Monday, September 7, 2009

Make Us All Proud

This:




Or this:

"So today, I want to ask you, what’s your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve? What discoveries will you make? What will a president who comes here in twenty or fifty or one hundred years say about what all of you did for this country?

Your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions. 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."
-President Barack Obama, Back to School Event


Which message will better serve our children?

9 comments:

Lona said...

A poignant question!

samccoy said...

I think you pulled out the core of his speech. You know that children's song, "The More We Get Together"? I think that would be very helpful for all of us to remember.

M Coleman said...

Hard to believe that these words (and the remainder of the text in the speech) have created such a controversy!?!? Our district is not showing the speech - what a loss for 'teachable moments'!

mindelei said...

It really is sad that our country has become polarized over non-existant issues that are not based on facts in any way. We should be proud to have a president who is taking an interest in the people and working to make changes that will positively affect us all. The fact that a presidential address has become so controversial does not speak well of our citizenry.

Paul C said...

I like the juxtaposition of this post and the lesson it provides.

diane said...

Thank you all for commenting. I think that our children deserve the chance to hear the leader of their country, then discuss his message and its possible meanings for their lives.

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