Arlington schools are getting lots of attention for their handling of President Barack Obama's Tuesday speech and a Sept. 21 trip to Cowboys Stadium where 500 fifth graders will hear from former President George W. Bush and others.
USA Today takes note on its Website and the district also is the subject of some blog posts elsewhere.
Like a lot of other local districts, Arlington did not broadcast Obama's speech to school children live. Officials say taking the students to the Super Bowl related event at the stadium is different because it's a field trip and parents must give their permission. George and Laura Bush are the honorary chairs of a community wide service-learning project that will be announced.
Local pastor Dwight McKissic isn't the only one who sees a problem with the district's handling of the situation.
Among the others unhappy is Derrick Gordon. He's an Arlington parent who served on the district's bond advisory committee. He said in an e-mail:
"This is a district operating $18 million in the red as we speak and no one can tell me that it's cheaper to bus hundreds of kids to a stadium than it is to stream video into the schools so I know money isn't the issue. Do they not have the same concerns with instruction time going to see President Bush as they did with viewing President Obama?"
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