MONESSEN - In the end, it appears that the question of whether or not to show President Barack Obama's speech to the nation's school children resulted in a lose-lose proposition for Superintendent Dr. Cindy Chelen.

Reacting to numerous calls from parents complaining they did not want their children to see the speech, Chelen opted to not show it live Tuesday and tape it for those who wanted to see it later.

However, that decision did not sit well with many parents who viewed the speech as a part of history and wanted their children to see the message live.

Several parents showed up at the middle/high school Tuesday morning after 11 a.m. to take their children home to see the speech.

A spokesperson yesterday said 10 students were taken out of the school before the speech.

At least one parent said she was going to bring her children back to school after the nationally-televised message by the president was over.

The president spoke in favor of education, how it can make a difference and told children to stay in school and learn.

Tuesday afternoon woes

Monessen parents who pulled their children from school were disappointed with Chelen's decision.

"It's history," said Marva Jackson, who took her son and grandson out of school to watch the speech live at home as a family.

"It's the first time in presidential being that (school administrators) stopped the president from speaking to the students.

"This is history. What do they think (Obama) will say• He's going to speak for education, for staying in school."

The Rev. Terry Davis, pastor of Newness of Life Ministries, said he was offended because he had to go to school, pick up his son to go home for the speech and then take him back to school.

"For me to have to do that is totally unacceptable and also borderline irresponsible," Davis said.

Davis thought he could watch the speech at school with his son, but was told it was not being shown at all.

"For a few parents to have the power to cause our superintendent to decide not to show the speech is simply not right," Davis said.

"Monessen is a Democratic community. How could there be enough people in this town to complain against hearing a Democratic president to get the superintendent to not show it?

"I have never heard of something like that. To be honest, it leaves me to feel this was racially motivated."

Another parent, Christina Turner, was pulling her two children out. She said it was a mistake to deny children the chance to listen to the nation's leader on live television.

"I think it's very important to hear the speech now and not on a pre-recorded message," Turner said. "This is history for our children, and they should be allowed to experience it."

Jackson said she wasn't pulling her kids out for a free half-day of classes.

"We're going to watch it as a family with our children, and when it's over I will be bringing them back to school," she said.

Into the night

Parents continued to pressure Chelen on Tuesday evening at a Monessen School Board meeting.

More than 20 parents turned out to tell school officials they...made a mistake by not airing the president's speech.

"I feel they were deprived of a special moment not being able to watch the president's live speech with their fellow youth," said Sheila Davis, the pastor's wife.

The school board and Chelen spent nearly an hour listening to parents express their dismay with the decision.

Chelen said it was a "last-minute decision" made at the end of the school day Friday. The superintendent said she received several complaints from parents worried about the content of the speech, and that she contacted officials from districts around the Mon Valley who also decided not to air the speech live.

Chelen said school officials were supposed to be able to see the speech in advance, but a copy of it was not made available until Labor Day.

"Personally, I knew the president wouldn't say anything that would be detrimental to students. But that's my opinion, and it's not the opinion of everyone in this community," Chelen said.

"So in order not to violate their rights along with everyone else's, we taped it. The children will see his presentation in school. But I have to give every parent the... opportunity, if they choose to, to opt out. It was a last-minute decision, and I apologize."

Several parents weren't satisfied with Chelen's explanation.

"I have never heard of any president's speech being censored in America before," the Rev. Davis said.

"My son never provided me any documentation of whether or not he had an option to watch it.

"I heard only a few parents expressed their concern from a political perspective. When I have expressed my opinion, I was basically told from the administration that you have the choice of taking your child home. I think this was unfair."

"A few calls doesn't even represent 1 percent of the student body," Sheila Davis said. "My concern is...this was an historic day for kids to participate in a live message from our president."

The Davises said the...impact of the speech won't be as great watching it on tape.

Board President Cheryl Galilei backed Chelen, saying she made the best decision at the time.

Director Maria Scuteri called it a "sad" state...when controversy surrounds...a president's...address, but expressed support for Chelen's decision - given the circumstances.

"It's unfortunate this happened over a holiday weekend," Scuteri said. "But we are not trying to keep history away from our children. I'm sad that this man (Obama) is being bucked every step in the way. But we are not the buckees."

Resident Alan Duncan said he is concerned the district sent a message to children that they they can't trust the president....

"Is it not important to listen to what he has to say?" Duncan asked.

Marie Hall...said the district...missed a "vital opportunity" and that teachers could have...had the students compare Obama's speech with those of past presidents.

Tameka Hall told the board many children, especially those living in poverty or broken homes, could have been affected by Obama's words.

"I think it would have been a good thing for the students... to see because the...problem with today's youth is they have no goals," Hall said.

"They live for today. They don't care about going to work. Some of these kids could (not) care less about school. Some kids have a one-parent home. Some...have no parents at all, and they are out here raising themselves.

"If they felt like their president, who has came from almost nothing,...can be something, they should have had the opportunity to hear...him. When the phone calls came in, you should have told them, 'keep your kids home.'"

Ron Chiaravalle said district officials should show the speech to the student body and tell the children a mistake was made by not airing it live.

"This was a perfect opportunity to demonstrate one of...the building blocks of our constitution -...freedom of speech. Our president made a speech and we made a decision not to show...it, and I think that was a mistake," he said.

Bishop Roderick Wilson said...he was appalled...the president's speech was not shown at school.

"I read the excerpt and whole speech before it even came out - nothing political," Wilson said. "It was all encouraging kids to do right by teachers and right by the school district. What is wrong with you all• Just because a few people called and said they don't want their kids to watch it?" ...

Director Roberta Bergstedt said the district needs to use this situation as a "teaching moment."

---

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)

---