President Barack Obama’s Speech to School Kids

CanCan, 08 September 2009,
Categories: Uncategorized
Tags: Mom Most Traveled, Obama

Public school children around the US will be viewing a speech by President Barak Obama on Tuesday, September 8.

The speech will be live-streamed online, as well as broadcast by Cable news networks, and C-span.

I read the speech, published by the White House and viewable HERE.

Some noteable quotes:

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. - Prepared Remarks of President Barack Obama, Back to School Event Arlington, Virginia September 8, 2009

As a teacher and a parent and a former student who always did whatever it took to succeed, I’m glad that some one is putting the responsibility on the students. I wonder if anyone will listen?

…….

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.

This is a change from the “you can do anything you put your mind to!” philosophy of year’s passed. But a good angle, I think.

….

You can’t drop out of school and just drop into a good job.

I like it! It sounds better than “Don’t be a fool, stay in school!”

…..

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.

…..

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.

This cracked me up! It is funny because it is TRUE! But funny that some kids might have “big dreams” of being a reality TV star.

….

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.

Very sweet. I almost got a tear. Seriously.

…

I think as a student I would have been inspired by Barak Obama’s words.

When I was in school, we watched to OJ Simpson trial for weeks. When he was pronounced “not guilty”, some students celebrated in the halls.

I think I would have rather listened to this speech.

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Comments

12 Responses, Leave a Reply

1 sarahc51977@yahoo.com
08 September 2009, 5:44 am

I read the full text earlier and now I think Imight be a little dissapointed that my children aren’t going to have a chance to hear it in school with their classmates. Of course my children are 4 and 5 and in PreK and Kindergarten so I can’t imagine they would have been impacted incredibly but every encouragement helps.
2 Sarah @ Queen Mommy
08 September 2009, 6:22 am

Maybe the White House could have sent coupons to Hoffice Max for the kids for school supplies. (Yeah, you got me thinking about the Hoff-miester!) lol
3 Twitter Trackbacks for President Obama's Speech To School Kids, quotes from the Prepared Remarks at Arlington, VA September 9, 2009 [mommosttraveled.com] on Topsy.com
08 September 2009, 6:58 am

[...] President Obama’s Speech To School Kids, quotes from the Prepared Remarks at Arlington, VA September… mommosttraveled.com/president-barack-obamas-speach-to-school-kids – view page – cached Public school children around the US will be viewing a speech by President Barak Obama on Tuesday, September 8. The speech will be live-streamed online, as — From the page [...]
4 Neo
08 September 2009, 9:18 am

But I like the quotes from “But at the end of the day” to “and put in the hard work it takes to succeed.” That’s really wonderfully said and I really liked it.

Thanks
5 Jennifer
08 September 2009, 11:42 am

Great post Candice. I read the President’s speech and I kept looking for what was so objectionable. I have been hearing so much hatred, which makes me unbelievably sad. My high schoolers will be listening to the President today. Sadly, some of their classmates will not because their parents decided listening to the President should be optional. (I am old and still trying to wrap the idea of listening to the President as an optional thing). I am proud of my children. I am proud that they have always asked to listen to the President (Democrat or Republican) address the Nation throughout the years. I appreciate you taking time to blog about this and linking the actual speech up. Thank You.
6 cathy sly
08 September 2009, 1:26 pm

i to am astounded at the animosity displayed by grown-ups! what are our actions teaching our children? i did not vote for obama but i do pray for him as our countries ruler and i hope i am teaching my children that no matter what the presidents name is….God is in control!!!! my personal opinion is that the speech should have been shown in the evening( the school children are still school children at night) when the parents can be there to discuss what we’ve heard. i would ask the president if this would not be his desire for his children also? and if it is (and i am certain it is ) he should extend to us parents that same courtesy. sincerely and with all respect! cathy sly
7 Lori A.
08 September 2009, 1:30 pm

I am about to read the text and will probably watch it. Our school district won’t be airing it because they don’t have the technology (tv’s in every classroom, etc) to do it. They are going to have a copy for teachers to use in social studies class or whatever if they want.
If I like it I may show it to my children myself.
8 B
08 September 2009, 1:46 pm

Thanks for posting this! I’ve been wanting to take a look at the speech to see what all the fuss is about and well, I don’t see anything!
9 Bethany
08 September 2009, 1:51 pm

You can’t drop out of school and just drop into a good job. I like it too! The schools around here (elementary through college I believe) are actually going to cut classes today to let the students watch this live. I am going to try to tune in too!
10 Marisa
08 September 2009, 2:46 pm

I read the speech this morning online and found it inspirational. I think much of the criticism was due to parents not knowing what would be said but being given a peek at some of the materials for teachers.

As a Libertarian, I’d not be happy about a Liberal or Conservative teacher espousing far left or far right opinions and not allowing kids to express opposite views.

My own kids are quite outspoken and informed about politics and the Constitution so I have no fear about anyone indoctrinating them. If anything, I welcome opposing views. It’s when we are forced to defend our views that we truly understand them.
11 Naomi
08 September 2009, 8:53 pm

I thought it was a good speech and love the fact that he’s extending his transparency/accountability ideas to children. Yes, they are responsible for their own actions- even as early as kindergarten… (Jasper and Deaky might be off the hook still but Roo needs to learn that and JoJo is right on that cusp, too!)
12 blueviolet
09 September 2009, 12:40 am

You watched the OJ Simpson trial in school? What the heck?