US President Barack Obama (pictured above) told American schoolchildren yesterday to work hard in order to fulfil their responsibilities to themselves and their country, in a speech criticised in advance for being too political and prompting conservative calls for parents and schools to boycott the address. “I expect great things from each of you. So don’t let us down – don’t let your family or your country down. Make us all proud. I know you can do it,” the President said. Despite Republican reservations Obama received some support from the former First Lady Laura Bush, the wife of Obama’s predecessor George W Bush, who said she supported his decision to address schoolchildren. She should know – she’s had to deal with an overgrown child all her married life.