Obama to address Memphis high school

This year's graduates at a Memphis high school won't be able to complain about their commencement speaker. President Obama heads to Memphis tomorrow to address Booker T. Washington High School, winner of this year's Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge.
"This is history," said senior Tarvaris Shegog. "If I'm going to get a job and they ask about my high school, I will be able to tell them I graduated from the most historical black high school. The president came to my graduation." In a written statement, Obama said, "Booker T. Washington High School proves what can be accomplished when students, teachers, parents and administrators come together to support achievement in the classroom."


Obama will also tour local Mississippi River flood damage while in Memphis.


In announcing that Booker T. Washington High School had won the the right to a presidential commencement address, the White House listed its accomplishments:
Booker T. Washington High School's graduation rate went from 55% in 2007 to 81.6% in 2010.
The school has taken steps such as establishing separate freshmen academies for boys and girls to help students adjust to the school culture and creating an atmosphere where teachers take personal interest in seeing students take pride in their schoolwork.
Students can now take AP classes, learn about engineering through robotics competitions, and earn college credits.


Obama's speech is also a cultural moment for the predominantly African-American high school.
Rev. Noel Hutchinson of First Baptist Church-Lauderdale, which is across the street from Booker T. Washington High School, told the Memphis Commercial Appeal that the whole thing "boggles the mind."
"As the first black president, he symbolically represents all the hopes and dreams many of us as a people have for ourselves," Hutchinson said. "He embodies great success and the great symbolism of one who came up through many challenges to become the president of the United States. And now he is coming to a neighborhood in one of the poorest ZIP codes in Memphis that in recent years has been been consistently overlooked."


"That in and of itself will do great things to shape self esteem for generations to come." (source:content.usatoday.com)
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