Obama Visits Prince George’s County Middle School
President Barack Obama (D) visited Buck Lodge Middle School in Adelphi on Feb. 4 to highlight his goal of providing high speed broadband access to schools and libraries.
Buck Lodge is one of four county Title 1 schools participating in the Transforming Education through Digital Learning program, which provides iPads to each student at the school.
Obama visited several classrooms, and observed how technology was used.
“These are the future doctors and lawyers and engineers, scientists and business leaders,” Obama said of the students during a press conference.
Obama used the visit to highlight $750 million in equipment and services being donated by Microsoft, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and other companies, combined with $2 billion from the Federal Communications Commission to provide high speed broadband to 99 percent of students within five years.
“Your education is the very best investment that all of us can make,” Obama told Buck Lodge students.
U.S. Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-Dist. 5) of Mechanicsville, who accompanied Obama on his visit, said it was great the president chose a Prince George’s County school to illustrate his program.
“Prince George’s County is a county that has a real opportunity for progress, with a lot of cultural diversity, and is a great example of how to succeed in America,” Hoyer said. “I think the students will come away with a sense that the work they are doing is very important.”