奥巴马总统就美国儿童学前教育问题发表演讲_演讲

奥巴马总统就美国儿童学前教育问题发表演讲

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody! (Applause.) Well, it is great to be in Georgia! (Applause.) Great to be in Decatur! (Applause.)

I can't imagine a more romantic way to spend Valentine's Day -- (laughter) -- than with all of you, with all the press here. Actually, Michelle says hello. (Applause.) She made me promise to get back in time for our date tonight. (Laughter.) That's important. That's important. I've already got a gift, got the flowers. (Applause.) I was telling folks the flowers are a little easier, though, because I've got this Rose Garden. (Laughter.) Lot of people keeping flowers around.

I want to acknowledge a few people who are here -- first of all, Congressman Hank Johnson is here. Where's Hank? (Applause.) Your Mayor, Jim Baskett, is here. (Applause.) Another Mayor you may know -- Kasim Reed snuck in here. (Applause.) I want to acknowledge the Decatur School Board, who I had a chance to meet and has helped to do so much great work around here. (Applause.) Folks right here.

And of course, I want to thank Mary for the wonderful introduction and for teaching me how to count earlier today. (Laughter.) I've got to tell you it was wonderful to be there. I want to thank all the teachers and the parents and the administrators of Decatur City Schools, because behind every child who is doing great there is a great teacher, and I'm proud of every single one of you for the work that you do here today. (Applause.)

Now, on Tuesday, I delivered my State of the Union address. And I laid out a plan for reigniting what I believe is the true engine of America's economic growth, and that is a thriving, growing, rising middle class. And that also means ladders for people to get into the middle class. And the plan I put forward says we need to make smart choices as a country -- both to grow our economy, shrink our deficits in a balanced way by cutting what we don't need but then investing in the things that we do need to make sure that everybody has a chance to get ahead in life.