American Morning
Obama to students: Education key to future
(CNN) – The White House released the text Monday of a controversial back-to-school speech to students from President Obama. Many conservatives have expressed a fear that the address would be used to push a partisan political agenda.
In the text of the speech, however, Obama avoids any mention of controversial political initiatives. He repeatedly urges students to work hard and stay in school. Full Story »
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/POLITICS/09/07/obama.school.speech/art.obama.school.afp.gi.jpg caption="The uproar over President Obama's back-to-school speech led the White House to release the transcript Monday."]
Prepared Remarks of President Barack Obama
Back to School Event
Arlington, Virginia
September 8, 2009
The President: Hello everyone – how’s everybody doing today? I’m here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. And we’ve got students tuning in from all across America, kindergarten through twelfth grade. I’m glad you all could join us today.
I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school. And for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, it’s your first day in a new school, so it’s understandable if you’re a little nervous. I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now, with just one more year to go. And no matter what grade you’re in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer, and you could’ve stayed in bed just a little longer this morning.
I know that feeling. When I was young, my family lived in Indonesia for a few years, and my mother didn’t have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school. So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday – at 4:30 in the morning.
Now I wasn’t too happy about getting up that early. A lot of times, I’d fall asleep right there at the kitchen table. But whenever I’d complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and say, "This is no picnic for me either, buster."
So I know some of you are still adjusting to being back at school. But I’m here today because I have something important to discuss with you. I’m here because I want to talk with you about your education and what’s expected of all of you in this new school year.
Now I’ve given a lot of speeches about education. And I’ve talked a lot about responsibility.
I’ve talked about your teachers’ responsibility for inspiring you, and pushing you to learn.
I’ve talked about your parents’ responsibility for making sure you stay on track, and get your homework done, and don’t spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with that Xbox.
I’ve talked a lot about your government’s responsibility for setting high standards, supporting teachers and principals, and turning around schools that aren’t working where students aren’t getting the opportunities they deserve.
But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, and the best schools in the world – and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities. Unless you show up to those schools; pay attention to those teachers; listen to your parents, grandparents and other adults; and put in the hard work it takes to succeed.
And that’s what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education. I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself.
Every single one of you has something you’re good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That’s the opportunity an education can provide.
Maybe you could be a good writer – maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper – but you might not know it until you write a paper for your English class. Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor – maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or a new medicine or vaccine – but you might not know it until you do a project for your science class. Maybe you could be a mayor or a Senator or a Supreme Court Justice, but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team.
And no matter what you want to do with your life – I guarantee that you’ll need an education to do it. You want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer? You want to be a nurse or an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You’re going to need a good education for every single one of those careers. You can’t drop out of school and just drop into a good job. You’ve got to work for it and train for it and learn for it.
And this isn’t just important for your own life and your own future. What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country. What you’re learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future.
You’ll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment. You’ll need the insights and critical thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free. You’ll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy.
We need every single one of you to develop your talents, skills and intellect so you can help solve our most difficult problems. If you don’t do that – if you quit on school – you’re not just quitting on yourself, you’re quitting on your country.
Now I know it’s not always easy to do well in school. I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork.
I get it. I know what that’s like. My father left my family when I was two years old, and I was raised by a single mother who struggled at times to pay the bills and wasn’t always able to give us things the other kids had. There were times when I missed having a father in my life. There were times when I was lonely and felt like I didn’t fit in.
So I wasn’t always as focused as I should have been. I did some things I’m not proud of, and got in more trouble than I should have. And my life could have easily taken a turn for the worse.
But I was fortunate. I got a lot of second chances and had the opportunity to go to college, and law school, and follow my dreams. My wife, our First Lady Michelle Obama, has a similar story. Neither of her parents had gone to college, and they didn’t have much. But they worked hard, and she worked hard, so that she could go to the best schools in this country.
Some of you might not have those advantages. Maybe you don’t have adults in your life who give you the support that you need. Maybe someone in your family has lost their job, and there’s not enough money to go around. Maybe you live in a neighborhood where you don’t feel safe, or have friends who are pressuring you to do things you know aren’t right.
But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life – what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you’ve got going on at home – that’s no excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude. That’s no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. That’s no excuse for not trying.
Where you are right now doesn’t have to determine where you’ll end up. No one’s written your destiny for you. Here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future.
That’s what young people like you are doing every day, all across America.
Young people like Jazmin Perez, from Roma, Texas. Jazmin didn’t speak English when she first started school. Hardly anyone in her hometown went to college, and neither of her parents had gone either. But she worked hard, earned good grades, got a scholarship to Brown University, and is now in graduate school, studying public health, on her way to being Dr. Jazmin Perez.
I’m thinking about Andoni Schultz, from Los Altos, California, who’s fought brain cancer since he was three. He’s endured all sorts of treatments and surgeries, one of which affected his memory, so it took him much longer – hundreds of extra hours – to do his schoolwork. But he never fell behind, and he’s headed to college this fall.
And then there’s Shantell Steve, from my hometown of Chicago, Illinois. Even when bouncing from foster home to foster home in the toughest neighborhoods, she managed to get a job at a local health center; start a program to keep young people out of gangs; and she’s on track to graduate high school with honors and go on to college.
Jazmin, Andoni and Shantell aren’t any different from any of you. They faced challenges in their lives just like you do. But they refused to give up. They chose to take responsibility for their education and set goals for themselves. And I expect all of you to do the same.
That’s why today, I’m calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education – and to do everything you can to meet them. Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending time each day reading a book. Maybe you’ll decide to get involved in an extracurricular activity, or volunteer in your community. Maybe you’ll decide to stand up for kids who are being teased or bullied because of who they are or how they look, because you believe, like I do, that all kids deserve a safe environment to study and learn. Maybe you’ll decide to take better care of yourself so you can be more ready to learn. And along those lines, I hope you’ll all wash your hands a lot, and stay home from school when you don’t feel well, so we can keep people from getting the flu this fall and winter.
Whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it. I want you to really work at it.
I know that sometimes, you get the sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work - that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star, when chances are, you’re not going to be any of those things.
But the truth is, being successful is hard. You won’t love every subject you study. You won’t click with every teacher. Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right this minute. And you won’t necessarily succeed at everything the first time you try.
That’s OK. Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who’ve had the most failures. JK Rowling’s first Harry Potter book was rejected twelve times before it was finally published. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team, and he lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career. But he once said, "I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."
These people succeeded because they understand that you can’t let your failures define you – you have to let them teach you. You have to let them show you what to do differently next time. If you get in trouble, that doesn’t mean you’re a troublemaker, it means you need to try harder to behave. If you get a bad grade, that doesn’t mean you’re stupid, it just means you need to spend more time studying.
No one’s born being good at things, you become good at things through hard work. You’re not a varsity athlete the first time you play a new sport. You don’t hit every note the first time you sing a song. You’ve got to practice. It’s the same with your schoolwork. You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right, or read something a few times before you understand it, or do a few drafts of a paper before it’s good enough to hand in.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don’t know something, and to learn something new. So find an adult you trust – a parent, grandparent or teacher; a coach or counselor – and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.
And even when you’re struggling, even when you’re discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you – don’t ever give up on yourself. Because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.
The story of America isn’t about people who quit when things got tough. It’s about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best.
It’s the story of students who sat where you sit 250 years ago, and went on to wage a revolution and found this nation. Students who sat where you sit 75 years ago who overcame a Depression and won a world war; who fought for civil rights and put a man on the moon. Students who sat where you sit 20 years ago who founded Google, Twitter and Facebook and changed the way we communicate with each other.
So today, I want to ask you, what’s your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve? What discoveries will you make? What will a president who comes here in twenty or fifty or one hundred years say about what all of you did for this country?
Your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions. I’m working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books, equipment and computers you need to learn. But you’ve got to do your part too. So I expect you to get serious this year. I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect great things from each of you. So don’t let us down – don’t let your family or your country or yourself down. Make us all proud. I know you can do it.
Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.
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I was a lifelong Republican until the moment that John McCain picked Palin to be his Running Mate. While I voted Democratic, I am truly dismayed to see the Republican Party in such disarray and perched so uncomfortably as a fringe, right wing organization that objects to the stupidest, unimportant events. For God's Sake, this is a peppy, upbeat speech about Educational to our schoolchildren – how can anyone object? Somebody needs to get the Republican Party back on track before it is just irrelevant.
Health care 1st.
Saves money to provide better education.
Elisa s, what I meant was those people are against the President himself, not what speeches he gives. He has had to prove himself from day one and some people will never accept him simply because he is african american. Stop hiding behind the speech issue and just say what you really mean! I have no problem with people excercising their rights, I exercise mine, but you have to admit that no other president has had to endure what he is right now!
Take a good look at what is happening to our children, the drop out rate is increasing, more children are being recruited into gangs, drugs are being sold on school grounds, guns are in the hands of children as young as 2 years old, our children are dying both mentally from a lack of knowledge in education as well as dying on the streets. How many times must we hear heartbreaking news of innocent children being shot as they walk school, while riding on their bikes, or sitting on school buses and even classrooms?
I listen to some of these parents saying that they don't want our President speaking to their children in the school. That it's up to the parents. Well, take a good look, it's not working! If parents were doing their part; not just talking to their children but encouraging & inspiring them to succeed in school, going up to the schools, sitting down helping their children with homework, reading to and with their children, supporing the schools and teachers, our country would not being in the condition that it's in. The Education of our children has a profound affect on our country.
I applaud our President in having an interest in our children's future and education. What better place for him to speak to our children than than the schools, where teachers can have further discussions on the importance of education and for students to know that even the President cares about them and their future. Shame on those parents who do not share his vision on the education of our children.
Who really cares what he says, the democrats are to infatuated with him to properly make a decision, and the repubs are racist for actually checking the facts.
I think every intelligent pararent would welcome an educated speech from the president on encouraging the children to try and be the best that they can be.
Over the course of the last week I listened to the nay saying, hate monglers bombard us with lies, inuendo and unsupported nonsense about the intentions behind the presidents plan to speak to American Students. I couldn't understand what had people so angry and distrustful. I thought they had uncovered some diabolical scheme to dupe our children into joining the Taliban. If the President had suggested that our children consider joining and supporting the Democratic Party would that constitute a breach of trust? Or if he ask that they speak to their parents about supporting the Health Care initiative so that all Americans could receive quality care, would that be a misuse of his office? Have the opponents unwittingly opened a pandora box and started another level of discord, confusion and distrust? I read the complete speech and thought it was admirable that he took the time to speak directly to our students and encourage them to work hard and strive for success. This is a duty they owe to their nation and to themselves.
America went to the poles in 2008 and said we won't change. well things have changed, we elected someone who cares about this country and our Education system. A man who has lived like most of us but with the guidences of a single parent and grandparents who made a difference in his life. Our children today most don't even know who they are, were they are going, and how toget there this is not the time to fight over speeches but a time to ralley around our President put our arms under him and help hold him up. he is not going to say anything to our children that he would not say to his so come on america let's remember YES WE CAN.
If you look at the schools that are not airing the President's speech; it looks like the parents need to get more education themself!
I concur with most of the comments sent to this forum. How stupid can the American electorate be! This speech is devoid of political rhetoric, ideology, or anything else that would harm a fly, much less an innocent child. I do blame the media for exposing viewers and listeners to all the negative hype engendered by all the do-right religious types, as well as well engineered political rhetoric of the ultra right-wing factions on the Republican party. President Obama has done well under all this pressure, but I'm not surprised because he's smart, articulate, and very well educated. Inspiring the children of this country to do well is the simple message for a complicated issue. Most Americans do not understand how far behind the education eight-ball the United States is compared with the rest of the world.
It's funny to see all the liberals read this REVISED SPEECH and claim there is nothing wrong with it. If there was nothing wrong with the President's message he would not have had to revise it. Go read the White House lessen guide released before this revised speech or else accept the fact that you don't want to know the truth.
HOPE and CHANGE from Obana means:
HOPE the extreme left agenda works and when it fails as it is doing now, CHANGE the message.
I have no doubt my comments will never be seen on your blog...they are not in agreement with you! My thoughts are that the president's speech does not contain any "questionable content" at this time, but before the uprising against his speech, what did it really say? I have been raised to always respect those who deserve respect. So far, I have seen nothing from this president that I respect. When I see him bowing to people who have done nothing but disrespect our country and aplogizing to countries (for things that we have done or said) that have only caused our country heartache, I tend to lose all respect for the man. Our great country was built on truth and respect, but most of all good, honest, Christian beliefs. I am not ashamed of my country. We have only helped other countries when we see their people being abused and killed. What is their to apologize for? Saving people? Helping third world countries stand on their own?
I am all for anyone who has the intelligence to lead our country on to continue to be the greatest nation of this world...regardless of who they are, what they look like, or their gender. Stop trying to blame "racism" everytime someone disagrees with the president. I am tired of "racism" against white people. If all would take a minute to remember that the "white" people are the ones who stood up for the minorities and gave all of us equal opportunities. If all people would stop complaining, get off their butts and work for all they want instead of waiting for the government handouts, everyone would be a lot better financially and mentally.
The President wants to speak directly to kids, to inspire them, to teach them that they must do their part in making this country and world a better place. And why is that a bad thing? Some think they will be turned into robots twhile watching. Kids need to feel like they are a part of something better than themselves. My mother always told me , no matter what you do, you must represent yourself, your family, and your people. Thank you Mr President for taking the time to reach out to my children as well as all our children.
I am disappointed. I work third shift for one of the largest employers in the world, and typically come home to listen to CNN as I relax before bed. I am NOT surprised that some ignorant, bigoted, moronic hate-mongers who are nothing more than old drama queens can't wait to stir the pot, even if it means deriding the President for ... wait for it ... striving to motivate our young folks to be all they can be. What I AM surprised about is the blatantly one-sided news coverage of this hype. As I read almost every post on here, the OVERWHELMING majority of folks posting support the President's efforts, yet our dearly beloved CNN has covered the story in a diametrically opposed fashion. How shameful. And here I was educated to believe that the news media should report all sides of a story and do it objectively and fairly. (YES, VIrginia, I am an idealist).
I was also educated to respect those who serve the common good in political office, regardless of their political affiliation. When Chief Justice Rehnquist (sp) mediated the election controversy of 2000, though I disagreed with the Supreme Court's decision, I respected that it had done its job and spoken on the constitutional issue. In the same way, I fully support the efforts of all political leaders to inspire our future generations, even if they are ... imagine this ... conservatives, for their voice is just as vital to the fabric of our nation as are more progressive voices. I guess I can only say SHAME ON YOU to the parents, educators, and administrators who lack the integrity and patriotism to step outside their own political psychosis and fear to allow our future to be inspired by our present. And shame on CNN for only showing the most bizarre, trailer trash, religious nutjob people they could find for interviews.
Shame. Shame. Shame.
It appears, the left, the administration and much of the media is making the controversy over whether Pres Obama should be allowed to address our school children. This address only became an issue due to the suggested lesson plan that was to be used after the address. Some of the elements of the lesson plan were considered inappropriate by many and in fact those objectionable elements were subsequently eliminated. Since portions of the study plan were objectionable , it was not ureasonable to wonder whether portions of the speech which had not been released would also be objectionable.
I don't think their has been many if any persons I've heard that do not believe it is important for the president to address the children to encourage them to work hard and stay in school.
Unfortunately, I guess in todays environment we need "transparancy" in everything our leaders do, since they can't even be trusted to make a simple address to our children without inserting their agenda.
The controversy is over. The president speech should be heard by our children and our schools.
Now if history tells us anything we will be arguing over all future speeches no matter what party is in power or who is the president.
What simple thing will they politicize next.
The speech is not so much the problem. Encouragment is fine.His lesson plans that were to be included were something Hitler would do to indoctrinate followers. I sent a letter to my children's school requesting they be excused. You would think the ACLU would be against schools that are making it manditory to watch, thus violating our children's rights. I guess they only want to protect children from hearing prayers.
If Jack Edwards had paid attention in school he would know how to spell.
You go Obama
Years ago, motivational speeches like this only happened at "Graduation ceremonies." The person giving them was someone who really didn't have much previous contact with the graduates unless their parents had some type of association with that person. I am so tired of hearing that it is up to parents to talk with their children about their responsibilities – have you seen some of these same parents who want to get their faces on TV who can't answer basic questions about recent national news events. And PLEASE don't try to support their ignorance with the idea that their lives are too busy. If their lives are so busy AND they haven't already had time to talk with their kids about the importance of getting a good education then it is too late to reach those kids who really need the encouragement to keep focused. There are already so many good people who struggled to stay afloat and "fell through the cracks" because no one took the time to help them along the way. Maybe they are the ones who should be teaching our kids how to survive; maybe they are the ones who really know how important an education can be to make it in our world today; maybe they are the ones we should be looking to for the lessons of life and survival. President Obama only identified three people – have you looked around your community lately? Have you spent anytime looking to see what your local government officials are doing to promote education? Have you looked at what your local school officials are doing? Whose agenda are they really working from – the communities or their own?
Wake up, look around – what are you doing for future generations that will help them promote life-time skills associated with a good education, personal responsibility, caring about others, and caring about their country. When was the last time that you actually spent some time encouraging a young person to "really care" about themselves, their future, and their county. What's that you say – you are really busy?" Oh Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I believe that this country is a very sick one when we have to object to what our President has to say about EDUCATION....which is so essential for the future of our children. What is the big deal? I believe parents of those childre who will not be allowed to watch the speech are ignorant. And why is President Obama being chastized for almost every decision he makes?
He is THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. I believe no other president has ever been scrutinized like President Obama. He deserves more respect from the american people.
God bless America!!!
There is absolutely nothing wrong with Obama's speech. I really wish people would have some respect for our President. There are children
out there that do not have parents that will address this issue. If just one
child is touched by this speech and stays in school, it was worth it!
Thank you,
Natalie Willman
Didn't vote for Obama, but I read the speach. It just a pep talk to all the kids in schools, stay in school. I am no fan of him but I am not a " hater" there are people on both sides that use anything they can to attack the other side.
The true hypocrisy is the fact that those who claim people are opposing Obama for irrational reasons are the very same people who opposed George Bush for equally irrational reasons. They need to recognize that the people on the right will treat Obama with the same level of support and respect that they showed for Bush. To expect anything else is a fantasy like "Hope and Change"
I didn't know what to do when I had heard that the President was going to send this speech to my children through school today. I did alot of research and was very upset. I did not want the kids classes to be interupted as they have enough on their plate already. My concern was that the children were going to have to write an essay stating what they are going to do to help the President. Our children do not need the extra stress, they have to worry about what to read,math,english,science etc... our kids have a huge workload and don't need to worry about the Presidents job too. Americans elected the President to help the people; not to have our youth be pressured that as a parent is our job. I have decided to send my kids because the essay was dropped and have talked with my kids before and will do so after they come home today, And my 10yr old is very upset that her class is divided and this just brings up more issues that don't belong in school. Keep school simple no government issues. We can't have our maker in the classroom but can have the President?
I'm a Republican and I love the speach. Don't get all the uproar. If Reagan gave the same speach it would be awesome.
ElisaS–what proof do you have that the speech was changed? Fox News? Get real.
And don't speak for all teachers–the lesson plans were a GUIDE! Not required. I'm not sure of any teacher who wouldn't want a little help in saving time by looking at SUGGESTED lesson plans. And any GOOD teacher would have asked those same questions.
Maybe you should get off your horse.
I am emailing the principals of high schools in my area to encourage them to do the right and respectful (to all) thing.
To make sure that our students see and hear the speech.
The inauguration was MUTED while on, in one high school classroom that I know of. The student that told me of this was quite sad about the teacher's deliberate omission but fearful of the consequences if he/she spoke up.
It's a stay-in-school speech, for heaven's sake –America, grow up! You make me feel ashamed for you.
I know people like Elisa S. When something is wrong right in front of them......they simply choose to say noting is wrong.
Good Morning,
I believe all this hype over his speech has been a bunch of non-sense!. Does anyone really honestly believe that a socialist agenda would be promoted here now and in these times. I am a moderate independent, I read the speech completely and with an open mind. I think one should give the CIC the benefit of the doubt. I think the American people are smart enough to tell IF any political leader (President or otherwise) promotes a Socialist Agenda and protest vigorously. Instead many fought this thing so strongly and condemed the man before he could get a word out edge wise. Need I remind many Rep and Dems that they voted for this man and with that CHOICE which democracy affords us we need to be constructive, open minded, and flexible in moments like this supportive. Notice when we many vote for change how change itself brings many to the brink of "FEAR"....remember that when they say there is "Fear in change" its for a reason....its because we are out of the comfort zone. I will agree the manner in which this was promoted was wrong, but before your knock it. Read it. ...goes to show its easier to condemn and judge before having a trial.
President Obama cares about the future of our children and our county. The stupid, uneducated parents who will not permit their children to hear his speech do not. The others who are encouraging these parents' weird attitudes are traitors. God bless and protect our President and our country.
Every American citizen has the right to an opinion....if questions had not been asked and listened to...no changes would have been made to President Obama's speech.
To blanketly say that those who did not want the speech to be mandatory at all schools are stupid, ignorant, racist, uneducated and more is short-sighted and just wrong. First, the request to show the speech came from the Dept of Ed and not the White House. The planned lesson plans were WRONG!!! I can tell you that this was a huge issue with a lot of people, especially teachers. Thankfully, people raised concern and this idea was scrapped.
Timing? If the White House wanted to avoid any preception of the timing of the speech and the original areas that were to be covered in the first drafts of the speech, then they should have waited months...until after the health debate was over. There is nothing to make this speech critical to this very day. Planning should have been better.....just too coincidental given the health care issue. Timing is everything!
Recker....tell me what publicly funded schools are teaching Creationism....or is that just a crazy , unfounded and irresponsible speculation on your part? Your post shows your own ignorance....
Gwen – opposing the mandatory showing of the President's speech in schools is not being against the president. It is exercising our rights. When we start mandating messages from the President or any part of the government in our schools, we open the doors to many issues that perhaps you might be against....so then if you oppose those, are you unpatriotic?
Glazier – you ARE aware that this is not the original speech, aren't you? The speech and the guidelines have been changed. This is no speculation....it has been widely discussed on any news channel.
Diana – have you actually read or listened to any news reports? The dissent crosses all political lines....not just Liberal Republicans. President Obama's is the lowest it has been, dipping below 40% in many groups....even in his most faithful age groups he is losing support. (Can you believe I'm a Dem and do support him?)
Lastly......those who feel this is about race are the MOST ignorant of all. Shame on you....you muddy the waters even more.
AI Morgan – it's people like you who perpetuate racism and hatred....forget the race card, it's old and just doesn't apply here. Educate yourself.
Now, you will find this hard to believe...but I support the speech as well as offering it in the schools....surprised?? If so, you just jumped to a conclusion.....rather than believing a person can see arguments from both sides of an issue and then make an informed, educated decision. So, maybe rather than spend your time judging those with an opinion that opposes your own.....are you going to take time, watch the speech and then watch it again with your children and have some conversation to encourage them about the importance of their future and how important their education is to success? This is your responsibility, after all, as a parent.
I am very disappointed, very tired and sick of how much scrutiny this President have gone through. He is meant to prove himself over and over and over again. Boycotting a Presidential speech that encourage our younger generation to stay in school and excel? Blatantly disrespecting your president is unpatriotic. President Obama is the President of the United states of America, not of the democratic party, not of the republican party. We have raised American's pride by voting in the first black man in office and a very competent President for that matter and the world said America has done it again and now we go back and tear it down and we are becoming the laughing stock. It is a shame America, it is a shame! This man have brought the economy from the abyss of destruction. Till date there have not been a comprehensive discuss and comprehensive coverage on that. This blatant disrespect and perpetual systematic dismantling of every good intention of this presidency is directly aimed at the person of Barack Obama as a black man and the deep seeded lack of confidence, unease that we have towards race in this country. I rest my case.
Brilliant, SCOTT RECKER!
I am an educator and I know that many parents and educators are not willing to have students made more aware of the parents and educators responsibilities.
Sadly, students are often victims of schools' administration and teaching staff's ignorance and prejudices. Too many of schools' teaching and administrative staff allow their biases to deprive children of their civic education needs. Depriving students of the recognition that they are important to our world, what their place is in the world and how to achieve the place that they want to in the future seems to threaten too many.
The "educator" depicted on CNN is simply not brave enough to stand for the students against what must be the prevailing pressure to negate the president's speech which speaks of parents and educators responsibility. SAD...
This speech is an excellent example of an adult encouraging school children to get an education. My daughter is happily going to let both her children watch it . The only criticism I have is that it's a little long and I don't know how the younger children are going to do sitting through it. Otherwise this is a speech I would have welcomed when I was in school. President Obama has been in the same situation as most of the children he's speaking to and that helps them accept and implement his suggestions. As for his detractors I have to say it looks like they didn't learn much when they went to school.
I have read all the comments and agreed with the majority of them,can't believe these people are so against a speech from the leader of the free world.These americans should be ecstatic that all their children can go to school and have an education,in some countries the females aren't allowed to go to school and the males are in training for other things other than school.These kids look to singers and athletes as role models and not their parents and yes some people would like to have uneducated people they can control.I say to these parents tell your kids don't listen to their leader and it's okay if these kids want to drop out of school.As a child I got good grades and was always in the top ten in all my classes and wanted to be a teacher but I left my home country at sixteen for a better life and it did not happen because I did not have someone to encourage me to go for my dream.I do believe as most of these people on here that everything Mr.Obama throws out there would be rejected because it's all about racism,they are not thinking because all these people want to hear is one person against whatever he is for and they are against it,My suggestion to all the parents who are against,the remote does have a power button and I do believe it also works in the OFF position and good luck to all the parents who believe that the speech is all about socialism.If and when these kids asks why can't they listen to the speech just tell them the president wants them to stay in school but he doesn't know what he is talking about so don't listen to him.It is the reason why the country is in such a state right now and it has nothing to do with this president,it's been years in the making he just got caught holding the bag.
As the President it is Obama's responsibility to speak to the nation. That means men, women and children.
He was elected in a Political process. What he says is not to be reviewed by the losing party, THEY LOST.
GOD BLESS AMERICA and its system of government. Love it or leave it.
On May 1963 JFK spoke to Vanderbilt University with 3 points
"Of the many special obligations incumbent upon an educated citizen, I would cite three as outstanding: your obligation to the pursuit of learning, your obligation to serve the public, your obligation to uphold the law."
The same message should be spoken TODAY
This whole controversy surrounding this speech reminds me of the controversy about the Notre Dame speech, which if you remember correctly wound up being nothing as well. The people who are patronizing President Obama at every turn need to give it a rest, as they say there's no room for politics in the classroom. And I would think Obama would already know that.
I am a parent and I love to have the elected President come to my Children's school to give speech anytime. There is nothing better to inspire young mind is too see Obama come into town. He is tackling all those issues at one time just like a family to tackle things facing their daily life. Media got less negative comments when MichaeI Jackson, Brittanny Spear, Anna Nicle Smith were on the news. How the heck that Anna Nicole Smith can have any inspiration to any young female mind? I thought those "neocon"'s comment is chasing after ghost. I don't like to use those racial comments. did you see any minority shout their lung out against the health care debate? My God, government wants to give you health care program, every other country will be happy to accept except USA. By the way, if US government didn't bail out the SIX financial institutions, guess who will pay the bills? You, as a consumer or tax payer any way. Christopher
I am proud of President Obama . We need to have respect for the presidency. I hope he does this every year. He is everyones president young and old.
Im from the caribbean and listen to all the criticism obama gets in almost every thing. Ive read this and think its good to see has has not forgoten the children, they are going to remeber this speech to see that he cares.
Give hm a break to much of you turn the simplest of things into politically minded things.he was voted in to make a change for you including those same children who couldnt vote whats wrong with telling them to stay in school
Now that Obama has presented a revised speech that doesn't contain any of the details previously planned and published in the White House "Study Guide" we can pretend that the original plan that was scrapped never existed. Pretending that this changed agenda makes the original agenda disappear is pure fantasy.......just like hope and change are pure fantasy. Too bad the media sees their role as coming to the aid of a clearly "Failing President" rather than focussing on the real facts that they don't want to report but have no ability to hide from those that seek the truth.
Stop criticizing the President and saying he is a communist. I was born in a communism country, and maybe , maybe if we had a president like Pres. Obama the Berlin Wall still there and the Soviet Union still exit. Absence of global / domestic leadership, and no interest in what happen to their citizens is what was missing in the past of communist lands. As a parent this is the message our children need to hear, sometimes our parents don't know how to give a right message ,usually when their own lives is a completely mess!
We will all stand together or we shall surely stand apart (Benjamin Franklin).
I cannot believe we have gotten to the point where The President speaking to a school is considered anything but an honor. I have a certificate from Nixon, and listened to Reagan (and was inspired by replays of Kennedy speechs in class). Discredited or not it was an honor to listen to or be recognized by the President. When did we get to the point that because of party we won't let our children listen to the President? This controversy is completely sad to me. And frankly, it makes me anxious. Why? Because B. Franklin was right. If we are this polarized, can we remain the "United" States of America?
It dosnt matter how much people back track there stupidity the damage has been done revealing that people do not trust Obama to make presidential desicions .
the people who are opposing this ,should listen to his speech for they obviously didnt get it right when they where in school.
these schools who are not showing this speech ,are pretty quick to hold there hand out for money from the government are they not.?
some countries dont have education t begin with ,let alone there leader wanting to take the time to address them.
i remember george bush in a school when he was told the twin towers had been hit and america was under attack.
america will not reform or advance in any way until old men stop playing politics.
You guys are in the middle of a civil war of WORDS...and the republicans are winning. Ask this question of the GOP... Why do you seek to totally disrupt EVERYTHING your democratically elected president tries to do in the best interest of your country? There is no GOP alternative other than the status quo in a different form. The basic problem is that the GOP is racist and will not accept this black president. They cant come out and say "no, we wont follow this man because he is black" therefore they must try to thwart him at every turn using any means they can right down to making up lies. And nobody calls them on it!!! Hitler used this type of propoganda and we all know how that turned out. The GOP is supposed to be christian based. Where is the LOVE? Where is the forgiveness? Where is the live and let live? The US is going to go down the tubes while the politicians fight amongst themselves over whether a kid in school can listen to what YOUR president has to say. Sounds like the civil war has already started...the Dems just dont know it yet.
There is no Socialist Ideology in the President's speech it is very well said. As for Jack Edward's comments I can see how his rejection has helped him with his spelling. Jack is a prime example of missing out on educational goals.
I am a proud American but a disappointed one. I grew up in a poor family in a poor city in a poor county in a poor and racist state. My grandfather, father, brother and many other relatives fought for a country where there were not allowed to vote or freely associate. When they were ALLOWED to vote, they always voted – regardless of how minor the election was. My parents were staunchly Democratic, even to the point of voting for George Wallace, who had vowed to keep them segregated forever. But, they always listened to what everyone had to say and encouraged us to do so. No matter what President has been speaking, I have always tuned in. I have voted Democratic, Republican, Independent because of remaining open minded and listening to all sides. How can someone argue that they don't like what Obama has to say if they don't even listen to what he says? And for goodness sake, shouldn't the President, of all people, be able to talk to everyone in the U.S., including children?
my son's school is requiring parents to give permission for their children to watch a speech by the president. SO ridiculous! Of course, we gave our son permission. People are so ridiculous! Ignorant is probably more like it.
What I don't understand is why the media is only highlighting parents and administrators who are not going to let their children/students watch it.
And what about all the Bush "haters" after the war. They were pretty much crucified in our country. What's so different now? Oh yeah, the issue is health care, not a war.
I think it is a sad day in this country. We have elected a president, and we are arguing about whether he has the right to speak to our children in school. Whatever our political stand is, we need to take a close look at the message we are sending to the next generation. I applaud the president for taking the time of out his very busy schedule to speak to students.
I support the President and his speech to the nations youth. This message comes at a time when are kids have become slightly lazy and could use an extra push. If the Presidents message is meant to brainwash, then I hope his next speeches to kids include messages for eating vegetables, brushing teeth and when to go to sleep. Thanks President Obama!!
I don't see the problem with President Obama speaking to school children. Other presidents have spoken to children and there seemed to be no contriversy with them. People need to stop being to suspicious of everything President Obama does. He wants to do his job well and encourage not only the voting citizens but also the future of this country to be educated Americans. What is so wrong with that?
Parents-keeping your kids home from school today just because of a speach?Boy now thats a great lesson to teach your kids.Its no wonder our prisons are overcrowded.
This is insanity that has taken over America....try as I might I don't remember the uproar over Bush 1's speech ending:
"Let me know how you're doing. Write me a letter - and I'm serious about this one - write me a letter about ways you can help us achieve our goals. I think you know the address."
Whether or not you agree or disagree with the President or his policies, it is important for your child to hear this speech. After reading the text, I think the content is clear of politics, but at the same time, this speech can serve as somewhat of an introduction to politics. You are hindering your child if you deny them the right to hear this speech.
I have read the President's speech and I am thoroughly excited that he will be giving this speech to my children. Why not have someone as influential as the President of the United States to give it. What do people think he is doing? Do they think he might be sending some kind of brain washing secret code through his speech? Our society is falling apart! The President knows, just as most of us do, that some parents just don't care! Somebody else has to step in and guide these children! He is just giving them a little hope for the future that through hard work you can be successful.
To Jim Greer: Shut up.You just created a big to-do about nothing.Think before you speak.
Gary Tuckman interviewed a man and a woman who opposed President Obama's speech to school aged children today. That was laughable because those two people were senior citizens. If they have children in school, I'll eat the hair off of the top of my head! They may have great, great, grandchildren but if they aren't raising them, it does not count. Why bother interviewing two old people who appear not to have paid much attention to their teachers-they sounded really dumb!
Jacky: Is correct.CNN stop feeding the frenzy! We need to support Our elected President.
Any school that doesn't play ANY message from the President should also reject ANY public funding. And then be shut down.
The moron principal at the school CNN highlighted this morning said he went to his office and PRAYED about it!! Nothing wrong with that, unless you're using it to make decisions about school policy.
They're probably teaching Creationism and Abstinence, then rejecting a message from the President to stay in school. At least they're consistent: their spawn will ALWAYS be uneducated.
The school systems chosing to not air Pres Obama just demonstrates how stunningly stupid some people are.
Hello ,I think that these people refusing to allow their children to here the president,is ridiculous.They are in essence saying he's not their president.This is so embarassing for this country to have the world witness america's parents teach their children to be disrespectful to the most pwerful leader in the world.Why must it be this way? I am African American and I have always been taught ,that we should respect the office of the president of the united states,even if we did not vote for him.Now somehow it has become this,he's their president not ours? What is wrong with this kind of ignorance being so promoted and displayed on world wide television,it is shameful.We should be better than this as a nation.A nation of people of different race and religion.We fight together,we die together,we cry,and hurt together surley we as a nation should show our patriotism and show respect for our president.
Victoria Wolf: Great way to say it all!
I printed out the entire speach.I am going to make sure I give a copy to my grandchildren for them or their parents to read.It's a great speach.One that they should live by!
To Jack Edwards:
The presidents speach is to make children and parents responsible citizens.Yes children will listen and should to their mentors.They have to be taught a lesson on how to become good students for thier own benefts in life.He,the President,is a great motivator.
CNN asked Grassley specifically what his and the Republican parties plans are for health reform.Grassley talked in circles around it and Never gave a straight answer.Because they Have none.
Schools should replay President Obama's speech on count day.
Wouldn't that be fun for stirring up the political pot.
All I see is, all those people that are against the President, seem to have their own agenda, spreading division and ignorance instead of joining him to do their part in helping our and I mean "our" country to recover from what millions of people are suffering from. People are homeless, people have no health care, and people are out of work! Our children need to know the truth! And some parents need to grow up! Get you head out of the sand and let your children be responsible for their lives come out of yesteryear and live in the here and now. It seems that no matter what this President says or does there is always going to be a host of naysayers ready to show their ignorance. Some of those same parents, probaby never paid attention to what was going on in their school until now, how sad!
Reply to Jack Edwards: It's exactly BECAUSE young minds are open that we as a country should encourage that they be exposed to all points of view. When and how are kids going to learn to think independently as adults if they are never subjected to ideas other than those of their parents? Let the parents have their turn "bashing Obama" at dinner tonight if they want to ensure that their kids share their opinions but at least present all points of view to the kids. And, by the way, our government is based on separation of CHURCH and state, not SCHOOLS and state. If our schools aren't responsible for helping to educate kids about our political system and their civic duty, where are the next generation's citizens going to come from?
Shame on CNN and other news outlets for giving creedence to these traitorous, unpatriotic wingnuts. These crybabies will continue to manufacture this type of nonsense until the media get wise and just ignore these nonissues.
The Media created a big todo about Nothing!
I read the Presidents speach.It is a great message to all kids and should be listened to by parents as well.Even the persons that doubted Obama have changed their minds about it.So All this contraversay could have been avoided.
First Lady Laura Bush,Newt Gingrich have said it is a great speach as well.
1st. President Bush Gave a similar speach.So its all political sabotage.
its sad that some people, mostly conservatives are outrage that President Obama will be speaking to the children. they rejects the wisdon that president will provide yet they are not outrage when the same children listen to explicit lyrics of britney spears or idolize people like paris hilton, miley cryus or ne other hollywood stars. At the end of the day most conservative will reject anything our president does, n mostly it has to do with his race instead of his agenda.
It's always been obvious to me the republican party does not want an intelligent population. After all it's easier to control the people if they cannot think for themselves. Think about it, they would rather deprive their children of a day's education than to have their children listen to a president tell them to stay in school. At least the republicans are consistant.
The argument is that health-care needs to be reformed. Hospitals are required to take you whether you have insurance or not. Looks like that works. What doesn't work is the insurance companies denying coverage due to "preexisting conditions" or scum lawyers "ambulance chasers". They are the problem not health-care. Reform interstate commerce( collusion) between these two groups Then fully fund education
JIm Grere I hope you like crow
What is all the controversy about? There is no controversy! This is a President, who simply wants to encourage all students to work hard in the classroom, to stay focused on their studies, and to strive to be the best they can be! Those individuals who are attempting to paint the President's message, as anything other than that, are simply being ridiculous! Ostensibly, there are members of the Republican Party, who are still up to their old tricks. Their original mission was to oppose everything presented by the President, and hope that it fails! As usual, they have gone too far again!!! To those that oppose this message by the President, what message will you be giving to your children?
A little too much focus on college and white collar jobs. The "be all you can be" and "stay in school" messages are good but I would have liked to have seen more inclusivness – a true cross-section of the US workforce. There's no shame in being a refuse worker, plumber, electrician, or brick layer. These services are critical to infrastructure and you don't need a college education to work in a trade. Ditto for many office jobs. Kids will however be more likely to get these jobs if they graduate from high school. Aren't dropouts the troubling problem with a larger proportion of kids today? I understand we need to meet the challenges of math and science to hold our own in global markets, but it needs to be okay not to go to college and still be viewed as successful and positively contributing to society.
I don't understand what is so controversial about our President speaking to our students about education. Aren't they the future of this country? Isn't is possible that some child somewhere is probably not getting the support and encouragement he/she needs at home and will be moved and encouraged by words from the President of the United States? I am glad that he is speaking to our children. I think it reminds them of the "American Dream." So many of our kids ARE led to believe you have to be a rapper or a basketball star in order to be successful. What happens to the 98% of them who aren't successful in sports or music? I think it is admirable that he would take the time to address the children and reiterate what their parents/guardians should already be teaching them about the importance of education.
Unfortunately, I live in such a right-winged and bigoted area of the country that I had to keep my kids home from school so they would have the opportunity to watch Mr. Obama's historical inauguration; so, I can't imagine that our school system would ever consider showing this speech to our kids. My kids and I have already read it together and discussed it. The President is conveying the same seniment that my husband and I have for our chidren's education, and my kids were thrilled that Mr. Obama cared enough to address them. I can't understand what 'socialist' message there is in that?
Apparently it's too much to ask for everyone to stop picking apart every single thing the President does and get on board to help him in his efforts to make a real change in this country. The problems we face in this country today are long past Republican problems or Democratic problems... we are all in this recession together, and it's going to take everyone to bring us out of it. It really doesn't matter so much who gets credit for fixing these problems, it matters that there is a solution and that we all start working toward it together!
It is pathetic how every little thing that pres. Obama does has a backlash with the conservative republican base . If the republicans keep coming up with these lame old scare tactics they are not going to pursuade anyone to vote for them other that there base .oh by the way the young white lady that was crying just because of obamas speech is pathetic .
There is no system of government in the world where it is sensible to cover your ears when the head of state speaks. If you live in a totalitarian society, you need to know what you’re expected to do and your leader will tell you. In any sort of adversarial system, you need to know what the other side is saying so that you can respond to it. If you live in a democracy, you need to listen to all points of view, formulate your own opinions and debate people with whom you disagree; in other words, democracy requires participation. I don’t even have to read the text of the speech to know that I need to hear it; it’s the President! Respect the office. How is it that so many American adults don’t know that? Let your kids hear the speech and then DO YOUR JOB, parents. Make it a “teachable moment.” Ask them what they heard, how they feel about it, what they agree with, what they disagree with. Then you tell them your opinion. Have a lively debate. That’s called parenting! Do you want to encourage your kids to stick their heads in the sand, to be uninformed and unable to formulate their own opinions, to be so rigid in their thinking that they are unable to tolerate even hearing a comment they disagree with? Is that the sort of adult you want running the country in 30 years? Is that the sort of adult you want taking care of you when you’re old and feeble? And if your only objection is that Obama is neither Republican nor conservative, try to remember that the first President Bush did exactly the same thing in the early ‘90s, including asking kids to write him letters. My only question is: How is that some schools are NOT airing the speech? Obviously they have lost the meaning of "education."
I am a democrat and I am no better than any one but republicans I know and hear are so upset that obma is going to talk to schools but they have no idea why it is a bad idea. They are ready to pounce on any subject. I am a disabled firefighter/EMT I was worth something when I was able but now insurance is hard to come by what I mean is not at all. When I was in elementary we watched the first gulf war on Tv cruse missiles launchings and targets blowing up and that was ok. How would President Obama indoctrinate all these students with teachers parents and the media watching? I did not know what all the "Right" was about but now I am worried God help us all.
If only one student listens to President Obama's speech and is motivated to continue in school, isn't it worth it? Give the man a break!
For some who won't have the chance to watch the president speech taped it it and watch it all the family together
It doesn't matter what the contents of President Obama's speech are, people on the right would still be working everyone into a tizzy about it. Don't you see that they have a lot to lose if this president succeeds? Of course they will do everything they can to see him fail. Don't buy into it. He's been a good president, doing good things for our country AND our children. When a president of the opposing party is this successful, he's going to be criticized. I don't have a problem with that, but this has gone way too far. Give us ALL a break and stop with the fear and the hate. Just remember what Abraham Lincoln said: "A house divided against itself cannot stand."
Our schools aren't airing the speech. I wish they were.
I think it's a great speech and does just what the President intended–inspires children to take responsibility and reach for excellence. Those parents who keep their children from hearing it are not only teaching them to distrust and disrespect the duly elected President of the United States, they are participating in the mindless partisanship that is harming this nation.
As a white teacher in a multicultural classroom during the presidential campaign, I unfortunately encountered a great deal of racism in my classroom. I am not surprised that this disrespectful attitude toward our leader, the elected president of the United States continues. As the leader of the free world, our president should also be an example and encourage the children of our great nation to put forth their best effort in school.
This is a sad day in American when the leader of the free world cannot address students in his own country without attracting negative talk from individuals. This is most disturbing. watching this and many more events, I have come to the conclusion that no matter what this president does, there will be always individuals who has a desire to see him fail at EVERYTHING that he does. Is our nation this divided that we will use politics to scare others to see things our way? I'm just patiently waiting on the next wave of controversy. It's just only a matter of time.
I am a 43 year old veteran who is educated with two degrees. All of this "issue" with the President of the United States of America, the person the country elected to represent the nation as a whole, is sounding more and more like a partisan racial attack on the man himself. I grew up with every President since LBJ and have heard,
in a lot of classes while in school, many speeches given by Presidents past. Never has any thinking person brought up this kind of attack in the past with any President. Noone is saying anything about the fact that Bush 43 was at an elementary school when the attacks of 9/11 occurred. Obama probably is aware of this fact, but holding true to form, elects not to fuel the fire of a racist act. It just seems to reinforce the fact that while African Americans have had a
major step ahead in this nations history, we still have light years to go to change the social stigmatism that plagues us everyday.
My kids school not airing the speech,but I’m recording it on my DVR. So I can watch the speech over dinner with my kid’s.
The President of the United States, regardless of party, is always welcome to speak to my children. As an American Citizen, it would be an honor!!!
Please stop with the assumptions, ie., 'the American People' believe ... blah, blah, blah. One factor many seem to fail to recognize is that 'the great majority' do not run their mouths at the top of their lungs, with guns on their hips, disrepecting the President ... of any party.
Yes, I did speak out against the actions of the last president ... ONLY after he illegally invaded a sovereign nation, broke international law, and co-conspired as a war criminal ... by our own nation's standards!!! I did speak out through G. Bush's 8 years of opportunities, and no matter how mad I got, I NEVER would even have thought to encourage assasination ... ... ... now we have even congress people, and governors, sworn to support the U. S. and it's leader, adding kerosine to the fires of hatred of personalities/skin color? Refusing to seriously debate the issues in a civilized manner, AND getting press!
Once 'legally' elected, the President is the president of ALL Americans, and in my 'old' ways ... I am 60 ... it is treason to not show respect of office. We need some serious civic lessons on a national level ... respect for law. And I still believe no one should be above the law, and let the DOJ go where it needs to go. If Monica was important to the tune of millions, and the distraction from critical issues for years, then surely whatever crimes existed to sell a war that did not need to happen should be looked into. The 100, to 200,000 dead, tens of 1000's maimed, millions of refugees, orphans made, and our own economy and standing in the world in the toilet should be reason enough. Accountibility should start at the top!
Obama is trying hard to be civil and set an example, speaking to ALL Americans, to bring us up out of that hole of deceit, manipulation, inuendo that has represented our last 8 years, and for the next 3 1/2 we do owe him our support, as patriotic citizens. The government is us, and we need to let the administration know how we feel, and why ... not just NO, NO, NO! He is not a Democrat President ... he is an American President!!!!
Of course we should all be able, and want to, write an essay on what we can do to help ... our president, our nation, our country!!! Why the heck not? He is asking for ideas, instead of dictating ... how is that wrong? Listen to Arne Duncan's interview on Face the Nation. We need ideas, the best ideas ... from everybody! We bear the responsibility for the condition of our homeland.
i do not believe that our children should be subjected to this, because they are at a suceptable age where they can be led to believing that this will solve probelms in the us. When in all reality itjust complicates things furhter. The school should be separate from politics and its views that are aimed at our younger generation.
I'm glad that our president is taking the time to address our country's children. There are so many children in this country who do not have a male role-model in their lives and the one's available to them are a negative influence. I think it's time for some people in this country to climb down off of their high-horse and gain a little perspective.
What the heck is wrong with people in America? He is the president of the free world! Stop the disrespect people. Whow! This is unbelievable!!!
Agree with Susan
No other president has had to get parental permission to speak to his country before so why should this be any different? If we would focus on the point of the speech (doing well in school) instead of harpooning the President, we would get a lot more done. I personally am tired of hearing how we are one of the last countries in test scores and that our schools are horrible. Quit complaining and do something! Nothing gets done if you just sit there and complain about the people who ARE trying to change the system.
Well, well: So OUR President is going to talk to school children and parents are not going to allow their children to go to school/listen to him talk? What a ROLE model you "parents?" are. Hope you can explain to them about "freedom of speech", the constitution, how to hold a grudge when you don't get your way, and of course hate & RACISM!
If a white teacher or principle gave this same talk it would be alright.
And so what was the BIG, ridiculous deal in what President Obama had to convey to the students? People need to give him a break and stop dissecting EVERYTHING thing he does! His speech is about education, what was everyone expecting? Give it a rest already and leave him alone! It's exhausting how trivial people can be in their lives! Utilize some Christianity people...for a change, please!