POTUS touts education and takes questions

WASHINGTON (CNN) - As his budget proposal was released in Washington, President Obama traveled to Baltimore to highlight one of the areas he has prioritized going forward – education.

Accompanied by Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Obama toured an eighth grade science class at Parkville Middle School. As students demonstrated projects ranging from research of the Chesapeake Bay, to how groundwater gets contaminated by over-fertilized farmland, Obama told the students he was "proud" of them, and stressed the importance of staying focused on scientific research as a way to remain competitive in today's globalized economy.

It was no accident Obama visited a school on the day of his administration's budget roll out. For all the areas he concedes spending cuts need to be made, Obama has proposed reduced spending in certain domestic programs not just to reduce deficits, but also to make room for investments in education, infrastructure, and research and development to promote long-term economic growth.

After delivering remarks to the press on the importance of investing in education, Obama made a surprise visit to Parkville's entire eight grade class in the school’s cafeteria. He told the students that investments in great teachers and equipment for science labs was important to remain competitive in a world getting smaller due to technological advances.

Before he left, the students then got their turn to question the president. Asked what it was like to be president, Obama told the students he enjoys doing things he feels help people, citing passage of health reform legislation as an example. His role as commander in chief of the armed forces is also a profound responsibility (is this a quote?) he told the students. He lamented constantly being in the "bubble," and his inability to do anything spontaneous like walking to the corner drug store to buy shaving cream.

Asked how he handles the stress of the job? Obama said his job, like that of a principal has stress, but as long he feels he has done his best, that is good enough for him.