President Barack Obama delivered a speech to students around the country at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia, on Sept. 8, 2009, which was also the first school day after summer break. Conservative critics spent much of the last week fear mongering about socialist propaganda and decrying Obama’s access to millions of malleable minds. Obama told students to work hard, stay in school and take responsibility of their own education. Check out TPM’s coverage of this non-controversy.
Newscom/zumawire/Jiang Guopeng
Students wait for President Obama to speak to them on the first day of school at Wakefield High School. Obama’s remarks were broadcast live to schools around the country. After the conservative hysteria however, school districts in 6 states opted not to show the president’s address. Read the full speech here.
Newscom/UPI/Kevin Dietsch
President Obama delivers his national address directed to students across the nation.
Newscom/zumawire
Fourth graders watch President Obama’s speech via internet at Reinberg Elementary School in Chicago, Illinois.
Newscom/Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune
Students at the Nap Ford Charter School in Orlando, Florida watch a webcast on a classroom computer of President Barack Obama as he delivers remarks from a school in Arlington, Virginia.
Newscom/Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel
President Obama delivers his national address directed to students across the nation.
Newscom/Zumawire
Elsa Guenther, 17, a Wheaton-Warrenville South High School senior, watches President Obama’s speech at Arrowhead Golf Club in Wheaton, Illinois. When the school district opted not to broadcast the president’s message on Tuesday, a group of high school students and their parents organized their own private viewing of the speech.
Newscom/Chuck Berman/Chicago Tribune
Third grader Elizabeth Bahlhorn watches President Obama’s speech at Sequoia Elementary in Sacramento, California.
Newscom/Bryan Patrick/Sacramento Bee
President Obama greets Tim Spicer, a student at Wakefield High School.
Newscom/Michael Reynolds/ABACAUSA
President Obama greets audience members after speaking to students on the first day of school at Wakefield High School.
Newscom/UPI/Kevin Dietsch
President Obama shakes hands with students after delivering his national address at Wakefield High School.
Newscom/Zumawire
President Obama and US Education Secretary Arne Duncan host a group discussion with ninth-graders students at Wakefield High School.
Newscom/UPI/Michael Reynolds
President Obama and US Education Secretary Arne Duncan at Wakefield High School.
Newscom/Michael Reynolds/ABACAUSA
