FRANKFORT – Reps. Jim Wayne and Darryl T. Owens today expressed opposition to the decision of new Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday directing schools to provide alternative activities for students whose parents object to a presidential address to schoolchildren that will be broadcast next week.

“Our commissioner should support teachers who decide their students will benefit from hearing a message from the president about studying hard and staying in school,” Wayne said. “We shouldn’t be afraid to let students know that their nation’s leaders value their success in school.”


President Barack Obama’s address to students is scheduled for Sept. 8.

“We know the president isn’t making a political speech,” Owens said. “He’s simply urging students to value their opportunity to learn and set high goals for themselves – a message we should be supporting. The only politics involved come from those spreading misinformation about the nature of the address.”

Wayne and Owens said they have contacted Holliday’s office expressing their opposition to the commissioner’s decision.