I shake my head at school....

I stayed until 6pm today - a Friday - to finally get my room decorated for the first day of school. There was no way I was leaving that task undone past Labor Day.

This is what I was asked to pass out today in school:

Dear Parents:

On Tuesday, September 8, President Barack Obama will deliver a national address to students via the Web and C-SPAN to encourage students to set high academic goals and to do their best to succeed in school.

If you prefer that your child not participate in this instructional opportunity, please sign and return this letter on Tuesday.

Sincerely,

When I finally read it, I let loose, never mind there were students in my classroom. I really don't care if parents have called the school system and complained -- we, as a public school, shouldn't even give such racist ideas the time of day. Obama has a good message, and he's our President, for goodness sake. When else have we EVER given this choice?! How do these parents justify it or do they simply pride themselves for being racist?

Our school system is hanging itself with these letters: Now we have a paper trail.

I honestly just forgot to hand them out. But even if I remembered, I couldn't do it over my conscience.