Here’s a short clip from what I believe is President Obama’s first State of The Union address. It could be a useful video to show at the beginning of parent meeting to initiate a discussion — perhaps parents could introduce themselves and share their experience of doing one of the things the President mentions.

I have the transcript below the video.

In the end, there is no program or policy that can substitute for a parent — for a mother or father who will attend those parent/teacher conferences, or help with homework, or turn off the TV, put away the video games, read to their child. I speak to you not just as a President, but as a father, when I say that responsibility for our children’s education must begin at home. That is not a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. That’s an American issue.