A New National Tradition

I should have had this blog out the day after President Obama’s speech to our kids, but anytime is a good time for something positive. Unlike most of the media, who now see the speech as a non-event, President Obama’s speech to our kids was historic and superb. I hope our President, no matter who he is after Obama, makes kicking off our children’s school year an annual national tradition. I congratulate Obama and his team for thinking to do it. I can’t imagine time better spent by a president.

The kids that get Obama kicking off their school year over the next 4 to 8 years are very lucky. Whether you like him or not, he has a gift for communicating directly to you and a gift for inspiring people, not to mention he is the President for all of us. What an honor for our children that the President of the United States thinks it is important enough to prepare and deliver a speech just for them. As a white, middle aged white woman, I think having our first black president address our kids is such a symbol of the United States commitment to equality, opportunity, and freedom. The speech gives so much teachers can tie into their lessons.

As I said in my post about the uproar prior to this speech to students nationwide, kicking off our kids’ school year is a much more important annual tradition than throwing in the first baseball for the baseball season that Presidents traditionally do.

The speech was very good in that it put responsibility for education squarely where it belongs and that is with our kids. I particularly liked his explaining to kids that their education is their responsibility, not their parents, not their teachers, and not their administrators. Parents, teachers, administrators are there to enable and support. Promoting every child’s full participation and engagement in their education is the perfect message. I think it also sends a signal to kids and all of us that education is a priority.

I am still frustrated at those who objected to our President addressing all our school children to start their school year. I am angry that our school boards, administrators, teachers, and even parents feel they have the right to decide whether or not to broadcast a message from the President to American kids. I am disappointed that Obama had to pull out his homework assignment. Asking kids to write about their commitment to their education and send it to the President is wonderful for a couple of key reasons, i.e., what you write down, you are more likely to deliver on and communicating to the President is a great way to support a democratic society where we want and need people communicating and involved with government.

It seems the nay sayers now regret their negativity. I don’t understand how conservative Republicans think making such an issue of this speech helps them. In my opinion, there is nothing more worthwhile for a small amount of our President’s time, but to kick off our school year. Since we are fortunate to have such a great communicator and someone gifted to inspire, I am sure the speech and Obama connected with a lot of kids to inspire them to work harder, stay in school, or go one for more education.