Obama Talks to America's Children The President Urges Kids to 'Get Serious' About Education

For many schoolchildren across the country, Tuesday, September 8 was the first day of school. Teachers, principals, aides, counselors, school bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and librarians—everyone was on hand to welcome students back to school. Someone else was ready with a warm welcome as well—the president of the United States.

Barack Obama spoke at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Va., but his message was broadcast to schools nationwide. In his address, he urged kids young and old to work hard in school, not only for themselves, but for the sake of the country.

The president told students to "get serious" and take responsibility for their own education. "Every single one of you has something you're good at," the president said. "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."

No Excuses, No QuittingPresident Obama acknowledged that many kids have it tough, both at home and at school. He used his own life story, and that of First Lady Michelle Obama, to show how kids from disadvantaged backgrounds can succeed despite their problems.

"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," the president said.

"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," he added.

"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."

Storm Before the CalmThis was not the first time a U.S. president addressed children in school. In 1991, George H.W. Bush gave a similar speech to kids nationwide. But unlike in Bush's case, news of Obama's intended speech set off a firestorm of controversy before the address.

Some conservative parents worried that the president was going to try to convince children to support his policies—policies that those parents do not agree with. In some cases, those parents refused to allow their children to watch the speech. One protester outside Wakefield High School held a sign saying, "Mr. President, stay away from our kids."

Nevertheless, many important Republicans backed the president's speech. "It is good to have the president of the United States say to young people across America, 'Stay in school, study, and do your homework,'" former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said on "Fox News Sunday."

The president, for his part, steered clear of politics in his speech and stuck to his theme of personal responsibility.

Vocabularyfirestorm—a strong or violent outburst of public protest
controversy—disagreement, debate

Links

• Read the president's speech and decide for yourself.
  http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/

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