Obama tells students: Discover new passions

[alp227]

Source: The Washington Post

For an incumbent president facing a tough reelection campaign, no public appearance is completely free of political content. But President Obama’s annual back-to-school speech to the nation’s students, delivered Wednesday at Benjamin Banneker Academic High School in Northwest Washington, was about as close as it gets.

In a 20-minute address to Banneker’s 415 students, streamed live to schools across the country by the White House, Obama urged students to take their work seriously but also to experiment.

“That’s what school’s for. Discovering new passions,” Obama said, speaking under the basketball backboard in a packed gym turned steamy from the extra lighting.

“That’s why one hour you can be an artist; the next, an author; the next, a scientist,” he said. “Or a historian. Or a carpenter. This is the time when you can try out new interests and test new ideas.”

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/obama-tells-students-discover-new-passions/2011/09/28/gIQAezxQ5K_story.html

---

Remember the insanely silly conservative media outrage over Obama's recorded speech to schoolkids in 2009?

The full speech here.

[RKP5637]

1. I was just thinking of that as soon as I saw your post, the ridiculous conservative

outrage in 2009 when he addressed the school kids. That, really brought home to me how insanely silly and ridiculous conservatives are ...

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Well it worked

I'm a teacher and heard nothing about this speech until I saw it mentioned on Facebook. Last 2 years we got an email from the district telling us when and what website. Not this year.

[RKP5637]

11. Censorship and monitoring are working. The propaganda runs wide and deep. n/t

[Divine Discontent]

2. Fear Fear Fear! wonder how many right wing conservative parents held out their child from hearing

the president? I saw at least one school offered to allow kids to miss it if the parents or the child wanted to avoid hearing the scarrrry president with his inspirational magic! Loons...


http://www.zazzle.com/republicans_2012_keeping_millions_out_of_work_bumper_sticker-128002960205017719

[tcaudilllg]

3. That's ridiculous. We've got the research to show that's baloney.

Your social role is as fixed as your MBTI. The Russians have known that for quite some time.

[Courtesy Flush]

4. He's teaching our kids about passion

That's so perverted. I can't believe it.

:sarcasm:

[Zorra]

5. Discover the joys of picking lettuce, the thrill of greeting people at Wal-mart.

[RKP5637]

13. Yep, reach high youth with your aspirations for a lofty job in America, one day you

just might be lucky enough to be hired to cashier at Walmart, and you can then look at your record of stunning achievement to have reached this highest pillar of American labor. American Exceptionalism!

[RandomKoolzip]

6. Learn to love unpaid labor! Get yourself an internship and dig poverty!

I love how the media - and now even the President - are trying to sell us shit disguised as filet mignon. "You'll really love an uncertain economy! Play-act at having a career now, because you won't have one when you 'grow up!'"

[truthisfreedom]

8. How much are you being paid to fill the forum with this filth?

[RandomKoolzip]

10. Shit, man. I WISH I was getting paid to be ineffective like this.

Instead I have a real job doing real things that help people. I'm a public librarian. I hate to burst your bubble, but not everyone who criticizes Obama from the left is a paid troll - it's only about 1-2% of us (that's a generous estimate too). Believe me, no one gives a fuck about what happens on DU anyways - me trying to sway public opinion on DU isn't a factor in when or why I post - I'm just here to let off steam. Sorry to disappoint! (sad face)

[NashVegas]

9. Not If School Reformists Have Anything To Do With It

The current movement is towards hyper-specialization by grade 8.

[Dulcinea]

14. WTF?

Who knows what they want in 8th grade? Who knows ANYTHING in 8th grade?

[Addieny]

12. Discover new passions

When you decide to find your passion,you’re making an
important commitment to yourself. You’re saying that you’re a
top priority and you’ll be finding the things in life that you
truly enjoy. When you have a true passion for life you never
feel like life is a chore. Your whole attitude and personality
may even shift for the better.
If you want to love life, you need to pursue your passions.
Don’t waste anymore time and get going!Try some of the items
on this list to light your fire:
1.Start with Your Talents. 
2.Be Open to New Experiences. 
3.Communicate With People in Your Field. 
4.Practice and Research. 
5.Face Your Fears  Never Give Up