On Tuesday, September 8, President Obama is set to address the nation’s K-12 students in a 12:00 (EDT) speech. The White House says: “The President will talk directly to students across the country on the importance of taking responsibility for their education, challenging them to set goals and do everything they can to succeed.” Many conservatives have reacted negatively, suggesting Obama will use this opportunity to “indoctrinate” students in partisan politics.
Let’s step back for a moment. President Reagan (and his wife) told high school students to “just say no” to drugs. In 1991, President George H.W. Bush made a national speech, urging students to study hard, avoid taking drugs, and disregard peers who look down on being smart. Remember how frustrating it was when the last President’s every action was greeted with a torrent of intemperate criticism? Shouldn’t we be more prudent and mature in our response?
I am thankful that President Obama is lending his extraordinary positional power (not to mention his obvious oratorical gifts) in the service of promoting students taking responsibility for their education. It is a message that is sorely needed, particularly in the inner cities of this country where many are trapped in a vicious cycle of failure. If the result of the President’s speech is that students passing classes rather than joining gangs and dropping out, will we not all be better off? If the academic achievement of African American young men in particular is enhanced by seeing a black President exhort them to stay away from gangs and drugs, to work hard, and to not make excuses for failure, would that not be a wonderful thing?
It is my understanding that schools are providing alternative activities for children whose parents object to them hearing the speech. But if my children were of school age, I’d hope for them to hear the president’s speech.
HT: John Piper, who hopes his daughter hears the speech
Update: The text of the President’s ~18-minute speech, as prepared for delivery.
Update #2: I think the speech is great.