When President Barack Obama decided to address America’s students about the importance of getting an education, he probably never thought he would keep kids home from school.

For some parents, though, keeping their kids home was preferable to having them watch the 15 minute speech, which the President gave on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Va.

The Walla Walla School District left the decision of whether to show the speech to individual   teachers. “There were some parents who had some issues,” said Green Park Elementary School principal Mike Lambert. “They were concerned that it would be used as a propaganda tool.”

Lambert said that many parents were worried by the Department of Education’s suggested lesson plan for the speech, which included having students write a letter saying what they could do to support the president. Although this plan was later revised, many conservatives took it as evidence that Obama was trying to promote a political agenda.

Devin Duran, who has children at Sharpstein Elementary School and Pioneer Middle School, said that she understood why some parents were concerned, but felt that many of the President’s critics were “very rude and disrespectful.” She added, “If it’s something that’s going to help the kids, then it should be shown in class.” Her son, who attends Sharpstein, said he watched the speech in class and thought it was good.

Lambert allowed parents to opt-out of having their students watch the speech, but said overall reactions were positive. Jack Mehn, Assitant Principal of Pioneer Middle School, said that Pioneer did not require parent permission for students to watch the speech. Mehn felt that the speech was “a great message for all” and said he received no negative reactions to it.

Principal Lambert agreed that the speech was contained an important message about staying in school and working hard. “It’s the same thing I tell kids everyday,” he said.