By Jason Luntz
Nashville, TN – Over 1,500 people packed the gymnasium at McGavock High School to hear President Barack Obama speak on Jan. 30. Nashville was the President’s last stop in a post-State of the Union tour of the nation. Before visiting Nashville he made stops in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
Tennessee and McGavock were selected for Thursday’s speech to highlight the successful education reform efforts here. McGavock’s graduation rate has climbed by 22 percent in the last decade; the school’s work- and project-based learning is credited with much of that success.
“I wanted to come here today because I heard great things about this high school and all of you.” The President said. “If Nashville can bring schools, teachers, business and parents together for the sake of our young people, then other places can.”
Hundreds of people waited in line to see the President speak. In attendance were not only many of McGavock’s top students but also numerous Tennessee Democratic activists, Metro Council members, and other prominent Nashville residents. Mayor Karl Dean, Congressmen Jim Cooper and Steve Cohen and former Vice President Al Gore sat in a VIP area.
Sheila Calloway, who is running for Davidson County Juvenile Court Judge, was honored that the President chose Nashville to visit. “This is such an exciting time to have our esteemed leader to visit here,” she said. “McGavock has become across the nation a model for its Academy system.”
Academies of Nashville provides students with real-world skills and hands-on learning to classroom curriculum. As sophomores, students begin to follow a focused track in one of four disciplines. These tracks include aviation and transportation, health science and law, digital design and communication and hospitality.
Air Force One arrived in Nashville shortly after 3:40 p.m. where a presidential motorcade drove the president to McGavock. After briefly meeting with Gore, the President spent time with the family of Kevin Barbee, a 15-year-old student who was shot and killed earlier this week.
Before beginning his remarks Obama spoke about the loss of Barbee, “I wanted to come here today because I’ve heard great things about this high school and all of you,” he said. “But I also recognize that the last couple of days have been hard and a test of people’s spirits. Some of you lost a good friend, so I wanted you to know that Michelle and I have been praying for all of you in the community.”
The President then spoke about the success McGavock has seen in recent years, citing rising graduation rates and declining dropout rates. He also praised the expansion of prekindergarten programs in Metro schools.
“Every young person should have access to a world-class education,” the President said to the excited crowd.
Brandi Giles, a communication student at Tennessee State University who covered the event for her institution’s TV News station, was excited to see the President live. “It was an honor to be in the presence of our president.”
“The remarks that he made specifically about Tennessee and McGavock in particular were outstanding. His encouraging visit will most likely prompt even more growth within our schools,” Giles added.
The President finished his speech by mentioning four steps to helping Americans find their way into the middle class; creating more jobs, training people to do those jobs, ensuring a living wage and “guaranteeing every young person access to a world-class education.”
Across the street from the high school gathered a small group of tea party activists who were carrying signs that called Obama a “Tyrant” and the famous image of the snake and “Don’t Tread On Me.” There was also a group of Obama supporters with Banners that read “Move Forward Tennessee”.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, a Republican, was not in attendance for the event. According to his spokesman David Smith, Haslam had a prior engagement out of state.
Photo By: Kelvin Braxton