Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday is advising school superintendents to offer alternative activities for children whose parents don't want them to watch a national address to students next week from President Obama.Holliday told school chiefs in an e-mail obtained by the Courier-Journal that some districts have received requests from parents for such activities. Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Sheldon Berman is encouraging participation in the event, although the final decision will rest with individual schools or classes.He says parents also have the option of asking that their children take part in another activity.Fayette County Schools Superintendent Stu Silberman says the president's address won't have any political content."Its' a motivational talk to kids about the importance of getting a good education, so they can be competitive in a global economy, and talking about being respectful to their parents and those kinds of things," he said.Silberman says alternative activities will also be made available in his district.Some parents have raised concerns about the president speaking directly to students.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.
