The President is Coming to Class

At the end of last week when I heard about all the drama about President Obama giving a speech to school children I felt compelled to say something. I wrote something up and asked my colleague Doyle Stevick if he wanted to join in. We submitted the op-ed below to The State newspaper. It didn't run, which wasn't entirely unexpected since we sent it in over Labor Day weekend. But since it's written, I thought we might as well toss it up on the Internet for a few people to read. (When we wrote it President Obama's remarks were not available, but they are now on the White House web site.)

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Op-ed for The State Regarding President Obama's Speech to School Children
By Christian K. Anderson and Doyle Stevick

President Obama will deliver a live address this Tuesday for all school children in the United States in order to “urge students to take personal responsibility for their own education, to set goals, and to not only stay in school but make the most of it.” Some parents and conservatives are concerned that the speech may come from the Democratic politician rather than from the American president.

Given reasonable concerns about politicizing our schools, it is important to ask two questions: Is the subject important enough to justify such an event, while the country grapples with wars, foreclosures, unemployment, health care politics, and the like? And if so, is it worth the risk of politicizing schools to show such a speech in schools?

On the first question, the evidence seems to be clear: when children succeed in school, the outcomes for the student and for the country are tremendous. Students who earn a high school diploma are more likely to vote, to donate to charities, to volunteer and even to give blood. They live healthier lives. Drop-outs are at much higher risk of being sent to prison and of relying on public assistance; both outcomes impose huge costs on taxpayers.

A recent College Board study showed that dropouts 25 and older earn, on average, about $23,400 compared to $31,500 for a high school graduate. The positive effects of education are multiplied for those who attend and graduate from college. A college graduate averages nearly $51,000. Over a lifetime, this translates into hundreds of thousands of dollars for the individual, and their spending boosts the economy.

It is no wonder the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education argues in its recent study, “The Economic Return on Investment in South Carolina's Higher Education,” that South Carolina’s future depends on how well we are able to educate our children.

We have schools that lack resources, where children—white, black, Hispanic, foreign—may question our commitment to their education. If they have mixed feelings about their schools, they may also question whether learning really does offer a light at the end of the tunnel.

In this regard, President Obama’s journey is more important than his politics. Whatever we think of his policies, it was his education that enabled him to become president. The fact that he is president provides powerful testimony to the power of education in overcoming barriers. If the president’s message is about the power of education, then the message is a critical one for all of our children.

But will his speech be political instead of non-partisan? We believe that our leaders may disagree about how best to help schools and children, but that they all see our children as America’s future and understand education’s role in making that future bright. If they didn’t, President Bush would not have pushed for No Child Left Behind, and President Obama would not have dedicated so much of the Recovery Act funds for schools. For these reasons, we would be surprised if the president discredited himself by politicizing such a crucial opportunity to encourage children.

While we can’t know precisely what he will say, it seems that the potential benefits may outweigh the risks. The symbolism of a president choosing to emphasize education at a time when the nation faces so many challenges is a powerful message in and of itself. It demonstrates that we cannot lose sight of the long-term solutions even as we are faced with the crises of the day.

For educators, the speech is a welcome opportunity to discuss the role and importance of education. For families, it is a chance to talk with their children about why we send them to school for so many years at such great expense: most children have never thought much about it. And all parents, from liberal to conservative, have an opportunity to talk to their children about the content of his speech, and why it supports—or contradicts—our personal values.

The President’s speech cannot solve our state’s chronic dropout problem, but let us not forget the power of inspiring words. We landed men on the moon, pushed Civil Rights forward, and tore down the Berlin Wall in part due to the inspired words of national leaders.

If President Obama’s speech to children can inspire children to think more deeply about the value and purpose of education, it is time well spent.

Christian K. Anderson and E. Doyle Stevick are assistant professors of educational leadership and policies at the University of South Carolina. The opinions expressed are their own and do not represent those of the University.