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Update September 8:

Jim Rex, S.C. superintendent of education, has released a statement in support of Obama's address saying, in part: "The kind of petty bickering we have seen surrounding [today's] event illustrates exactly what is wrong with American politics." Read his full response over here.

Also, The Post and Courier has penned a column with a similar, if less direct, sentiment.

Don't forget you can watch the address on C-Span or WhiteHouse.gov/live.

Update September 7:

The White House has posted an advance copy of the speech; read it here.

First reporting:

The Summerville Journal Scene reports Dorchester District 2 -- that's the school district for Summerville -- officials won't air the Obama "stay in school" speech on Tuesday.

You can hop over to the paper to read abut why the district isn't.

The Obama administration has take a huge amount of flack for its planned address to students across the country. 

The angst is a bit surprising to me and many observers as the stated purpose is to have "the President will talk directly to students across the country on the importance of taking responsibility for their education, challenging them to set goals and do everything they can to succeed."

A rather reasonable message.

Much of the outcry seems centered around a since-revised suggested activity to accompany the speech of having students to "write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president."

The suggestion came across as an indoctrination attempt, but the administration has said they only wanted students to think how they can help achieve the education Obama wants for students.

The New York Times has a brief but good overview of what's going on.

They also aptly point out that Reagan and the first Bush gave similar speeches.

You can learn more about the program and how you can watch it from your PC on Tuesday at the White House's info page.

Apparently we have nothing to fear but our children staying in school.

Berkeley and Charleston counties are leaving the decision up to the individual schools, as are most districts in the nation.