A President’s Speech to Students

by Ken Royal

Should students watch the president's Back to School speech? Here are some questions, and a few thoughts:

1. Wouldn’t it be interesting if students analyzed Obama’s back to school speech next Tuesday—just like the political factions and pundits? Great lesson?
2. Can you think of a better model for public speaking than this president?
3. Where would you get a better primary source presentation for civics/government discussion?
4. Wouldn’t it be a great real world short break from tests and assessment?

As a student, to have a president addressing you might be a lasting memory, a direction maker, or changer. It would be a shame to have school districts knuckling under pressure. I’m not saying this speech will have the strength of one by FDR, or the compassion of one by JFK—but it might. Students should hear the president, and it’s silly for anyone to prevent that. Take a step back and think about it. One-sided political battles, waged on dueling TV shows should not prevent this. A president, who wants to speak to the nation's youth about the power of learning and education should be able to do it. No questions asked.

Comments

[Ken Royal]

Thanks for the comment. As a former educator, and actually as one now, with your grandchildren, you understand the importance of a lesson. While I think the White House should stay out of the lesson plan business, I'm glad they're addressing students. I understand the idea of watching and listening to the speech with parents, and you are so right, it would be a great opportunity, but many would not get there. I'm certain the speech will be replayed over and over again, and I do know that some districts are recording it for that purpose. As to whether it would be more powerful--I don't know. There is a speech the following evening, addressed at the nation, so maybe that's the home lesson.

[Marilynn]

I've been retired from teaching high school English since June, 2002, and am now helping my daughter with her children since she's now gone back to work fulltime.

I think this speech would be far more powerful if it were made available during a time when students could watch it with their parents. I know that not all parents would sit down with their kids for something like this, but many would, and since parents are the primary influence on almost all kids' attitudes toward education, staying in school, etc., it'd be worth a try. I recommend that PARENTS find a way to record this and then watch it with their children ... of any ages ... and discuss it then and later.