So the president gave a speech yesterday. A speech. He gives them all the time, right? Well this time he did one that I was actually interested in. For some reason everyone was having issues with him talking to the kids. Like he is going to corrupt them by encouraging them to work hard in school. Oh brother. I hated going on Facebook just to see everyone's comments about it. Blah, blah, blah. So my class watched the speech yesterday. All 15 minutes of it. Being in 4th grader most of my kids were actually interested. They listened, they laughed at his jokes, they even got big eyed when he talked about how his dad left his family at a young age. They could relate. When it was all said and done we had a little talk. I asked what they thouught. I got the typical answers: "we need to work hard in school" or "we need try our best" or even "don't come to school if we're sick". Yes the president said that and to most teachers we would laugh because that would just be an excuse of the students to stay home.
"Cough, cough. I'm sick mom, I can't go to school. . . President Obama said so!"
But in our case we have a little boy fighting cancer and is in the final stages of his chemo treatments. He missed all of last year to get rid of his brain tumor and has been able to come back this year, miraculously being caught up with all the other students academically. We all know that if we're sick we stay home because we don't want him to catch anything that will slow down his amazing progress.
Overall the speech was good. It was uplifting. It was motivational. And yes, even 4th graders got the point. They realized that just like President Obama they too can have difficulties and issues going on in their life but if they work hard and try their best they can achieve greatness. I'm not saying I agree with everything Obama has ever said and done or that he will say and do. I'm not even admitting whether or not I voted for the man. I am saying that for those 15 minutes I watched and listened to our leader encourage my students, and thousands around the country, to work hard and to never give up. Nothing too bad about that.
We now have a sign hanging in our classroom that says "There's no excuse for not trying". We have bigger issues in the world to worry about than a 15 minute speech. It was refreshing for my students to remind me of that.
Okay, I'm done. The end!
"Cough, cough. I'm sick mom, I can't go to school. . . President Obama said so!"
But in our case we have a little boy fighting cancer and is in the final stages of his chemo treatments. He missed all of last year to get rid of his brain tumor and has been able to come back this year, miraculously being caught up with all the other students academically. We all know that if we're sick we stay home because we don't want him to catch anything that will slow down his amazing progress.
Overall the speech was good. It was uplifting. It was motivational. And yes, even 4th graders got the point. They realized that just like President Obama they too can have difficulties and issues going on in their life but if they work hard and try their best they can achieve greatness. I'm not saying I agree with everything Obama has ever said and done or that he will say and do. I'm not even admitting whether or not I voted for the man. I am saying that for those 15 minutes I watched and listened to our leader encourage my students, and thousands around the country, to work hard and to never give up. Nothing too bad about that.
We now have a sign hanging in our classroom that says "There's no excuse for not trying". We have bigger issues in the world to worry about than a 15 minute speech. It was refreshing for my students to remind me of that.
Okay, I'm done. The end!
