For heaven's sake, parents and school administrators, don't let President Obama try to inspire your students to work hard and be responsible in school. And above all, don't let the children freely discuss those virtues, exemplified by Obama in his rise to the highest political office in the free world. Better you tell them to wait until they are grown up, when the vindictive pundits and half-baked bloggers can do all of their thinking for them. STEVE MARK, MINNETONKA

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Here's a thought: If Obama's speech to schoolchildren today is to be about setting goals and accomplishing things in life, then maybe that speech should be deferred to Wednesday night's address to Congress. STEWART K. HANSON, WAYZATA

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As a parent of two school-aged children, I am begging school administrators, principals and now even Gov, Tim Pawlenty to please disrupt our children's day so they may hear -- together with their classmates and teachers -- President Obama speak to them about the importance of working hard in school. As a parent, I tell them this, their teachers tell them this, but for the president of the United States to take time out of his busy day to tell them this, I can guarantee you, my kids will remember this. Or is that what everyone is afraid of? LIZ KNUTSON, MINNEAPOLIS

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In the 1930s, the German government indoctrinated the schoolchildren with their white supremacy and socialist culture. Our U.S. government has now sent the first "education" package to our schools. When do our children receive their Obama arm bands? PATRICK FINLEY, EDINA