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A big missed opportunity
Leading up to the Sept. 8 back-to-school speech by President Obama, we were perplexed, though not entirely surprised, by the loud, mounting and seemingly hysterical complaints from some of his political opponents, who charged that the president would use the opportunity to brainwash or otherwise manipulate the nation's youth.
Nonetheless, watching Obama's address at Arlington's Wakefield High School made all of the commotion seem, well, rather silly.
Unfortunately, most Loudoun County schoolchildren didn't see the speech live. According to school officials, the decision to air the president's talk was left to individual principals.
The president spoke with young people about high-minded ideas like setting goals and persevering over life's tribulations.
We can think of no one more suited to tell kids, essentially, that they can be whatever they want to be. As the biracial child of a single mother with limited means, his message resonated with young people who do not have the cards stacked in their favor.
As Obama put it, “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.”
Demanding action from these young people was a meaningful step toward empowering them to take responsibility for themselves. Reminiscent of President Kennedy's famous “Ask not what your country can do for you,” Obama encouraged kids to be responsible to their community and country as well as to themselves.
This is a generation of young people, for the most part, of whom little has been asked. Putting the onus on them to work hard for success was, we think, just what the doctor ordered.
Superintendent of Schools Edgar Hatrick advised Loudoun's middle and high school educators to incorporate the speech into a lesson plan, while elementary educators were told they could show the speech, but “opt out” forms were sent home for parents to sign if they chose not to allow their children to view the presentation.
We can understand the logistical difficulties involved with airing the speech on the first day of school, but it's a shame many missed out on the opportunity to hear the President Obama live.
While Obama's popularity may have slipped with the general public, he still enjoys heavy support from young people. The president was was mobbed like a rock star by students after the speech.
Our children are exposed to myriad influences, some good and some not so good. We were pleased that Obama used his power -- and his ability to get their attention -- to offer students some words of wisdom.
It's a shame more of Loudoun's kids weren't tuned in to hear it.
I really don't see the difference between watching it live or on tape. LCPS opted to show it later, not never.
Posted by HomerSimpson
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