If you believe the critics, Queens children K-12 narrowly escaped getting their brains washed last week when their schools opened a day later than the rest of the nation. They charged the Obama administration planned to manipulate the minds of children through a televised address.
If that was Obama’s plan, he failed. In his address he encouraged the children to try their best and never give up. If Obama wants to manipulate children, he should take a lesson from Nike, Gatorade or dozens of other companies that have learned how to use music and images in repeated 30-second spots to burn messages into children’s minds.
We do not see how harm can come from asking children to listen to their president. The president should be applauded for his good intentions. But next time we hope his advisers will tell him when the city schools open.
