With all the controversy swirling around President Obama’s Back to School Message, anyone who watched or listened to the speech must have been thinking “What’s the big deal?” In truth, there was no “big deal” at all in the speech, just a solid reminder to kids about the importance of taking their studies seriously and staying in school. Coming from the President of the United States, maybe that message will be taken a little more seriously by those kids and their parents.
He started talking of universal truths relating to going back to school: kids are nervous, some wish it were still summer, seniors everywhere are rejoicing they got this far. But he quickly changed gears and talking about things he has said before about education, including “responsibility” for everyone involved in the process: parents, teachers, and government. What was also important was the focus on the student. He said that all the responsibility in the world taken by other people won’t matter “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.”
As an educator, I was happy to hear this. Too many times it seems people have been passing the buck. It’s everyone’s fault that schools are failing and kids are dropping out of school. Yes, all those people bear responsibility, but I welcomed hearing the President remind kids that this is their job too, that they must pull their weight in order for the process to work.
Over the years I’ve heard students talk cavalierly about what will happen after high school. They talk about getting great jobs, making lots of money, and having big houses and fancy cars. Many times this comes from students with the lowest averages who seem to have no grasp on reality. Mr. Obama apparently understands this because he went on to say, “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.”
I loved this comment, but then he followed it up with something even stronger when he said:
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.
To use an old cliché, this sounded like music to my ears, and it plays upon President Kennedy’s old but wonderful call not to ask what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country. Instead of bemoaning all the countries whose kids do better in science and math, Mr. Obama is telling them that they have a stake in this not just for their own careers but collectively, as citizens of our nation, and that they have a vested interest in making the grade and going beyond because that will secure our way of life for future generations.
Article comments
1 - Baronius
More of an A-. To hear Obama tell it, the three most important things the US has done are reducing discrimination, promoting civil rights, and actually there was no third thing. Also, Michael Jordan means about as much to 6th-graders as Johnny Unitas. But it was a good effort.
2 - zingzing
"Also, Michael Jordan means about as much to 6th-graders as Johnny Unitas."
that's simply untrue.
3 - Victor Lana
Well, I do know some fifth and sixth graders and they have surprised me with a wealth of knowledge about sports. I'll bet a QB like Unitas is known to them since some of them can talk easily about Namath and Montana and so on.
4 - roger nowosielski
Baronius is true to his usual form: Accentuate the negative.
That's right, Baronius, "reducing discrimination and promoting civil rights" is small potatoes. Keep on posting.
5 - roger nowosielski
This is the right link.
6 - roger nowosielski
And now, Betty and Bing.
7 - Val MacEwan
It is a sad day in this country when it is deemed inappropriate for the leader of our country -- the Commander in Chief, arguably the most powerful man in the world -- to make an impassioned "education is important" speech.
Same folks who are afraid of a rousing "stay in school speech" must also be very afraid of me having health insurance. Both are scary propositions... hide quickly, under your desks, children -- the President will be here in a moment and he eats kittens.
8 - Baronius
Roger, I gave President Obama an A-. I'm sorry if such a low grade seems incomprehensibly partisan to you.
9 - roger nowosielski
I do apologize, Baronius. It is more than fair, because I don't think his performance has been this stellar. I was only referring to the two dimensions you seemed to denigrate. So again, I apologize for misreading your intentions.
10 - Trinity
I honestly dont find anything wrong with Obama giving that speech. I mean a message about education can't be all that bad.
11 - Fitz
I was shocked and dismayed by the amount of hubub this created at my daughter's elementary school. Parents threatening to pull their kids out of class for what... for a President speaking about personal responsibility? Gee. I can't say that personal responsibility is offense to me... How about anybody else?