Earlier this month, President Obama addressed the students of America during regular school hours. The speech took place at Wakefield High in Arlington, Virginia and was aired live all across the states.

The speech was academic in nature, and discussed the importance of education during difficult economic times such as these. It also advised students to saty in school and to devote some of their free time to community service.

Although many schools throughout the country and throughout the state watched the speech, as was Obama’s intention, the Milford School District chose to opt out. Many Law students have admitted that they feel they have missed out on an important message from their President.

This decision was an unfortunate one. Some of the main points of the speech were similar to those of parents, teachers, care takers and school systems. What those people want for all students is for them to try their best and to decide their own futures, which were practically the same principles applied in the Obama speech - responsibility independence and willpower.

Law students didn’t get to hear that message. When asked why Milford schools choose to opt out of the program, Principal Ms. Garagliano said it was because of a lack of space to accomodate all students. Apparently, the cafeteria, Media Center and auditorium were not big enough to hold some or all of Law’s students.

Another reason that the speech was not shown, according to Garagliano, was because a parent e-mailed the school asking that his daughter be removed from class had Law decided to watch the speech. Out of all 1,000-plus Law parents, only one was concerned enough to write an e-mail, and even though the majority of students were in favor in favor for the speech, that one email won out and had a large influence on the school district.

Let’s say, for a second, that there wasn’t enough room to hold all of the students in those areas. Then what is the purpose of the brand new television sets stationed in almost all of Law’s classrooms? Most of these TVs have collected dust and haven’t been used for more than the occasional movie.

The Obama Speech would have been a great opportunity to bring them to good use. During past years, the Brain Bowl has been held for all students and faculty to attend, but due to the amount of students in the school, some have had to stay in their homerooms and watch it on the tele- vision. It was a form of entertainment for students, but was it more important than listening to their President of the United States?

If Mayor Richetelli decided to address the students of Milford about their education, it wouldn’t have been an issue. In fact, his attempt would’ve been viewed not only as encouraging but compassionate to the future adults of Milford. If this is true, then why didn’t the Milford School Disctrict require their school systems to watch President Obama’s education speech? Unfortunately, this became a political issue when it didn’t need to be one.

The district made their decision and now it is up to the students to decide if they would like to watch the speech online or on DVDs that are available in the Media Center. The speech would have encouraged students to believe in themselves as well as their country, and it was a harmless attempt to give the children of America some self- esteem. Students at Law shouldn’t have missed out on that.