Putting aside discussion over the wisdom of Pres. Barack Obama’s address to school kids and the White House’s suggested lesson plan, it’s important to remember that executive interaction and interference in public education could be much, much, much worse.

Here’s the latest from Russia, where President Medvedev has launched an initiative to standardize all textbooks, arguing that exposing students to historical debate turns young minds to kasha. Not surprisingly, as Medvedev and Putin standardize texts, the downside of Soviet life and policy is eliminated . . .