Response to President Obama

On Tuesday, President Barack Obama said the following in his State of the Nation Address to Congress:
“In a global economy where the most valuable skill you can sell is your knowledge, a good education is no longer just a pathway to opportunity – it is a prerequisite.

It is our responsibility as lawmakers and as educators to make this system work. But it is the responsibility of every citizen to participate in it. So tonight, I ask every American to commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training. . . . And dropping out of high school is no longer an option. It's not just quitting on yourself, it's quitting on your country – and this country needs and values the talents of every American.

These education policies will open the doors of opportunity for our children. But it is up to us to ensure they walk through them. In the end, there is no program or policy that can substitute for a parent – a mother or father who will attend those parent/teacher conferences, or help with homework after dinner, or turn off the TV, put away the video games, and read to their child. I speak to you not just as a president, but as a father when I say that responsibility for our children's education must begin at home.”

-President Barack Obama, 2/24/09


What President Obama is trying to get across to us is that our country is depending on us. That the reason why our country's economy is going bad is because of our atrocious decision making. It all began in the beginning as the young child goes to their first day of school. If they do not have a responsible parent to teach them the reasons why school is important or why you should go most likely will effect their future life, and it will begin as they drop out of high school. He is saying that no longer should students drop out because their parent failed them and he encourages us to exceed and turn our country back on the right track. I agree strongly with President Obama's words.