Students at a Manhattan elementary school watched President Barack Obama's speech on education Tuesday morning in the company of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Speaking at Wakefield High School in Arlington, VA, Obama encouraged students to work hard in the classroom.

"You cannot drop out of school and drop into a good job," Obama said. "You've got to work for it and train for it and learn for it.
And this isn't just important for your own life and your own future. What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country. What you're learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future."

At the Manhattan Charter School on the Lower East Side, students got a special introduction to the speech by Clinton, a former New York senator. She spoke for about 20 minutes and took questions for the kids.

The youngsters said they were motivated by the president's words.

"I liked it a lot because it inspired me a lot," said student Kiara Leon. "And I felt something when I heard the president say 'never stop learning; keep on doing your best.'"

"Stay in school and learn a lot about different subjects," said student Brittany De La Cruz as to what she took away from the speech. "And be respectful to the teachers."

Conservatives argued the speech was an improper use of school time, and some even called it "leftist indoctrination."

But a Manhattan Charter School teacher said she disagrees.

"I think he was more reinforcing what parents say to kids and what teachers say to kids," said teacher Yanik Fernandez. "I don't think he abused of the moment at all to talk about his personal politics."

Meanwhile, the president will continue his push for an overhaul of the nation's health care system during a major prime-time address to a joint session of Congress Wednesday night. NY1 will carry the speech live, starting at 8 p.m.