Obama speech to students causes controversy

President Obama is scheduled to speak to the nation's student on Tuesday about the need to work hard and stay in school.

The school-time speech has sparked controversy with some conservatives urging schools and parents to boycott the speech. For a full story of the controversy you can click this link:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ib8qja0qqnnbZFsHF7kP6GV9XVfQD9AGCI3G1We are not going to be showing the speech in class on Tuesday, but I'd like to hear your opinion.

1. Do you think President Obama is using the opportunity to promote a political agenda? If so, what evidence do you have of this?

2. In the U.S., individual states are in charge of education. The federal government only has limited involvement. Do you think the speech oversteps the boundries of federal involvement in schools?

3. The policy at CCISD is that if a teacher decides to show the speech (we are not showing it here on Tuesday), then parents can have their children removed from the classroom during the speech if they tell the school this is what they want. What do you think about this?

4. On September 19, 1796 in his farewell address when leaving the presidency, George Washington warned the nation that political parties will be a threat and danger to to the stability of the country. What role do you think politics and political parties play in your education? What role do you think it should play?