Life Lessons In School...

The President's speech that aired in schools all across the country Tuesday was an excellent message for all of America's youth. It was excellently well-intended (even if ulterior motives were an attempt to increase poll numbers), and all schoolchildren should have the opportunity to watch it, not as a lecture from a person in a power position, but as an opportunity to have the President speak to them about something that is both relevant to their current stage in life and that they can both understand and relate to.

Video of the speech can be viewed below, or a transcript of the speech can be viewed here.



It was a great speech to both inspire kids to find how they can contribute to our society, and stress the importance of education in that search. As well intended as it was, I'm certain that it will have little to no effect on the academic proficiency of today's youth.

The greatest affect on our youth, as it has always been, will be in the home. Parents must take the lead in the raising of our children. Often times, whether by divorce or other circumstances, it is up to one parent to raise a child. To coincide with support from home, support in the classroom is vital as well, especially in the neighborhoods where teachers and school administrators are the only role models that the students know.

Speeches, education reforms, increase in funding and any other measures by governmental officials, while having a positive effect, can only achieve up to a supportive role in the raising (and education) of a child.

Make no mistake, education is a part (though a vital one) of a child's upbringing. I can honestly say that I wouldn't have been as well off in high school or as prepared for college if it wasn't for my parents constantly nagging me about the importance of education in my life.

I fear that high school kids who are without strong support from the parents will, at best, take this speech to heart for the rest of the week. The President didn't say anything new or revolutionary or announce anything new in his speech, but as the famous saying by Marshall McLuhan goes, "the medium is the message". They were stressed the importance of education, contributing to society and challenged to push themselves by the President of the United States.

To me, that is an inspiring thing, but I fear (and am even convinced) that, for a vast majority of today's youth, it will fall on deaf ears.