It appears that President Barack Obama’s planned speech to school children Tuesday will have a very small audience in north-central Indiana.

Superintendents surveyed late in the week mostly said the speech, planned at 1 p.m. Tuesday, will not air live at their schools. Some teachers may tape Obama’s speech and use segments of it if it is deemed appropriate to their curriculum.

“Because of mixed messages included in communications from the United States Department of Education about whether the president’s message will advocate particular political positions, Kokomo-Center Schools will not broadcast the president’s live address to students on Sept. 8,” said Dave Barnes, Kokomo-Center public relations consultant.

“If, after review, the content of this address fits within the adopted state standards for their subject area, teachers may include the address as a part of their normal educational activities in future lessons.”

Many area schools are taking the same stance.

At Southeastern Schools, Superintendent John Bevan said officials will tape the speech to see if it is appropriate with the curriculum before deciding if it will be used, or with what age group.

“We have had some reaction from elementary parents as to whether it is appropriate for their age level. We have also had reaction that the material had already been used in a western state and was perceived to be inappropriate,” he said.

Apparently that will be the same at Logansport Schools.

Parent Margo Sears sent Superintendent Julie Lauck an e-mail questioning whether students would see the president’s address.

Lauck responded, telling Sears “that the school corporation had received a lot of calls from parents.”

“She said the parents were saying they would have kids opt out of school that day,” Sears said. “There was no choice but to tape the speech and review it to see if it were appropriate for the kids to view at a later date.”

Sears doesn’t see what the fuss is all about.

“The way I understand is it’s only 10 minutes long and it will be covering things like staying in school, working hard, being good citizens and good students,” she said. “I believe there is a lot of deep-seeded resentment to him because of who he is.

“I’ve heard people make statements that he is going to brainwash kids. ... I believe kids are able to think for themselves. We, as parents, should expose our kids to all kinds of viewpoints so we can discuss those with them.”

Lauck could not be reached for comment.

Maconaquah Superintendent Debra Jones said after she, principals and school board members received messages against viewing the speech from parents, she’s directed principals the address is not to be viewed live by the entire student body or any one class.

“If a government teacher or a social studies teacher wanted to tape it and perhaps show a segment in the future, they may do that, depending on the content of the president’s speech and how it complemented their curriculum,” Jones said.

She said Obama’s message, which “might have been an innocent message meant to encourage our youth, has turned into a political nightmare for several communities, including our own.”

Nationwide, The Associated Press reported schools are hearing opposition from parents who are concerned Obama’s speech is a partisan address.

The Nationwide Tea Party Coalition announced its alternate, “Hall Pass on That,” and asked that schools that participate in Obama’s program offer an alternative to students and families who do not want to participate in the program.

The AP also reported parents were threatening to keep their children home from school if the speech is shown.

The White House said earlier that the speech — to be shown on C-SPAN and educational stations — would focus on “the importance of education, the importance of staying in school, how we want to improve our education system and why it’s so important for the country.”

Other presidents, including George H.W. Bush, have given similar speeches directly to students, according to the AP.

The White House said Tuesday that Obama hopes his speech will inspire students and encourage them to set academic goals.

“It’s not a policy speech,” said White House spokesman Tommy Vietor. “It’s a speech designed to encourage kids to stay in school, which I think is a nonpartisan goal.”

Pharos-Tribune associate editor John Dempsey contributed to this story.