WASHINGTON - School administrators at several locations in the U.S. say they will not broadcast a back-to-school speech that President Barack Obama will deliver next week.

School districts in at least six states say they will not show the speech in classrooms after objections from some administrators and parents.  

President Obama is scheduled to deliver the address Tuesday at a high school in the southern state of Virginia. The speech will be broadcast live on the White House Web site and the C-SPAN cable network.  

The speech sparked criticism after U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan sent a letter to school principals urging them to allow their students to watch.

Conservative critics say President Obama is using the opportunity to promote a political agenda and is overstepping the boundaries of government involvement in schools.

But White House spokesman Tommy Vietor says the president’s address is not a policy speech.  

The spokesman says Mr. Obama will challenge students to work hard and stay in school in the 15 to 20 minute address.

Those in support of the president’s speech have noted former Republican President George H.W. Bush also addressed students live on television in 1991.

Source:  VOA News