Obama speech to welcome U.S. kids back to school

U.S. President Barack Obama is set to welcome America's children back to school on Tuesday.

He and Education Secretary Arne Duncan will host a group discussion with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Va., before the president speaks to students nationwide through C-SPAN television.ploy

U.S. President Barack Obama attends a town hall meeting on health insurance reform at Portsmouth High School in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in August. He will address the nation's children at a school in Virginia on Tuesday, Sept. 8.(Jim Young/Reuters)

In the speech, the president will speak directly to the nation's children and youth about persisting and succeeding in school, the White House says.

An advance copy of the speech suggests he will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning.

But even a seemingly innocuous speech on education is not without controversy in the current political climate.

Obama opponents suggest the address to schoolchildren is part of his strategy to overhaul the health-care system in the United States. That divisive debate has dominated the nation's attention all summer.

Florida Republican chair Jim Greer said last week it's inappropriate to use taxpayer dollars to broadcast White House politics into the nation's school system.

"President Obama has turned to American's children to spread his liberal lies, indoctrinating American's youngest children before they have a chance to decide for themselves," Greer said.

Back in Washington later on Tuesday, Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden will attend a Supreme Court investiture ceremony for its newest justice, Sonia Sotomayor.

Later, the president meets with congressional leaders and welcomes professional golf champions to the White House.

source: cbcnews