Obama Welcomes Students Back to School

"No matter what you want to do with your life, I guarantee that you'll need an education to do it," President Obama told the gym full of high school students and teachers. "This isn't just important for your own life and your own future. What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country."

“At the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, the best schools in the world - and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities,” President Obama said.

You can watch the full video of the speech here

or read a transcript here.

Wakefield High School's student body president Timothy Spicer introduced the president with a former Obama campaign slogan saying, “Welcome the man that proved that, 'Yes We Can!'"

The speech, which was broadcast live to school districts across the country, had attracted controversy this week when some critics of the administration worried that the president's message  to young people might have a partisan agenda.

Most of the nation's school districts planned to show the speech to students, making exceptions for those whose parents did not want the students to see it.

Obama invokes his own educational history

	President Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan answer questions from students. For a transcript of the conversation click here.

The president and Education Secretary Arne Duncan met with about 40 students in the school library before the speech, and Mr. Obama shared personal stories with the students.

"When I was your age," he said, according to a transcript, "I was a bit of a goof-off. My main goal was to get on the varsity basketball team and have fun." He also said that being raised by a single mother, without a father at home "forced me to grow up faster."

The president also touched on his desire to see health care reform through Congress and the importance of community service with the group.

To a student who had presidential aspirations, President Obama remarked, "First of all, I want everybody here to be careful about what you post on Facebook, because in the YouTube age whatever you do, it will be pulled up again later somewhere in your life. And when you’re young, you know, you make mistakes and you do some stupid stuff."

Critics caution against political speechmaking in schools

	Critics questioned the intent of Obama's message, citing the speech as an example of his attempt to circumvent the work of parents and teachers.

Some of the president's critics expressed concern over the educational materials distributed by the White House, which asked students to think of "what they could do to help the president."

''As far as I am concerned, this is not civics education -- it gives the appearance of creating a cult of personality,'' said Oklahoma state Senator Steve Russell. ''This is something you'd expect to see in North Korea or in Saddam Hussein's Iraq.''

Arizona state schools superintendent Tom Horne, a Republican, said the education materials ''call for a worshipful rather than critical approach.''

In response, the White House revised the language of the questions, asking them to write down short-term and long-term goals instead.

Dismissing the controversy, Secretary Duncan told reporters at the event, "The big problem with education in our country is that we focus on adult issues and adult drama."

Duncan added that it is important for a president to engage with the nation's young people and “challenge students to take personal responsibility for their own future.”

Students react to the president's message

	Let us know what you thought of the speech here.

Cecilia Martinez , 14, of Arlington, Virginia, said she was proud the president came to her school. "I liked how he never gave up in his life. It shows me that I should never give up in mine," she said.

Michael Sloan, a student reporter at a neighboring high school said it was always important for a president to speak specifically to the needs of young people. "This generation is the future of our country. ... It's important for younger students to that message."

Gloria Lemus, 17, of Arlington, Virginia, identified with the president's story of struggling to stay motivated. "Sometimes I'm distracted at school too," Lemus said. "But the president is pushing us to have a better future."

Click here to see the accompanying educational materials from the White House and the Department of Education.