Photo credit: Michael Conroy/AP
President Obama will address students all across the country on Tuesday, September 8th, when he makes remarks at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virgina.
Notwithstanding all the controversy over the last few days, from some Republicans on the right about Obama indoctrinating students, everyone–all students, teachers and parents should tune in and watch it.
Why?
Because Obama’s back to school speech is a motivational one, it is an inspiring one–a speech that will urge students to take responsibility for their educational achievements, plain and simple.
And the matter of Obama indoctrinating students with his “socialist” or “communist” agenda is again, just plain and simple, “rubbish”.
Obama’s address will exhort students to study hard and remain in school. And he will underscore the fact that, what they will become has most to do with them, and how they approach their school work.
“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,” the President will say.
President Obama will underscore the fact each and every student is good at something, but that in order to become a doctor, teacher, lawyer, police officer, mayor or a senator, a good education is essential.
Moreover, he will remind students that what they do become is very closely tied to determining America’s future and the country’s ability to solve its problems, for example, curing cancer and AIDS and developing new energy technologies to protect the environment.
The president will show sensitivity to the many challenges that students might be facing at home and in their environment, which could impact performance negatively. In this connection, Obama will draw on his own childhood, recalling what his life was like as he was raised by a single mother from the age of 2 years.
“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,” Obama will tell his audience.
This said, he will remind students that, with perseverance they could achieve their goals in life. “Here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future, ” the president will say.
And to illustrate this point, Obama will reference Jazmin Perez from Texas, who didn’t speak English when she first started school, but who through hard work is now studying public health in college and on her way to becoming Dr. Jazim Perez.
Also, the president will make mention of Andoni Schultz, from Los Altos, California, who’s fought brain cancer since he was three and who endured all sorts of treatments and surgeries and who with many extra hours spent on his school work, because his memory was affected, is now headed to college this fall, thus acheiving one of his goals for 2009.
And Shantell Steve from Chicago, Illinois, who after bouncing from foster home to foster home in the toughest neighborhoods, managed to get a job at a local health center, started a program to keep young people out of gangs and is on track to graduate high school with honors and go on to college.
Obama will urge students not to let failures define them, but rather to learn from their mistakes. He will remind too that, no one is born being good at things, but instead, you become good through hard work. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day”, the president will say.
He will call on each and every student to set goals for their education and to do everything possible to achieve them. The president will observe that, goals can be as simple as certain back to school activities such as, doing all homework assignments, paying attention in class, spending time reading a book, becoming involved in extracurricular activities or volunteering in the community.
Obama will exhort students never to give up, even when the going is tough.
“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, ” Obama will say.
In concluding this back to school remarks to students, the president will return to his central theme that, students should take responsibility for their educational outcomes.
“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.” Obama will tell his audience.
See Full Text of President Barack Obama’s Speech to School Children Here
