Obamas Read To DC School Children In Surprise Stop (VIDEO) (PHOTOS)

***SCROLL DOWN FOR THE VIDEO AND SLIDESHOW***

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama have made a surprise stop at a public school to read to children.

The Obamas were at the Capital City Public Charter School in northwest Washington Tuesday. The president told a group of gleeful second-graders: "We were just tired of being in the White House."

A moment earlier the president shook each child's hand.

Watch video from the surprise visit below.

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View photos from the visit in the slideshow below. (photos from Getty/AP)

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Comments

[The Lorax]

I h@te to say it but I am TOTALLY JEALOUS of these kids! I wanna meet them!!!

They are such a happy, joyous, loving, smart, wonderful couple. Their kids are so lucky, even though they probably think their parents are dorks.

In his acceptance speech he said "For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter’s courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent’s willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate."

That last part... "but also a parent’s willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate" got a huge round of amen's and h#ll yeahs from the crowd I watched it with and it is so true. It made me tear up. I love my president. Can I get an AMEN!

[berrycooda]

Well, this is really important.­...

How about letting Michelle do the school thing and the Pres.
stick to the important things he needs to devote time to.

[BowlingForRevenge]

What and miss out on reading My Pet Goat...you must be joking!
At least he stopped in the n'hood and didn't go all the way to Florida to do it!

[KeepMeLearning]

Do you have access to his calendar? Do you know what he does every minute of every day? Do you know how late he works every night?

Who made you hall monitor?

[The Lorax]

And what was Bush up to when 911 happened? Give it up. Obama has to make his rounds as a new pres and I think he and Michelle (and those adorable girls) love doing this-not for any other reason than they are good people who like to spread the joy. Cast your bread in the water, it affects others you know.

[mizerello]

Don't you people have anything better to do than complain about everything the Obama's do? I said something else and got booted so I'll leave it at that.

[KoiPondering]

I think that visiting the children is a moral booster, reminding them that figures are not just figures. they are a representation of people. on a sheet of paper or a poll, there is no face, no charm, nothing human. Most people in high power can find a peace in that, its easier to detach yourself. I think taking the time to continue to meet people. Take the time to even connect on any level keeps them grounded.

Alot of people have said why did he take time off from his job. this was his job, a servent to the people, to keep a personal touch with the public. I remember well when tom foley came to my school I think i was in the 5th grade. it was the first time I realized that public figure heads were human, and influenced my life directly.

In this day of bullet proof glass, text messages and live streaming media.. there can be something lost in "reaching out to the public"

[The Lorax]

It is SO important to reach out and make sure the next generation knows you are a real person with a real life and real heart. These kids get to take these memories with them forever and I hope they cherish them.

[claylandg]

Get to work in the spending package!!!
Stop the photo ops!!!

[KeepMeLearning]

What makes you think he's not working on it?

[Cinci]

Was wondering how many of us recall who was President when we were as young as these kids. Say for instance, that President had surprised youro class with an unexpected visit? Do ya think it would have made ya feel kinda special and maybe even aided your teacher in encouraging you to do your best? Hmmmm?

[jedi penguin]

While I'm delighted to see him visiting schools and influencing young minds, I wish he'd done some of that in his own neighborhood before he went to Washington. The closest school to his house, the one where he voted on Election Day, has some of the lowest test scores in the city of Chicago... probably because it's one of the poorer schools in the city. The gymnasium in Shoesmith Elementary had not been repainted in over forty years until CPS realized that news cameras would be filming him and Michelle voting. He could have done a lot to alleviate despair by walking a few blocks to that school to read to the kids before the Inauguration. Yes, I'm happy to see him promoting charter schools in his new cities, but this does seem like a belated photo-op.

[damali]

You must be joking. Are you not aware of all that the Obamas have contributed to the schools in the city of Chicago? He wasn't sitting around calling himself a community organizer and doing nothing. I swear it seems like you just want something to complain about. Well this isn't it. move on.

[Kiwuck]

At least he's doing it in his first 100 days and not waiting until the public is howling to know what he's doing, like Dubya. Did any Republican president ever help with the schools in their neighbourhood before they were president? The Obamas have both been involved in education before anyone knew who they were

[The Lorax]

Wow, how many of him do you think there are? There's just one by the way. With all he has done you have this complaint? I grew up in Hawaii and there are many problems there- he grew up there too. I am not boohooing that he did not go to schools there when he visited. His childhood was there and so probably sentimental feelings, and I am sure he'd have welcomed the opportunity, but the man is on a schedule and he does things outside his job when he can. Would you rather have a president who didn't do it at all just to "keep it fair" to everyone? With all the good he and Michelle have done why cry for this one point? Perfection is a fallacy too.

The issue of repainting was probably on the part of govt and media, not the Obamas. After reading Dreams of My Father and hearing what he's trying to do now it is obvious he's the same person he's always been and will work hard for ALL of us as he has always tried to.

[LeeB10]

As education is obviously not a priority for Repubs don't look for them to be gushing when the Obamas do something like this.

Unless it is hunting or fishing it isn't interesting to them.

[hollybork]

Adorable children. Charming Obamas. Happy chatter and childish excitement. The only thing missing was a koala bear. Cutest thing on TV in a long time. Thanks! I needed a smile.

[Kiwuck]

What delighted me was that he actually interacted with the children, unlike Dubya who sat there like a child at the dentist's with as much space between him and the kids as he could get, taking care not to make eye contact

[furiousMB]

HOORAY FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS!!!!!!

Thank you Mr. President and First Lady, for making the effort to shine a light on the contribution and enormous potential of our public charter schools! Myself and many, many others in my community have dedicated hundreds of volunteer hours to our neighborhood charter school in Baltimore City. Our school is making a huge difference in the lives of many families and are working with the rest of the public schools to elevate the quality of public education for ALL children of our great city. Learn about your local Public/Charter Schools and find out how you can lend a hand!

[yearlin]

i'm glad they did this and are visible to the DC area. i'm sure the kids were delighted and they seemed to have a good time...com­ments about Michelle's outfit are unfounded. she went to an elemntary school. what she wore was sensible.

[TazoWolf]

I've seen a lot of complaints in this thread, and most are unfounded.

1. Obama should focus all his time on the current economy crisis....
No. No person can function 100% on stress alone. I think it's wonderful that he chose to inspire school children as a way of relieving pent up tension.

2. He's here a month and already taking breaks... he's overwhelmed and needs to step down....
Again, no. This isn't a vacation. It's just getting a needed change of scenery. Any sane person would want to get away from being cooped up at the same place day after day. In any case, has anyone cared to look at Bush's vacation record, where HE'S been where everything's been turning sour? Bush logged over 800 vacation days at his Texas Ranch or Camp David by March, 2008. Do you really think Bush cared about anything he was supposed to be doing for us?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2008/03/04/BL2008030401392.html

3. Michelle has no fashion sense....
The above statement is totally irrelevant. WHO CARES what the FLOTUS wears or how she walks? She can be far more effective if she's comfortable than if she's always worrying about what people think of how she dresses et. al. As a first lady, she's setting a WONDERFUL example for the rest of the nation as a PERSON. She's not trying to be a fashion statement. Leave that to models and pop stars.

[TazoWolf]

4. If Obama wants to get out, he should visit injured soldiers or cancer patients..­..
Ummm... He HAS visited injured soldiers, and he cares a lot about patients suffering potentially terminal disease. One of his half brothers died of AIDS, for Pete's sake. And having been a patient who HAS faced potentially terminal illness and every day faces the prospect of it coming back, I have to say that I think visiting school children is just as important. I'm also a med student and have worked as a teacher. the greatest gift we can give a person is values in education. Education is important. Without education, we'd all be lost. Kids will be inspired by this, hoping he might one day visit their schools too, and wanting to impress him when he does.

5. How can he do this when his own kids are in private school?...
Another irrelevant question. Going to school raises some serious security issues for Obama's daughters. Obama's daughters need to be in an environment where they and their peers can be kept safe, for their own sake, as well as their father's..­. and that translates to the safety of the country as well. This school has hosted a large number of first kids and is well equipped for the security arrangements.

Finally... a fun video link (Bush comedy) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sdwvY9qpv8

[JZ735]

What I found most ridiculous is his claim that he HAD to get out of the White House...he­y bud, you haven't been there two weeks...an­d the White House is no prison...g­et that through your head right now...and if it is, well then the amateur hour we suspected you were from is proven true...the White House is a treasure, loved by Presidents of all stripes over our history...­it is NOT a prison, as you might be claiming it is, Obama...it is very quaint to visit school kids, and to visit parts of DC most Presidents could care less about seeing...b­ut don't belittle the White House, since you campaigned so strenuously at the cost of doing your duties as an Illinois Senator to get there...

[Joaniess]

Since we are all about books and reading at First Book, we couldn’t have been happier to see that the Obamas are all about reading, too.

So many of us know that we should read to our kids 20 minutes a day, but it is nice to see a “should do” remains a “can do” for the First Family.

When we forget the pleasure and fun of reading as an activity we lose a bit of the magic it offers. We applaud the idea that in a busy country of instantly connected networks and technologies with all too often fractured family time, one family took the time to share the simple, timeless joy of reading with kids who now have the best reason to read…even the President is doing it!

We linked to your blog post to our own at: http://blog.firstbook.org/2009/02/04/president-and-mrs-obama-read-to-dc-schoolchildren/

[PoliSci2008]

Speaking of Style...FL Michelle Obama is a warm and beautiful woman, and I kept wondering why she look so blank and drab from her other public appearances. DING: It's the absence of make-up, and on camera, it makes her look like she has no eyebrows, no eyelids and no shapely lips.

I do wish she would go back to her glam-look and a suited dress or 2-piece when she accompanies her suited-up husband. Those hoop skirts and dresses (in public) doesn't befit a woman in her position.

I wear make-up everyday to work and most weekend without any assistance from a stylist!

[jazabelz]

She's a natural beauty through and through. Glad she has enough confidence to wear whatever she feels is appropriate and comfortable. My husband always says: Beauty may be skin deep, but ugly goes through and through. Fortunately for FL Obama, she is the real deal and truly beautiful in every aspect.

[Chickiej1]

Are you for real?

Michelle Obama is an independent, strong, naturally beautiful woman who does not need you or any other insecure woman judging her beauty.

Get a life.

[ily2009]

michelle looks beatiful as always!
and those little kids are just so adorable aww...
they are so lucky they should remeber that day 4 everr!

and at the end i loved how michelle had a little girl sitting on her lap
they are the best im so happy that we have a cool president like him!
that family is just so awsomee! LOL!

[charlie1101]

Language simply MUST evolve to reflect reality.

So we really do have to start calling it "The White-Choc­olate-Hous­e".

It retains the historical and takes notice of new realities.

[obamagal]

Ah, thank you so much for your education, charlie1101. Silly me, I always thought it was called the White House because it's white.... you know, as in color.... (of the paint, chaaarlie, the color of the house, chaaarlie, not the occupants).

As I said, thanks for setting me straight.

[hortonhearsawho2]

U can tie dye the bedsheet but it's sitll a bedsheet..­.and Ur's is exceptionally stained...

[jazabelz]

I'm thrilled to have the Obamas in the White House and Barack as President, so I don't care what you call it. Your childish little racist remarks are a waste of breath!

[carolinecantoo]

Where do you people come from?

[KeepMeLearning]

You really crack yourself up, don't you?