Obama Gives Good Advice to Students

I don’t know about you, but I’m quite confused regarding the debate over President Obama’s address to students. The president’s advice to students in today’s speech that will be broadcast on the White House website, www.whitehouse.gov, will focus on students taking responsibility for their education, going to class, listening to their teachers and not to let failure define them.

Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan calls the dust up, “silly.” Duncan, in an interview Tuesday on MSNBC, said the controversy wasn't merited, but he also acknowledged that guidance the administration sent to schools about how kids could participate Tuesday could have been better worded.

In his talk, Obama says: "At the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents and the best schools in the World and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities."

Obama makes no reference in his prepared remarks to the uproar surrounding his speech. Nor does he make an appeal for support for tough causes such as his health care overhaul. He uses the talk to tell kids about his at-times clumsy ways as a child and to urge them to set goals and work hard to achieve them.

In his remarks, Obama leaves the students with some words of encouragement. "I expect great things from each of you," he said. "So don't let us down — don't let your family or your country or yourself down. Make us all proud. I know you can do it."

Sounds like good advice to me.