What the U.S. President Can’t Say to Students

On Tuesday President Obama delivered a speech to American students as the new school year begins. The contents of the speech were intended to encourage students to achieve their goals. Beyond exhorting the students to be diligent in their studies, he also urged them to take advantage of their educational opportunities to determine not only their own future, but the future of their nation. He also spoke from his own childhood experience of being raised by a single mother, who taught him to take his studies seriously so that he would have a successful future.

But before this speech was even broadcast, it had already stirred up a media frenzy. The right wing fiercely charged Obama with attempting to brainwash students, preach his own political ideology and set himself up as a role model. Many parents were also concerned; some kept their children out of school that day or demanded that schools not show the speech. In fact, many schools did decide not to broadcast it.

As it turns out, Obama’s speech was in line with conservative values. Liberal and conservative groups in America are polar opposites when it comes to education issues. The liberal paradigm is that education is a social responsibility; many socioeconomic and ethnic groups don’t receive equal opportunities for education, so the government should spend a lot of funds to create opportunities for them. On the other hand, conservative thinking is that education is primarily an individual responsibility; much of the poverty problem results from lack of effort of individuals. No matter how much the government spends, if the students themselves aren’t diligent they will waste valuable educational opportunities.

Obama repeatedly emphasized personal responsibility and urged the students not to give up on their education; all of it fit well with conservative tastes. Former first lady Laura Bush (who was a teacher herself) actively defended Obama, and even conservative bigwig Newt Gingrich had a positive evaluation of the speech; this probably had a lot to do with Obama’s emphasis on personal responsibility.

That said, what is it about Obama that so irritates conservatives? First and foremost, of course, is political opposition. Obama’s recent push for healthcare reform provoked fierce opposition from conservatives, causing the issue to deadlock. His own approval rating has dropped substantially on the verge of a new military surge and the healthcare reform debate. Conservatives have accused him of using the speech to indoctrinate students with his particular political values. Secondly, the White House was called out for handling the situation inappropriately — it disclosed some of the contents of the speech in advance, and recommended a worksheet for students to complete to go along with the speech. The topic of the worksheet was “How can I help the president?” That was the crux of the problem.

American public schools maintain strict political neutrality. The president may have been elected and have a foundation of public support, but that does not put him on the same level as the nation itself. Students should learn early how to contribute to the country, not help the president. While it’s true that he works for the nation, it’s up to the students themselves to decide whether he’s leading the nation on the right path. If a student believes the president is taking the country in the wrong direction, how can he help the president? Isn’t making him answer this question a form of brainwashing?

In the end, the White House admitted its error. The worksheet was changed to allow students to write down their own short and long-term goals. Obama’s speech avoided any sensitive political issues as he sought to put a quick end to the political storm.

The president of the United States wields great authority, but this authority can’t be abused on juvenile students. Whoever forgets this point will pay for it.