Obama's speech to schools is inappropriate

Read a draft of President Obama's speech
Editor's note: The following is an open, public letter from a Top of Utah mother with school-age children to Weber School District Superintendent Michael Jacobson. It also serves as a counterpoint to our editorial today.
I want to be very clear about my personal political stance. I do not label myself as Republican nor Democrat. I did not vote for Sen. John McCain or President Obama. In my opinion, neither were worthy of my vote. I am an American.
I love this nation and principles it was founded upon. I honor those who died for it consequently allowing for my current way of life. Nothing in my study of history has lead me to believe that socialism or communism has been successful anywhere at any time in providing the lifestyle, freedom of thought, freedom of religion, as our free market has. I am neither the richest person nor the poorest person. I am however grateful for what I do have. On that basis, let me continue with the purpose of this letter.
I am appalled that in light of the controversial president we currently have, that the Weber School District did not take proper measures to ensure parental rights regarding his address today to our children. Parents should have been notified by letter giving us plenty of time to inform our children and or make other arrangements. Yes, I understand the schools have been informed to make other arrangements for the children who do not attend. That's puzzling. How would children know what to do if the parents were not informed?
The answer is simple. They would obediently sit and listen to the broadcast not knowing they had an option. Or, at the last minute, the children might have been told they don't have to participate leaving them uncertain as to what to do. Most would have simply wanted to "hang" with friends thus watching the broadcast. The bypassing of parental rights is alarming. It is, however, in perfect alignment with the bypassing of parental rights by the oval office in this case. The president is free to address my family on prime time television where as a parent; I can be the filter that I am meant to be.
I'm absolutely sure that nothing the president will say to the children will be of great concern. From my understanding he will simply be encouraging children to take responsibility for their learning. Don't we do that already? Are not parents a vital role in education? Where parents are absent, do we not have social workers and school programs to help?
No, the content of the talk is the least of my worries. What is alarming is the precedent being set in this direct, bypass parents, approach. Public school is not a parent. In communistic countries parental rights are superseded by government education. The similarity created in this situation is much too close for me. Combined with the zealous socialistic movement taking place in our country, this broadcast is frightening and should be alarming to every freedom-loving American.
The fact that schools were told to instruct children not to criticize those children who opted out is equally disturbing to me. Why is such direction necessary? You'll have to look beyond the "pat answer" to find the truth.
Needless to say, my children won't be attending. They won't even be at school attending the "alternative" activity. I understand there is a set of optional instructional material offered by the White House to reinforce his speech; which is equally alarming.
I don't want my children to be involved in any activity associated with this broadcast whatsoever. I trust there will be no deception in this matter. After all, these are my children.
Politics are just as much a religion as religion. There are many that worship political leaders as one would worship God. If religion is not welcome in public schools then neither should politics be allowed.
I trust that my constitutional and divine parental rights will be upheld at this time.
Warburton lives in Huntsville.