Teachers To Decide On Obama Talk

Item: Districts let teachers opt to air speech: Coeur d’Alene cites bad timing in deciding to pass on first day of school /Shawn Vestal, SR

More Info: President Barack Obama will be talking to schoolchildren Tuesday. It’s unclear how many of them in the Inland Northwest will hear him. Local school districts are taking a cautious approach to airing the speech – billed as an effort to encourage kids to stay in school and work hard – on the heels of a small but vocal opposition from parents concerned that it’s trying to smuggle a political message. At least one district in the region, Coeur d’Alene, won’t air the speech at all, citing bad timing. The speech, set for 9 a.m. Tuesday, comes on the first day of school.

Question: Does the Coeur d’Alene School District have a legitimate excuse for not airing President Obama’s speech — that it would create problems because it comes on the first day of school?