Students at Weatherbee Elementary in Fort Pierce watched President Obama’s speech in their classrooms this afternoon a couple of hours after it was broadcast live. Fourth-graders in Katie Robinson’s class were asked to write letters to the president, telling him about themselves and giving advice.

Many asked that he revise the dress code in St. Lucie County — Roberto Barrera, 10, wrote: “My advice to you is please no more dress code” — while others poured their hearts out about their families and personal troubles.

Azariah Murray, 9, asked the president to help his family by making “more stuff free” and making food more available. He also put in a request that jeans be allowed again at school. He also advised Obama to eat one piece of candy to help him work harder, but to remember to brush his teeth afterward.

Mendie Fleurine, 11, gave Obama this advice: “Never give up. Do your best. Never listen to someone that never appreciates you for who you are.”

Only three of Weatherbee’s 535 students sat out the speech, said Principal Michael Hitsman. One mother had asked that her two children be excluded, but then called today and said she changed her mind after seeing the text of the speech.

Hitsman thought the president’s message of hard work and responsibility was a good one. He appreciated, too, the examples of people recognizable to the students, like basketball star Michael Jordan, and that Obama said he, too, had struggled at times.

“If it affects 25 kids and makes them change their lives it’s worth it. And it could affect many more,” he said.

Tags: Barack Obama, speech, Weatherbee Elementary

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 8th, 2009 at 6:18 pm and is filed under Schools, St. Lucie County. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.