance of staying in school, studying hard and being responsible. 

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Fairfax County Public Schools and the Speech
source: Townhall.com, a conservative blog 

Paul Regnier [contact information below], a spokesman for Fairfax County Public Schools, said that Fairfax had “determined that individual schools will make the decision” as to whether or not to air the address. But it was impossible to find out exactly what sorts of decisions the Fairfax schools were making, because Fairfax had designed somewhat of a circle of responsibility.

“Any calls a school would get from the media, they would go back to me,” he said.

Regnier also seemed somewhat disappointed at the calls he had received from parents who were unhappy with the prospect of their children watching the video.

“Some people have said they don’t want their children seeing this, despite being the President of the United States,” he said.

If you’re concerned with this approach from Fairfax, please contact:

Fairfax County School Administration Center
8115 Gatehouse Road
Falls Church, VA 22042
General information: 571-423-1200
Fax: 571-423-1207

Paul Regnier
Coordinator, Paul.Regnier@fcps.edu, 571-423-1208

Fairfax County Public Schools >Department of Communications and Community Outreach > Media and Crisis Team

The Media and Crisis Team coordinates communications with school system employees and between the school system and media and community organizations. The Coordinator of the Media and Crisis Team (Department of Communications and Community Outreach) serves as the official spokesperson for FCPS. The office supports divisional emergency preparedness.