President Barack Obama's

President Barack Obama's plans to speak directly to the nation's students Tuesday have sparked a dispute among area parents and politicians, with some expressing concerns that the president could use the speech to promote his agenda - and others calling it a valuable classroom lesson.

School systems have been inundated with phone calls this week from both sides. Most Baltimore-area districts are letting individual schools determine whether they will show the noon speech, which the White House says will call for students to take responsibility for their education.

But at least one district - Harford County - has decided not to broadcast the address.

"We're not actually denying the opportunity for students; rather, we just want the opportunity to review it and see if there's a way that we can put it in instruction," said Teri Kranefeld, communications manager for the school system, who added that the district received "quite a few" inquiries from parents on the matter.

Kranefeld said Harford's guidelines for broadcasts and videos require previewing materials shown to children and giving staff time to formulate responses and work the items into the regular classroom curriculum. The timing of the speech won't allow for that, she said.

Most districts will excuse children if their parents do not want them to see the speech. The White House is expected to post a transcript of the speech Monday on its Web site.

While other presidents have addressed the nation's schoolchildren, Obama's speech comes at a sensitive time in his administration. His approval ratings have been falling, and the country has been mired in debate over his plans for health care reform. And while he has talked about the need for bipartisanship, the divide between left and right seems to be growing.

Many parents feel strongly about the speech, whether they are for it or against it.

For Baltimore parent Jessica Ryan, the live nature of the address leaves too much room for uncertainty.

"You really don't know what the content of the speech is going to be, and what direction the message is going to go," said Ryan, whose kindergartner goes to private school. "I am concerned about the motives behind this speech."

The president's place is not in the classroom, she added.

But Helen Washington, a parent and former city educator, said she saw the event as a "teachable moment."

"He's basically saying the same things that every president before him has said: Stay in school, get a good education," said Washington, whose son attends St. Pius parochial school in Baltimore County. "This isn't about the parents. It really isn't. I'd like someone other than myself to say to my children ... 'I believe in you, I think that you're destined for greatness.' ... If you're mad at that, you have issues."

Politicians on both sides of the aisle have weighed in on the matter, too.

"It is the height of incivility and decidedly out of step with our traditions of open and honest public discourse to attempt to prevent children from hearing the words of our president - regardless of political party," Gov. Martin O'Malley, a Democrat, said Friday.

But state Sen. Nancy C. Jacobs, a Republican whose district includes Harford, said she applauded the county school district for its decision.

"I definitely feel like they're cutting parents out of the process by speaking to kids during school hours," said Jacobs, adding that she and others thought the speech was a "veiled attempt ... to promote a political agenda."

"It would be much more powerful if parents were able to watch this with their child in the evening," she said.

City schools have seen little reaction from parents, said Michael A. Sarbanes, executive director of the school system's community engagement office.

"It's the president of the United States talking about education, so it's a valuable conversation," said Sarbanes, who had yet to hear complaints from anyone. "There's a lot of interest in it."