Prepared Remarks of President Barack Obama

Back to School Event

Arlington, Virginia

September 8, 2009

 

The President: Hello everyone – how’s everybody doing today? I’m here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. And we’ve got students tuning in from all across America, kindergarten through twelfth grade. I’m glad you all could join us today.

 

I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school. And for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, it’s your first day in a new school, so it’s understandable if you’re a little nervous. I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now, with just one more year to go. And no matter what grade you’re in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer, and you could’ve stayed in bed just a little longer this morning.

 

I know that feeling. When I was young, my family lived in Indonesia for a few years, and my mother didn’t have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school. So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday – at 4:30 in the morning.

Now I wasn’t too happy about getting up that early. A lot of times, I’d fall asleep right there at the kitchen table. But whenever I’d complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and say, "This is no picnic for me either, buster."

 

 

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I absolutely agree with this speech. I've said some of the same things to my children when they were in school.

I don't see how anyone could think that's a bad thing for kids to hear from the president.

I still am not a huge fan of the President having the unfiltered ear of children with no parental consent, but I give mad props to President Obama for this act of transparency. (Yes, I just said mad props)

I don't see how anyone could think that's a bad thing for kids to hear from the president.

 

I'll go a step further, I'd like the kids to hear it from the president EVERY year at the start of school.

I'll go a step further, I'd like the kids to hear it from the president EVERY year at the start of school.

 

I agree. Though, with this president and others, I won't be happy with just a speech. I want to see some far-reaching answers to our educational issues.

I have no problem what so ever with that speech.

How can anyone find anything remotely controversial with that speech? It looked pretty good to me.

Prepared Remarks of President Barack Obama

Back to School Event

Arlington, Virginia

September 8, 2009

 

The President: Hello everyone – how’s everybody doing today? I’m here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. And we’ve got students tuning in from all across America, kindergarten through twelfth grade. I’m glad you all could join us today.

 

I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school. And for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, it’s your first day in a new school, so it’s understandable if you’re a little nervous. I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now, with just one more year to go. And no matter what grade you’re in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer, and you could’ve stayed in bed just a little longer this morning.

 

I know that feeling. When I was young, my family lived in Indonesia for a few years, and my mother didn’t have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school. So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday – at 4:30 in the morning.

Now I wasn’t too happy about getting up that early. A lot of times, I’d fall asleep right there at the kitchen table. But whenever I’d complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and say, "This is no picnic for me either, buster."

 

 

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This is all most of us were asking for . . . a script of what he planned to say. It is a positive speech with a good message. I am probably going to try to work it in to my schedule.

No problem at all with the speech if he sticks to the script, and I'll allow it in my classroom. Like others, I applaud him for releasing this.

This is a beautiful speech - so inspiring and on target. I'm sad that I cannot use it in my classroom.

I don't see how anyone could think that's a bad thing for kids to hear from the president.

 

Thats what I'm saying. That speech is amazing.

 

People who were criticizing President Obama for wanting to do this; what did you expect him to say?:confused:

This is all most of us were asking for . . . a script of what he planned to say. It is a positive speech with a good message. I am probably going to try to work it in to my schedule.

 

 

Mad props to you if you work it out.:thumb:

No problem at all with the speech if he sticks to the script, and I'll allow it in my classroom. Like others, I applaud him for releasing this.

 

 

:thumb:

This is a beautiful speech - so inspiring and on target. I'm sad that I cannot use it in my classroom.

 

Too bad. I understand that several school systems jumped the gun on this.