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Apparently Ari Fleischer was standing in the rear of the classroom (off camera) holding papers urging the President to continue and NOT to leave. This probably was because the Secret Service could not assure the President's security outside the classroom. His Secret Service detail had turned away several groups of Arabs wishing to meet him earlier in the day, and his visit to the school was public knowledge. Given the security situation, they probably felt that it was essential that the President not leave the classroom or the school until they could ensure that he would not be endangered in doing so.

"Given the security situation, they probably felt that it was essential that the President not leave the classroom or the school until they could ensure that he would not be endangered in doing so."

Given the security situation and the fact that Bush's location was known, the LAST thing he should've done when the nation was under attack was hide behind school children. He should've gotten onto AF-1 ASAP. Sorry for the tykes' hurt feelings, but we were AT WAR.

Personally, I don't think he "hid" behind schoolkids, but I think the Secret Service's allowing him to stay there was a huge mistake for the very reason that it was an unprotected elementary school. You and I both know that terrorists would happily take out American kids if it meant also taking out the President.