Wakefield HS Prepares for Obama Speech

At Wakefield High School in Arlington, school officials are gearing up for a presidential back to school welcome.

"I was in shock, disbelief. Then was like why not?" said Doris Jackson the School Principal.

President Obama plans to address the nation's public school students via the White House website on Tuesday. But at Wakefield, the student body will get to see and hear the President in person in the school's gym.

"Just feeling good that my kids get to witness this historic speech and for them I think this will be one of the better things that will happen in their lives," says Jackson

It's a speech that some parents and Republican law makers oppose, citing the possibility of questionable, politically motivated content. Conservative writer for Politics Daily Matt Lewis says the timing is suspect and disruptive on the first day of many schools.

"It's a time when students are meeting their teachers for the first time. The schools want to get off to a good start with the parents and the children and this complicates matters. It throws a wrench into the work so to speak," says Lewis.

To calm those fears the White House released the contents of the speech on its website today. In it, the President encourages students to stay in school. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs spoke about all the controversy surrounding the President's planned speech to school children.

On The Web:

Prepared Remarks of President Barack Obama Back to School Event

"I think it's a sad sad day that the political back and forth has intruded on anyone speaking to schoolchildren and teachers and parents about the responsibilities that they have as we enter a new school year," says Gibbs.

Some school systems are opting not to air the speech. Others are allowing teachers to make the decision.

"I have seen emails to parents in Virginia that counties in Virginia sent out saying we are going to tape the speech and show it later because the first day of school is a very important day," says Lewis .