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Update: President Barack Obama encouraged the nation's schoolchildren to take pride and ownership in their education in an address this afternoon, Sept. 8, at a high school in Arlington, Va. See the video below.
"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."
Source: Prepared Remarks of President Barack Obama's Back to School Event- WhiteHouse.gov
Here's more:
"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 2 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."
Source: Prepared Remarks of President Barack Obama's Back to School Event- WhiteHouse.gov
There is much more, so I encourage you to read the entire message for yourself. I don't see one thing controversial in these remarks. DO YOU?
+ Republican Presidents' Long History of Talking to Schoolkids
President Obama Pictures
HONG KONG August 18, 2009 (AFP) - AFP photo coverage advisory . Tel: (852) 2829 6206. Duty editor: Edmund Edwardes Jones..--ASIA--.TOKYO/OSAKA: Start of 12-day official campaign for Japan's August 30 general election.TAIWAN/CHINA: Aftermath of Typhoon Morakot.AFGHANISTAN: Build up to the August 20 presidential elections.PAKISTAN: Returning IDPs and situation in general as available.JAKARTA: Independence day parade.DELHI: Nepalese Prime Minister Madav Kumar Nepal visits..--MIDEAST--.DAMASCUS: Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki visits Syria for talks with President Bashar al-Assad.TEHRAN: Political developments as available.BAGHDAD/JERUSALEM: Situation as develops..--AMERICAS--.WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama meets with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.VENEZUELA: President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Mohammed Ibn Chambas visits.HONDURAS: Situation following coup d'etat..Your opinion matters - Online customer satisfaction survey.Click here to win one of 50 copies of the AFP Yearbook for 2009. .http://www.sphinxonline.net/afpmarketing/photo2008/start.htm (Photo credit should read AFP/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Two Iraqi boys hold plastic flowers in their hands as US soldiers (L) stand guard during the inauguration of a US-funded project to support small businesses in a northeastern suburb of Baghdad on August 18, 2009. US President Barack Obama warned on August 17 that Iraqis would be tested by more "senseless" violence but vowed the United States would meet its deadline to pull out all troops by the end of 2011. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
An Iraqi boys talks to a US soldier standing guard next to his armoured vehicle during the inauguration of a US-funded project to support small businesses in a northeastern suburb of Baghdad on August 18, 2009. US President Barack Obama warned on August 17 that Iraqis would be tested by more "senseless" violence but vowed the United States would meet its deadline to pull out all troops by the end of 2011. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
A US soldier stands guard during the inauguration of a US-funded project to support small businesses in a northeastern suburb of Baghdad on August 18, 2009. US President Barack Obama warned on August 17 that Iraqis would be tested by more "senseless" violence but vowed the United States would meet its deadline to pull out all troops by the end of 2011. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Iraqi soldiers (R) join US troops guarding the inauguration ceremony of a US-funded project to support small businesses in a northeastern suburb of Baghdad on August 18, 2009. US President Barack Obama warned on August 17 that Iraqis would be tested by more "senseless" violence but vowed the United States would meet its deadline to pull out all troops by the end of 2011. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
US soldiers patrol a northeastern suburb of Baghdad during the inauguration of a US-funded project to support small businesses on August 18, 2009. US President Barack Obama warned on August 17 that Iraqis would be tested by more "senseless" violence but vowed the United States would meet its deadline to pull out all troops by the end of 2011. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Iraqi children stand next to US soldiers guarding an inauguration ceremony for a US-funded project to support small businesses in a northeastern suburb of Baghdad on August 18, 2009. US President Barack Obama warned on August 17 that Iraqis would be tested by more "senseless" violence but vowed the United States would meet its deadline to pull out all troops by the end of 2011. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Iraqi boys look at the tattoo on an American soldier's hand during the inauguration of a US-funded project to support small businesses in a northeastern suburb of Baghdad on August 18, 2009. US President Barack Obama warned on August 17 that Iraqis would be tested by more "senseless" violence but vowed the United States would meet its deadline to pull out all troops by the end of 2011. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
An Iraqi girl holds her mother's hands as she plays next to US soldiers standing guard during the inauguration of a US-funded project to support small businesses in a northeastern suburb of Baghdad on August 18, 2009. US President Barack Obama warned on August 17 that Iraqis would be tested by more "senseless" violence but vowed the United States would meet its deadline to pull out all troops by the end of 2011. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Iraqi children stand next to US soldiers during the inauguration of a US-funded project to support small businesses in a northeastern suburb of Baghdad on August 18, 2009. US President Barack Obama warned on August 17 that Iraqis would be tested by more "senseless" violence but vowed the United States would meet its deadline to pull out all troops by the end of 2011. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Comments: (62)
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By: Tanya on 9/07/2009 2:16PM
Can someone please explain to me...why are there so many people in this world who absolutely despise Barack Obama because of the color of his skin? I was reading a blog on AOL about his speech to the students' of America. The responses were so full of hatred, I almost became emotional and had to click off.
Can someone explain why Democrats hate him so? They say that it's because of his policy. However, in my opinion, Obama has done nothing but try to correct this mess that our past administration got us in. People are so fearful of color, they would much rather rebel than to appreciate what he's done and attempted to do for this country thus far.
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By: james toliver on 9/07/2009 11:12PM
Tanya you are so right, I cannot understand it for the life of me, maybe they are fearful of certain people cxcelling way beyond what their expection are. People no longer HATE, they fear what was done will be done in kinds. Their failer to understand we seek no vengence, I am still waiting on my 40 a and mule, I know I will never get it, I am not mad about it, just disappointed with our mankind brother blinded by our ability.
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By: Loretta on 9/09/2009 6:27PM
I too feel exactly the way you do! It's a sad commentary on the state of this country. I breaks my heart the way this man and his family are treated! The disrespect is appauling!
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By: DeniseSilkk on 9/08/2009 11:20PM
You know what I ask myself the same question. President Obama has done so much wonderful things in America but people can not take off the blinders and see the good in him. You are so right about in today society people still feel African Americans are the lowest race in the world. But we have seen on television who really are the LOWEST. Some race of people (I know you know which ones) act like programmed robots. They dont take the time to LISTEN they just go by what the Robot Leader says, which alot of it is not true. Its easy for that RACE of people to run their mouth and believe the worst in something good just to protest, get on television acting like a bunch of wild monkeys and not taking the time to LISTEN TO THE FACTS. Sometimes I am sad to be an american because of all the PREJUDICES I am facing ESPECIALLY since OBAMA became President. I hope GOD is watching what people are trying to do to one of his children and take care of it. Because these people are not God Fearing at all or They would not have this much hate.
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By: Tanya on 9/07/2009 2:20PM
Correction to the message above: "Republicans" hate him so? They even have my mind boggled!!!
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By: Belinda on 9/08/2009 11:20PM
I am astounded at the drama Republicans are putting into this presidency. The speech is great and all of our children should be in the front and center. I heard the speech he gave at the NAACP dinner and it was spectacular and I said every parent should have a tape of this to play for their children. My child is grown but I have grandchildren, neices and nephews that can benefit from what he says. We finally have someon who actually cares about what happens to our children in power.
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By: Donna L Bonty on 9/07/2009 6:37PM
My children are finished with school, and they did just fine. But I wish they were still in school today so they could have heard the Presidents speech. Imagine how some of our children will feel after that speech. Can you say Encouraged, Belief in themselves. Our Black Children need to hear it, because Obama is everyday people, just like us, and look at what he accomplished with his life. To all of those NAY - SAYERS, Put a Damn! Sock In it!!
All of our children, white, black, asian, hispanic, etc need to hear it. And there is nothing wrong with it. Those who are bashing Obama at every turn, should have been using that type of energy when George Bush (both of them) were in office , destroying the ecomny, fighting wars with no cause, and doing nothing to bring down the deficit!!! Barack Obama you stick to your path, not only am I with you but GOD IS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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By: I am baddkitty on 9/08/2009 12:39AM
donna
some people don't want his message heard for the same reason they didn't want blacks to read. they don't want us to feel impowered. they want our children to hear negitive things so the vicious cycle can continue. i don't believe in everything obama is for, but this is necessary and encourging. something the enemy does not want our children to have. racist want our children to believe they are stuck and should continue with a distructive path. they don't want it to be shown and known that YES WE CAN. if we do good that's ok, just don't let the word get out because more of us may do the same. the world will look at us differently than they have been taught to. yes taught to. from early on white racist have campaigned against black skin to all other nations. perfect example: when enlisting men from japan to fight against their own country, they where given the same rights as whites as far as where they sat and where they could be served. this was to imprint it in their minds that they where better. and since the white man says that blacks are bad then ok. and keep supporting your president, i'm right there with you.
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By: Rosemary Elias on 9/07/2009 11:17PM
Thank God for President Obama! I am a school teacher and know first hand that all of our children need to hear our nations leader speak positively to them. Let us all stand behind our President not against him. Our children are listening and watching. Do we want our children to hear negative remarks about him? I certainly do not! Way to go President Obama!!!
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By: meek meek on 9/07/2009 11:50PM
It's funny to me. In a country and a state for that matter, that sends our children to school everyday and pushes them to go to college, now parents are opposing a president who reinforces their same values? It doesn't make since. You have principles, teachers, firemen, and policemen that come and talks to schools every since I can remember, telling the children the very same thing. Where were the protests then? President Obama is reinforcing the very speech that parents tell their kids everyday when they bring home bad grades, or notes from the teacher. Now , all of a sudden , it's a problem. I'm not falling for it. It's not right and all of these people who are making excuses for their own issues, know that it is not right. If you don't agree in the importance of education, then don't send your kids to school another day because you are being a hypocrit.
Truthful Mom
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