Tech glitches squelch Obama talk

Friday, Sept. 11, 2009

"... I'm calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education — and to do everything you can to meet them. Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending time each day reading a book," Obama said in the speech, according to a transcript on the White House Web site.

Students in many areas, including Charles County, were unable to see the event at school in real time.

Charles County Public Schools announced days before the scheduled event that the school system did not have the technology to air the event for all of its students.

Scheduling conflicts and the inability to view digital cable programming also topped the list of reasons it was not feasible for students to view the president's address.

"Charles County always finds a way to miss the boat," said William Braxton, president of the Charles County chapter of the NAACP.

Braxton said it's unfortunate that students were not given the opportunity to see the address especially since the school system has such a large minority representation. Braxton said African-American students missed an opportunity to see a fellow African-American, the leader of the country, address students.

He said he is also concerned that the county commissioners were not apprised of the decision.

"I don't think it was as technical as they are saying," he said.

A few hours after the address, at the regularly scheduled Charles County Board of Education meeting, board member Pamela A. Pedersen asked if students and teachers in the days following the address would be able to view and discuss the speech if desired.

"If teachers want to show it tomorrow, there is no issue?" Pedersen asked.

"There is no real issue with that," Deputy Superintendent Ronald G. Cunningham said, adding that parents were also encouraged to view the speech at home with students at their convenience.

Lin Hayes of Nanjemoy is not so convinced that the speech should be viewed or discussed.

Hayes said that when the school system announced that it would not be airing the live broadcast, she felt more comfortable with her grandson attending Matthew Henson Middle School that day.

"I don't feel the president needed to talk to my child," she said.

Hayes said that she found out later that her grandson did watch the speech in his science classroom.

Unsure whether or not the Henson teacher showed the speech live or later during the day, Hayes said it went against what she knew from the school system.

"I don't care if it was the first broadcast or if it were taped, [the school system] said that they would not be showing it. I feel like I was tricked," she said.

In a letter dated Sept. 3, Cunningham explained to principals that it was not feasible to show the live broadcast to all students. He said a link would be provided on the school system Web site but because the live version could not be viewed by all "we are asking that no teachers use this in their classroom."

According to Steven Sprouse, digital recordings specialist for the system, schools in the county were discouraged from viewing the live broadcast due to technical logistics but no action was taken to ensure all schools complied.

Sprouse confirmed that social studies teachers at Matthew Henson used Obama's written speech in class and had student discussions on what Obama's message meant to them. The discussion had an opt-out option for students and Sprouse confirmed that in the one classroom where the opt-out option was not made clear to students, a student questioned the discussion, called a parent and the option to opt out was given.

Sprouse confirmed that the teacher who did not initially give the option was not aware it was an option but complied as soon as she was made aware.

Sprouse could not confirm that any science teachers showed the speech at Henson.

Administrators sent an e-mail to all Charles County Public School employees Tuesday morning reminding them of the live broadcast complications but encouraging teachers to watch the speech and for students and parents to watch the speech at their convenience, according to Sprouse.

Schools in St. Mary's and Calvert counties allowed some classes to view the speech.

Mike Denny, a civics teacher at Leonardtown High School, said it was important to watch the speech in class.

In Calvert County, Superintendent Jack Smith sent a letter home to parents saying that it was not feasible to show the live broadcast to all students, but high school students would have an opportunity to see the broadcast.

gphillips@somdnews.com