国际英语新闻：President Obama addresses American students nationwide

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama delivered a speech to students around the country Tuesday, the first school day after summer break.

    The speech is addressed in front of a group of 9th grade students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Va, near Washington DC, and is broadcast to the nation via the web site of the White House.

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks about the importance of education while at an event at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia, September 8, 2009

The president repeatedly urged students to work hard and stay in school.

    "This isn't just important for your own life and your own future. What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country. What you're learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future."

    Several cabinet officials are slated to deliver similar messages at various schools across the country throughout the day.

    To pacify conservative critics who said the address would be used to push a partisan political agenda, Obama avoided any mention of controversial political initiatives in his speech.

U.S. President Barack Obama sits next to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (R) as he speaks about the importance of education while at an event at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia, September 8, 2009

U.S. presidents rarely address students nationwide, but the White House said Obama's speech is not uNPRecedented.

    Then President George H.W. Bush delivered a nationally televised speech to students from a Washington school in fall 1991.

    In November 1988, then president Ronald Reagan delivered more politically charged remarks that were made available to students nationwide.

    The White House plans to live-broadcast Obama's speech via Internet Tuesday.

    Some schools have decided to show Obama's speech to students, but others will not.

U.S. President Barack Obama sits next to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan as he speaks about the importance of education while at an event at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia, September 8, 2009