Whats Wrong with Having Children Listen to the President Speak?

Even a simple event such as the President of the United States speaking to the children about the importance of staying in school can turn partisan and political. The argument against the speech:"the president is trying to indoctrinate children with socialist ideas".

NY Times in its editorial hits the nail on the head arguing:

There is, of course, nothing socialist in any of Mr. Obama’s policies, as anyone with a passing knowledge of socialism and its evil history knows. But in this country, unlike actual socialist countries, nobody can be compelled to listen to the president. What is most disturbing about all this is what it says about the parents — and the fact that they have such little regard for their children’s intelligence and ability to think.

In this era of global competition having a well educated population which can understand things in a global perspective is going to be the key to distinguish one's country. That, children and education are being used as a means by a section of the media and the masses to promote their narrow short term partisan political objectives is a tragedy. If this does not epitomize stupidity, then I don't know what does.