While it seems that everyone wants to turn this into a political issue, all of us should remember that the President is not just the leader of the Democratic Party. He's also the President of our Nation. While I would never vote for President Obama, I still pray for him and respect the Office he holds. I try to ensure that my 14-year old son understands the difference between Obama the politician and Obama the President. Isn’t this something that the Troy School District can use to teach our children as part of their preparation to be citizens?

I agree with Dave Lambert . How can we teach our children to be respectful to public figures if they are not taught to listen and analyze the issues they discuss. When Iwas a child my republican parents made us listen to the 2 democratic presidents of my childhood . They disagreed with their policies and we certianly learned why after the speak . It taught me repsect for public figures even when We disagree . Most of all it taught me to listen to all points of view and it makes me a good citizen as well as a critical thinker . I believe parents who do not understand this aspect has missed some key concepts in their education about developing critical thinkers . The schools need to work to correct the situation by educating all. .

More often than not presidential address is a political speech, and as such has no place in the public schools. If parents would like their children watch it, they can do it at home. If the district still decides to have it, it should be through the opt-in, not opt-out.

Roman Magidenko. You are very miss informed about how to educate kids to be critical thinkers . Of course they are about public policy for this country and agree or disagree with intelligence can only be done by listening to all ideas about solutions to problems no one group hold all the solutions . Critical thinking is very necessity for success in todays work place. Believe me I interview person for all types of jobs . Critical thinking and problem solving is the road to being employed . Rigid Ideology canNot be productive in the work place today. Thomas Jefferson instructed us that an ignorant and uninformed free society is something that never was and never shall be. If you do not listen to all the ideas for solution you are uniformed . Thats an important issue in our free society.

As a parent of two children who attended Troy Schools, I do not recall ever when the Troy School District sent me information that they decided to allow parents to opt-out of a back to school speech from the President of the United States. Now I do not pledge allegiance to any one political party and If Bush or Clinton wanted to deliver a back to school speech I would Opt-In. I am educated enough to realize that the President of the United States would not be so stupid than to deliver a speech to children laced with politics. I agree with Lucille when she quotes Thomas Jefferson instructing us "that an ignorant and uninformed free society is something that never was and never shall be." This is the case when you have citizens who think the President of the United States wanted to deliver a political speech or who think it would be political period. In fact the speech was a 20-minute Back to School Speech in which the President encouraged students to take advantage of academic opportunities, among other things. Now, I ask what parent or school district has a problem with that type of motivation and encouragement and advise? Based on what I have read the back to school speech defininetly has a place in public schools.