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President Obama is telling tales out of school.

As he promoted administration education goals today, Mr. Obama uncharacteristically departed from his prepared text to share details of a First Family situation.

He told a Madison, Wisconsin school audience that his 11-year-old daughter Malia recently "became depressed" after scoring a 73 on a sixth grade science test. According to the president, that was disappointing news in a household where "our goal is 90 percent and up" on school tests.

He went into surprising detail as he recounted his daughter's complaint that the test differed from the class study guide. The president told the audience of parents, students and teachers that Malia was determined to improve. After changing her study habits she scored a 95 on the next science exam. He quoted Malia as saying, "I like having knowledge." The audience applauded the accomplishment.

The president told the crowd, "In our household with the privileges and opportunities we have, there are times when the kids slack off" and watch TV or play computer games. He said, "Part of our job as parents is not just to tell the kids what to do, but to instill in them a sense that they want to do it themselves."

He discussed the family issue to make the point that "parents must set a high bar in the household."

For the president, it was a rare public description of life in the White House family quarters. The White House Press Office and the First Lady's staff are justifiably fiercely protective of the Obama girls' privacy, so it was all the more surprising to hear the president's detailed account of Malia's study habits. Reporters were left to wonder if the president would tell Malia that he told the world about her science lesson.

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Peter Maer is a CBS News White House correspondent. You can read more of his posts in Hotsheet here.

First Lady Michelle Obama's office said Tuesday that Malia and Sasha Obama have received the vaccine for the H1N1 flu, otherwise known as swine flu.

A spokeswoman for Michelle Obama, Katie McCormick Lelyveld, tells the Associated Press that Sasha, age 8, and Malia, age 11, got the shot from a White House doctor last week after it became available to schoolchildren in the Washington area.

President and Michelle Obama are going to wait to get the H1N1 shot until members of higher priority groups have received their shots. The whole family, however, has gotten the seasonal flu shot.

CBSNews.com Special Report: H1N1

First Lady Michelle Obama is seen as a fashion plate by some, and J. Crew is angling for the first daughters to follow in her footsteps.

A number of media outlets have reported on the stylish J. Crew trench coats and ballet flat shoes Sasha and Malia Obama wore upon arriving in Moscow on Monday. The Politico points out that J. Crew sent reporters a press release helpfully providing the details, such as prices and style numbers, of their outfits.

"The Obama Girls Bring Some American Style to Moscow," the release was titled.

It is no secret Michelle Obama is a fan of the brand, and the company has leveraged her praise with ads that read, "First Lady of Style: Get Looks Like Those Worn by Michelle Obama."

The Obama daughters made popular the J. Crew coats they wore on Inaurguration Day in January, though their parents have tried to keep the girls generally out of the spotlight.

The toy company Ty Inc. decided to re-name the Beanie Babies it dubbed "Marvelous Malia" and "Sweet Sasha" after Michelle Obama said it was inappropriate for the company to exploit her daughters' names. The company has managed, though to keep one Obama Beanie Baby on the market-- "Beanie Bo," named after the family dog.

J. Crew told Politico that the White House did no pre-approve its press release marketing the Obama girls' Moscow attire.

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When Barack Obama declared his candidacy for president, he knew he had to fix a brewing economic crisis, confront war zones around the world and restore the nation's sagging reputation.

But apparently those were not the driving forces behind his White House run. That distinction goes to his daughters.

In an open letter to Sasha and Malia Obama, the president-elect declared: "I ran for President… because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation."

In the letter published in Parade Magazine, Mr. Obama tells his daughter that he knows life was hard for them while he was away on the campaign trail and that he wanted to explain why he wanted to "take our family on this journey."

"I thought life was all about me-about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want," he writes "But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn't seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours."

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Sasha and Malia Obama may be the most anticipated arrivals at DC's elite Sidwell Friends School, but the future first girls looked like regular students readying for their first day this morning.

The girls said goodbye to their parents in their Hay Adams hotel suite earlier this morning and from pictures provided by the Obama Transition Office everyone seemed excited.

Wearing backpacks and winter coats the girls got loving from the future president and first lady.

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