- Connect
- Login
- Print Subscription
|
Welcome,
| |
| |
- Most Commented
- Most Commented
- Most Emailed
- Most Emailed
- Popular
- Popular
« News Home
Direct from the Top
-
Video: Obama's Speech
Chaney students listen to President Obama's speech.
Though the message isn’t new, the president’s speech resonated with students in a Chaney English class.
YOUNGSTOWN — The students in JoAnn York’s English class at Chaney High School sat quietly as President Barack Obama’s back-to-school speech aired on the television in the corner of the room.
While a couple of boys in the back were quiet because they fell asleep, most of the 19 students listened to the president’s speech Tuesday urging them to take responsibility for their education.
The message, though not new, resonated with plenty in York’s class.
“I think he made a right point,” said Tre Little, a Chaney junior. “When things go wrong, don’t let other things push you away from what you need to do.”
Little said he’s heard the same thing from his family.
“I’m in school; I’m trying to be what I want to be,” he said. “I’m not messing with people on the streets.”
Because Obama came from a humble background, he has the credibility to encourage kids in similar situations to work hard, Little said.
Obama had financial problems “like we’re struggling now,” Little said. “My grandmother and grandfather are helping us with our bills and stuff. I’m trying to get a job. I understand what Obama [went] through because that’s the way it is.”
Little said he got into trouble when he was a freshman but is focused on his school work and has turned his life around.
ShaTille Bailey, a sophomore, also said she got into trouble last year and came close to having to repeat the ninth grade.
“But I pulled it off and I made it” to the 10th grade, she said. “I’m going to keep moving forward and do what I’ve got to do.”
Obama’s Tuesday speech to students “showed that he actually cares for us,” Bailey said. “A lot of people think we’re just kids. ... He showed he cares more about us than most people.”
Without a good education, Bailey said, students could “end up dead or selling drugs or [be] in jail.”
Some conservatives complained about the speech, saying Obama was pushing his legislative agenda to schoolchildren — something his administration said was not the case.
Those in York’s class didn’t agree that the speech, shown on C-SPAN, was political.
The president’s speech left an impression with Jamye Easton, a sophomore, that she should “pay attention more and to stop making excuses for myself. Everybody’s been telling me the same thing he’s telling me. But this is coming from the president.”
Anthony Clinkscale, a sophomore, said Obama’s speech “was all right. It was nothing I never heard before. My family tells me that everyday. But it’s the president.”
There are some students who need to hear the president’s message more than others, he said.
“School is the most important thing to keep kids off the street,” Clinkscale said.
Teachers at Chaney were given the option of showing Obama’s speech, and most of them did, said Marilyn Mastronarde, a dean at the school. One problem was Obama’s speech started shortly after noon, when a number of Chaney students were eating lunch, she said.
York, who’s taught in the Youngstown school system for more than 25 years, was impressed with Obama’s speech and the president as a role model to her students.
“The kids can relate to him,” she said. “The kids face the challenges he faced. They can relate to what he’s saying.”
skolnick@vindy.com
- Requires free registration.
Comments
Does anyone really think Obama's speach will improve Y-town schools? Yes, Y-town kids relate to him because he's the same color as most of them, but they don't relate to his education which is Ivy League. They live in two different worlds - poverty and poor parenting vs white middle class upbringing and parents/grandparents who cared about his education.
At least one of the kids quoted in the article said that they have heard the same message from their families. So there are some parents who are stressing the importance of education. It is good to read that some of the kids are realizing the importance of it. Now, I live in Boardman, and i had to explain to my 16 year old yesterday that Obama is not like Hitler, as some of the wackos were propagating in yesterday's news. America is the land of opportunity. If these kids want to better themselves, they will find a way to do it. They dont need an ivy league education, but definitely some type of post-secondary education will help them achieve a better life.
Ah, the ecitement of hearing Obama talk !
"While a couple of boys in the back were quiet because they fell asleep"
I continue to be dumbfounded by the coverage this is getting. I'm honestly starting to wonder whether we're capable of having a rational debate about anything. The President makes a short speech to school children. Apparently this is brainwashing, since children aren't capable of forming their own opinions. I have a 9 year old daughter, who seems to be unaffected by it all. What a suprise.
We have half the voters of this country that have been brainwashed by this man, let's make sure we don't lose the other half to collectivism, majority of them aren't that smart either.
"While a couple of boys in the back were quiet because they fell asleep, most of the 19 students listened to the president’s speech Tuesday urging them to take responsibility for their education."
- 2009 urban cliche'
"Because Obama came from a humble background, he has the credibility to encourage kids in similar situations to work hard, Little said."
- Very humble on the shores of Hawaii attending one of the top private schools in the country. Chaney kids can certainly relate especially when they jaunt the shores of the Mahoning River and walk into the prestigious buildings of Youngstown city schools.
"Anthony Clinkscale, a sophomore, said Obama’s speech “was all right. It was nothing I never heard before. My family tells me that everyday. But it’s the president.”
- That's a double negative son. You have heard it before if your family tells you that everyday. I am confused.
I agree with prodog. This is not an issue, or at least not material enough in today's world to warrant this coverage. The reality is that several president's have given speeches before and in the end this one will not change a damn thing. I applaud the effort though.
Search....You have mentioned numerous times how bipartisan bickering hurts this nation. You are as partisan as they get. According to you Obama can't do anything right
You oppose any idea or plan Obama puts forward. You oppose them not because he's wrong or not because you have a better or alternate plan. You oppose them simply because the originated with Obama.
That road defies all rational thinking and contributes nothing.
I've agreed with only one plan the man has set forth atleast in part. Geithner wanted mortgage originators to hold some portion of each loan when they securitize the rest. I haven't heard much passed it used in discussion but that seems to be a decent solution, of course I would like to hear other ideas but that one sounds pretty logical to me.
Opinionated yes, partisan no... while I consider myself a republican (if I had to pick, obviously) I disagree with most republicans as much as I do democrats. I would say I am more antipartisan because I tend to disagree with everyone.
"I tend to disagree with everyone."
That road defies all rational thinking and contributes nothing.
Contributes nothing? I would said I've contributed plenty of ideas. Just because most of my ideas involve the government getting out of the way doesn't mean I haven't contributed ideas to solve real problems. I've presented plenty of ideas and identified plenty of problems especially relating to financial things. I meant that to be taken as I am an independent thinker.
"I tend to disagree with everyone."
That must be exhausting.
I am glad that Obama is reasonating with the Youngstown black community. Hopefully, he will change some thinking and inspire those who have felt shut out for generations.
Having said that, I also hope that Obama, and his co-conspirators, do not permanently bankrupt and ruin this country, thereby destroying any young black child's chance to accomplish anything.
I also hope black America can see past his skin color as he continues to decrease EVERY AMERICAN's chance to earn a living.
The is no such thing as Obama co-conspirators . The politically correct terminology is Czars .
Why couldn't the teacher wake up the boys who were sleeping in class? If it were my class I would've woke their asses up, they're the ones that really need to here Obama's speech.
The had heard Obama's speeches before and knew they wouldn't miss anything . No sense in wasting quality nap time .
The republican machine is scared to death of Obama. They will stop at nothing to derail the good he is trying to accomplish for our nation.
Blue dog dems are just as bad. If you don't agree with your party, then switch.
But what I find most appaling is the apparent bigotry that still permeates our daily lives. People are not willing to even give this man a chance.
He has a chance until 2012 . After that he may just be another rider . Now quit your whining and enjoy your ride with Obama driving the liberal bus .
"People are not willing to even give this man a chance."
Sir after the last adminstation we are done with giving chances. Our country is going bankrupt and china is knocking on our door for money... we NEED results.
This is how a real news organisation covered this:
Newsday article
4 comments rate share email print
EDITORIAL: Flare-up over Obama's talk to kids sets bad example
September 8, 2009
There's a big lesson for adults in the ridiculous controversy over the talk President Barack Obama gave yesterday to the nation's schoolchildren. We should respect our leaders and end the polarizing attacks corroding our political discourse.
Obama delivered a message that can't be repeated too often: Work hard to be successful and learn to take defeats in stride. He told of the 12 rejections of J.K. Rowling's manuscript before her first Harry Potter story was published, and how even Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. He challenged them to do their homework, pay attention in class and spend time reading a book - lessons that should have more resonance coming from the president.
Yet, a week before the speech, professional Obama haters were chanting that the president planned to turn kids into "zombies" and indoctrinate them with socialist ideas. Now, this ploy isn't unique to one end of the political spectrum. Seventeen years ago, those working from the same divisive lesson plan accused President George H.W. Bush of using students as political pawns in his back-to-school speech. So worrisome is the raw tone of the current debate that former first lady Laura Bush and the GOP's Newt Gingrich tried to tamp down the controversy and called for respect of the president.
Tonight Obama delivers another speech, this time on our health care system. It should spark an intelligent debate on the choices to be made. We don't need to set any more bad examples for our children on how their democracy works.hN
physical therapistsearch jobs
view all | post resume
4 comments rate share email print