Beaumont parents react to Obama speech plans for school children

It's the talk of the education community across the country... President Obama's planned 'stay in school' speech to school children next Tuesday.  So far, it's caused controversy in several school districts, including Houston and Dallas.

As Pietzsch-Macarthur Elementary School let out classes for the day Thursday, parents let out their opinions on one of the hottest topics in education this week.

"There are a lot of children that are not in school, so the best place to learn is in school, presidential influence, great thing," said Troy Young.

Dorothy Rogers said, "The children need to know education is the most important thing."

"There's things that we don't even get told that they teach our kids so what's wrong with the president being viewed in the school?" asked Misty Pizano.

President Obama is planning a 15 minute speech to the country's school students next Tuesday. The message.. stay in school. The speech, being offered to school districts on the Internet and on C-Span, is accompanied by an optional lesson plan and essay contest put together by the Department of Education.

At Marshall Middle School in the west end of Beaumont, parents agreed with those in the south end.

"If he were talking about educating the kids on education, even if I didn't vote for him, yes the kids need that," said Pamela Hardy.

Stacey Jones said, "It's always great that someone of a high statute talks to the kids and gives them a bump in the right direction, I think they need a good push forward."

"What political message is he gonna send that's gonna change the mind of a 6th grader?" asked David Howells.

"Put together a 30 second PSA, run it in the class rooms, put it on local TV, no problem if that's all it's about," said Shane Howard.

But Howard, a local parent and the chairman for the Jefferson County Republican Party, says this isn't just about staying in school.

Howard said, "He's using that as the premise, but again, that doesn't require a 60 page lesson plan from the Department of Education that requires children to write essays about how they would like to support the president."