INDIANAPOLIS -- Some Indiana schools are asking permission from parents to show President Barack Obama's speech on Tuesday after some have raised concern about its message.

The White House on Friday dismissed the furor over the planned back-to-school speech, saying that the president only wants to give the nation's children encouragement for the new school year in an effort to reduce the dropout rate.

But North Putnam Community School Corporation officials sent permission slips home with the district's 1,800 students after they said 14 parents complained about plans to show the speech live.

If parents sign the form, students will be excused from watching Obama's message.

"Some don't feel that instructional time should be taken out to listen to this. There's kind of an anti-Obama anti-Democrat moving to a socialistic society, and they don't want to expose their kids to that," said spokesman Kevin Emsweller.

Some parents called the fuss ridiculous.

"I think it's a little silly that we even get such a form because of the bias currently right now against what the president's doing obviously," said Monica Bray of Bainbridge. "The fact of the matter is, he was elected and he's actually taking the time to talk to students the best that he can."

But others said they understood the concerns.

"He's the president, he has other things to worry about," said Jeremy Clodfelter.

At Indianapolis Public Schools the decision of whether or not to show the speech will be in the hands of the educators.

"We in IPS will allow teachers to determine whether it fits their lesson plan for the day and if the children are of the age that they can actually understand what the president is trying to say to them," said spokeswoman Mary Louise Bewley.

Brownsburg, Carmel-Clay and Hamilton Southeastern schools officials said they would also allow teachers to decide if students will see the speech.

Plainfield and Monroe County schools officials said principals would decide whether or not to show the speech, while Greenwood Schools officials said the speech would not be shown in the district.

Most schools said they would allow students to skip the speech if parents object.