President Obama at D.C. Public School

The president delivered his message at Benjamin Banneker Academic High School in northwest Washington. It was televised live to schools across the country and carried online.

 

In his prepared remarks, Obama urged students to pursue an education after high school and said that in tough economic times, the country needs their ideas and passion.

Obama told students that, in his words, "whether we fall behind or race ahead in the coming years is up to you.''

 

The White House released the text of the president's message the night before his speech to defuse any potential charges that he would be giving a political speech to the nation's schoolchildren.