US News

Students give O high marks

President Obama’s back-to-school speech was a big hit with New York City schoolkids — for the most part.

After viewing the presidential address in their auditorium, the sixth-grade students at Harlem’s Democracy Prep charter school were asked if there was anything the president said that they didn’t agree with.

Several hands shot up.

“I disagree with Obama’s mom waking him up at 4:30 in the morning [to study],” Kiara Arnold, 11, said, referring to an anecdote the president told about his childhood in Indonesia.

When the teacher asked if there were anything else they disagreed with, barely any hands went up.

Obama’s speech — delivered in a Virginia classroom and broadcast to schools all over the country — urged students to work hard, “get serious” about the future, and go to college.

Prior to the address at Wakefield HS, Obama had a question-and-answer period with ninth-graders in which one student asked him for advice on how to become president.

“Be careful what you post on Facebook,” the president replied.

Many of the kids at Democracy Prep said hearing the president speak to them on their first full day of classes was an inspiring start to the year.

“It’s a life experience,” said Richard Martinez, 11, whose favorite part was when Obama mentioned the importance of studying for all careers — including the military. He wants to be an Air Force pilot when he grows up.

Obama’s speech had touched off a storm of controversy after some groups accused him of trying to sell his political agenda to children. A lesson plan — later axed — that was originally supposed to accompany the speech asked students how they could “help the president.”

Obama got some high-profile support from the GOP when former First Lady Laura Bush and Newt Gingrich both said the speech was appropriate for kids.

“There’s a place for the president of the United States to talk to schoolchildren and encourage schoolchildren,” Mrs. Bush told CNN.

Gingrich told the “Today” show, “I would love to have every child in America read it.”

jennifer.fermino@nypost.com