President Obama’s Definition of Defining Your Own Destiny

Lindsey Burke / September 17, 2010

On Tuesday, students at Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School in Philadelphia kicked-off the new school year with a speech from President Obama. Students at the nationally ranked 2010 Blue Ribbon magnet school were told by the President that they are in charge of their destiny and that nothing in life is beyond their reach.

For the second year in a row, the President has addressed students as they head back to school. But this year’s address differed in one significant way. Prior to last year’s speech, the federal Department of Education sent out a letter to school leaders across the country informing them of the President’s speech and providing lesson plans for teachers. Notably, the lesson plans suggested having students “write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president.” This, understandably, created an outcry from parents concerned about political indoctrination. (more…)