Public Schools? Sure, just not for Obama's kids.

[Cold_Zero]

Apparently, the Obamas picked Sidewell Friends School for their two little girls. I guess I am irate after reading AP's story on the matter that the Obamas do not send their kids to Public Schools! I mean I opened up the Advocate (NEA's magazine sent to members) and saw Obama on the cover and all the editorials during this campaign season why Obama is good for Public Education. And before you libs attack me because DC schools suck (everyone knows that), the Obamas currently send their children to University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. An elite private school. Give me a break. Would it be too much to ask politicians to walk the talk?

Michelle Obama went to public schools on Chicago's South Side, and understands the importance of strong public schools, Lelyveld said, and the administration plans to work hard on that issue.

Well you had to put the past part in just to make sure you cover all your bases. When will the NEA and the local teachers' unions call the Politicians, who do not send their kids to public schools, out on this ****? Pathetic.

I do have to give Jimmy Carter props. He actually did send his kids to Public Schools while in the Oval Office.bud

[Cold_Zero]

The entire article so that people don't think I made this **** up.

Obamas choose private Sidwell Friends School

WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama and his wife have chosen Sidwell Friends School for their two daughters, opting for a private institution that another White House child, Chelsea Clinton, attended a decade ago.

"A number of great schools were considered," said Katie McCormick Lelyveld, a spokeswoman for Michelle Obama. "In the end, the Obamas selected the school that was the best fit for what their daughters need right now."

She said Sidwell can provide the security and privacy that Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, will need as part of the new first family and Sidwell can help with that. She also said that Sasha and Malia had become good friends with Vice President-elect Joe Biden's grandchildren, who go to the school.

Sidwell is a private Quaker school with a campus in northwest Washington for grades 5-12 and another in suburban Bethesda, Md., for kindergarten through fourth grade. Malia is in fifth grade and Sasha is in second grade, suggesting that the girls would attend schools at different locations.

Michelle Obama and her daughters visited Sidwell and another elite private school, Georgetown Day, earlier this week. The soon-to-be first lady visited both schools last week, without her daughters.

Lelyveld said that while public schools were considered, the Obamas felt that a private school was in the best interest of their children. The two girls currently attend the private University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, where Michelle Obama is on the board.

Michelle Obama went to public schools on Chicago's South Side, and understands the importance of strong public schools, Lelyveld said, and the administration plans to work hard on that issue.

Jimmy Carter's daughter, Amy, went to a public school, but Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton chose Sidwell for Chelsea. Hillary Clinton later said she received "unfortunately, good advice" that the press would bother Chelsea if she attended public school.

Sidwell Friends has already proven protective of the Obamas' privacy, refusing earlier this week to say whether the girls had visited the school after a motorcade was seen outside.

Messages left with school administrators on Friday were not immediately returned. A woman who answered the phone at the home of Bruce Stewart, Sidwell's head of school, said he was not home. But she said the school would not release a statement before Monday.

Al Gore III, the son of former Vice President Al Gore, also attended Sidwell, where tuition is $28,442 at the lower school and $29,442 at the middle and upper schools.

The quality of the school and its extra security make Sidwell Friends a good choice, said Letitia Baldrige, who was Jackie Kennedy's social secretary and chief of staff during the Kennedy administration. Caroline Kennedy attended first grade in a makeshift third-floor classroom inside the White House.

"The children are under enormous pressure from the press and their fellow students and especially the mommies of their fellow students," who are eager for their children to attend sleepovers, Baldrige said.

"I'm sure they'll both be athletically inclined and play on all the sports teams, and they'll have a lot of fun," Baldrige said. "But it won't be easy."

Rob Lippincott, a member of the board of trustees at Sidwell, where his daughter is a high school senior, said he could not confirm whether the Obama girls had chosen the school. But he said if so, students and parents will be excited.

"We're obviously delighted if that is the case. I have not heard anything officially," said Lippincott, senior vice president for education at PBS. "I'm certainly aware they came and visited. From everything I understand, they'd be a great addition to the school."

[audtatious]

Dude....Didn't you know that Politicians are too high and mighty for us common folk? That's why they know what should be in place for "us".

[themadscientist]

I would like to see politians do as they say for a change but on this issue I don't have a problem. I think most people given the means would send their kids to a private school; I would. I think what the annointed one does to improve public schools (if he does do anything) is more important than whether his kids go to one.

[Cold_Zero]

I would rather send my kid to Prison than to DC Public Schools. That is not the point. This is typical with Democrats and was evident with the Obamanistas attacking John McCain for having too many houses, being rich and unable to relate to the common man in this Economic Crisis. All the while that Biden and the Obamas were RICH too! More Democrats that are rich come from Old Money (aka they didn't work hard for their money, they were born into it). But which Party sells the image of being for the working man and the lower classes? The Democrats.

Democrats are Pro Union and Pro Public Education and Anti Vouchers, yet they apparently are the ones in Chicago sending their kids to elite Private Schools.

[audtatious]

Which party has people thinking they were the party for Civil Liberty of minorities?

[themadscientist]

I would rather send my kid to Prison than to DC Public Schools. That is not the point. This is typical with Democrats and was evident with the Obamanistas attacking John McCain for having too many houses, being rich and unable to relate to the common man in this Economic Crisis. All the while that Biden and the Obamas were RICH too! More Democrats that are rich come from Old Money (aka they didn't work hard for their money, they were born into it). But which Party sells the image of being for the working man and the lower classes? The Democrats.

Democrats are Pro Union and Pro Public Education and Anti Vouchers, yet they apparently are the ones in Chicago sending their kids to elite Private Schools.

You are preaching to the chior, I get that and it pisses me off too. That being said, as I am sure you would agree, people have to take responsibility for their own actions. Are the Dems full of it? Of course they are. Can they hide it to any truly objective person who makes informed decisions, no.

So we must deduce that the real problem is not that dems, really most all politicans, are hypocrits, but rather a stunning majority of the electoral is ignorant and either does not care or more likely refuses to acknowledge the fact.

The true problem is not the lying politicians but the people who choose to delude themselves when they vote for the same BS in a new wrapper.

The sayingFool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on mecomes to mind

[Cold_Zero]

You are preaching to the chior,

So we must deduce that the real problem is not that dems, really most all politicans, are hypocrits, but rather a stunning majority of the electoral is ignorant and either does not care or more likely refuses to acknowledge the fact.

The true problem is not the lying politicians but the people who choose to delude themselves when they vote for the same BS in a new wrapper.

Can I get an amen from the Choir? Very well said..

[hannibal]

I would like to see politians do as they say for a change but on this issue I don't have a problem. I think most people given the means would send their kids to a private school; I would. I think what the annointed one does to improve public schools (if he does do anything) is more important than whether his kids go to one.

Most parents provide their children with the best education they can afford. The Obamas can afford a much better education for their children than DC public schools provide. So they choose that better education. Seems simple to me.

This doesnt imply that Obama doenst recognize public schools have problems and should be improved. Its important to recognize that the majority of parents dont have the choices that he has. The solution isnt to provide public money for children to go to private schools (socialism!!! havent gotten to use that one before). Its to improve the public schools or allow all children to attend these great private shcools, essentailly turning them into public schools.

I cant believe you'd give a president slack for not sending his kids to public school in DC.

Quote from the article "She said Sidwell can provide the security and privacy that Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, will need as part of the new first family and Sidwell can help with that".

Isnt that a very important issue for the president to consider?!? I doubt the metal detectors and resource officers in DC public schools could accomplish this.

All the while that Biden and the Obamas were RICH too! More Democrats that are rich come from Old Money (aka they didn't work hard for their money, they were born into it). But which Party sells the image of being for the working man and the lower classes? The Democrats.

Dont know where you got these 'facts' from, but its clear this has nothing to do with the Obamas and you know that. They are the opposite of Republicians such as Dubya that were born into money.

Props to Jimmy Carter for sending his kids to public school. Probably the last president to do so, as I imagine the schools were a bit better 30 years ago.

[themadscientist]

I hope some serious effort is put into improving our schools. I cannot fathom how government has ignored the deplorable state of public education. Kids are the future, they should be surrounded with knowledge and guidance so they can grow into great adults. Kids these days are pretty messed up but when you see what they grow up around it makes sense why.

[audtatious]

But who decides? Take things back to really teaching math, English and such or do we progress forward with more detailed sex-ed, Spanish and diversity?

[themadscientist]

I hate the way libs have hijacked the word "progress". Spending time that should be devoted to learning english to teach everyone else to speak spanish is ridiculous. LEARN ENGLISH! I want my kid to learn math and science, not how to put on a condom and why timmy has "two daddies".

[hannibal]

Seriously, I dont want anyone explaining homosexuality to my kid but me. At least I'll get to do it first. They dont teach sex ed in elementary yet, do they??

Of course kids should learn ENglish. But realize it can be a more difficult if your parents dont speak it and its not your first language. But we have some good ESL programs and I think they should continue.

But there is nothing wrong with learning another language. Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, I dont care what it is, its good for people to know. The way I see it, thats just more people in the world that someone can communicate with. I have no problem adding curiculum for kids as long as the fundations arent compromised.

The one thing CZ and I can agree on is that public schools need some work...

[themadscientist]

Let's see, I took the paenis, and uh. What the hell did I do with that thing?

[Cold_Zero]

Quote from the article "She said Sidwell can provide the security and privacy that Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, will need as part of the new first family and Sidwell can help with that".

Isnt that a very important issue for the president to consider?!? I doubt the metal detectors and resource officers in DC public schools could accomplish this.

As I indicated in my response to TMS, it was a minor issue that the Obama, now that Barack is President, is sending his kid to private elite school. What annoyed me more is the fact that while in Chicago, they never sent their kids to public schools. Yet Obama and his fellow Democrats take the NEA's lobby money, suck up to the Unions and claim to be the protectors of Public Education. Yeah it does annoy me that not everyone walks the talk. Especially on an issue that is important to me.

Quote »Dont know where you got these 'facts' from, but its clear this has nothing to do with the Obamas and you know that. They are the opposite of Republicians such as Dubya that were born into money.[/quote]I said more democrats get their money from 'Old Money'. And with this point I was not referring so much about the Obamas, that are self made millionaires, but the Democrat Party as a whole. And their monopoly on the claim that they are the only part that can understand, represent and fight for the middle, lower and working classes. That is all.

Quote »Props to Jimmy Carter for sending his kids to public school. Probably the last president to do so, as I imagine the schools were a bit better 30 years ago.[/quote]I wouldn't be so sure. But my Cub Scouts den leader was a Treasury Agent who protected Amy Carter. I don't remember, as a kid, him describing DC Schools in any of his stories.

Quote »The one thing CZ and I can agree on is that public schools need some work...[/quote]

Agreed. Public Schools do need a lot of work. Having a lot of teachers in my family and knowing the impact that Public Education has on society and our local communities, makes this a very important issue to me. But do you think of more local, State and Federal politicians sent their kids to public schools, do you think things would change from the government side of things for the better? That would be a novel concept.bud

[audtatious]

Seriously, I dont want anyone explaining homosexuality to my kid but me. At least I'll get to do it first. They dont teach sex ed in elementary yet, do they??

But you may explain it in a non-PC way or a way in which those running the schools don't agree with so they MUST take it upon their shoulders to correct your wrong.

Dinja no that?

[themadscientist]

My kids might get home schooled.

[480sx]

NOVA public schools were O.K. I would have rather gone to them than some private school honestly. The mix of so so education with 'real world' people beats a 'good' education with private school kids. IMO school is equally important not only to learn math+english, but also socialization. I wouldnt think that private school kids would give a kid a good idea of how real world people are. Just my 2c.

You guys are kinda missing a large point in all of this though. Obamas kids are going to be targets. Targets of racists, and targets of terrorists among other things. Its much easier to contain and keep a smaller private school safe than it would be a public school. Smaller population, much different crowd, easier to run background checks on parents and students with financial histories, ect.

If you were a wartime president in a fvked up world where most of the people in it hated your country, would you let your children attend public school?

[Jesda]

The only "life" lesson I learned from my public education was that people are idiots. I had a few great teachers though (among some awful ones).

[ishkabibble]

D.C. public schools can't even get their air conditioning working, never mind be able to provide a secure environment for the President's daughters.

[Cold_Zero]

Ish, DC schools don't even have locking entrance doors in some schools. That is not the point..

Though it does kind of remind me of Chicago Mayor Byrne's stay in Cabrini-Green. What a fiasco.

[480sx]

The only "life" lesson I learned from my public education was that people are idiots. I had a few great teachers though (among some awful ones).

If you went to a private school you might have missed this valuable lesson and the coping skills to go with it. I too had some great teachers, more good than bad i have to say.

[audtatious]

We need old women dressed in black with rulers again. They sure got a students attention in school

[marlin29311]

We need old women dressed in black with rulers again. They sure got a students attention in school

Too bad that would constitue violence and harassment in the school. That's certianly not coming back...

Seriously, I dont want anyone explaining homosexuality to my kid but me. At least I'll get to do it first. They dont teach sex ed in elementary yet, do they??

We learned about sex in 4th grade. +1 for explaining to a 9 year old why his d!ck gets hard.

[smockers83]

I don't understand what the big deal is here. You think that sending your kids to private schools means you can't fix the public schools? If you have a means to give your child a better education in a private school, wouldn't you do it as well? Who cares if they went to a private school or not as long as he gets the work done? Stop nitpicking everything.

The public system has its good teachers, they're just in the rich areas of the public system, that's all. You can go to an upscale public school that has lots of money and get a great education. Why? Because the money is there and attracts the good teachers.

[HashiriyaS14]

DC public schools are, by and large, awful.

I think Carter was the last President from either party to send kids to a DC public school.

I wouldn't send MY kids there, so why should he send his? You can bet that W wouldn't have sent the twins there, Chelsea Clinton didn't go either.

This is a very silly gripe. DC has a uniquely awful school system and he's trying to do right by his daughters. You'd do the same thing.

If he could send them to a Northern Virginia or Montgomery County MD school, that'd be a different story, as they have some of the best public schools in the country.

[C-Kwik]

Not that I care about this topic either way, but one could interpret this as B.O. wouldn't send his own kids to these schools. So they MUST need fixing...just saying...

[dusred]

I'll chime in here.

No rich person is going to send their children to Public Schools. Before Public Schools were even junk like they are now rich people always sent their children to Private Schools. Why? Because you have much more clout of what your children lean and you can raise them how you want.

Obama has every right to send his children to Private Schools. . . in fact I would think that anyone who has the means and still sends their children to Public Schools doesn't love their children as much as they should (just my opinion).

[HashiriyaS14]

No rich person is going to send their children to Public Schools.

I'll chime in that this isn't necessarily true everywhere.

The top 100 public schools in the country (of which maybe 10-15 are located in the DC Metro Area) are arguably better than all but the very finest private schools. The rest of the 100 tend to be clustered in California, New York, and a couple other spots.

A kid probably has a better chance of getting into an Ivy League school from a top Montgomery County MD public high school than they do from any of the private schools in the same area.

That said, this is definitely the exception for most of America. In most of the country, DC included, private schools tend to be a little better. In DC, they're much much much better.

As good as Sidwell is, a 3.8 from the public high school that I attended (Bethesda Chevy-Chase) is probably more meaningful to colleges than a 3.8 from Sidwell.

[480sx]

in fact I would think that anyone who has the means and still sends their children to Public Schools doesn't love their children as much as they should (just my opinion).

I'll chime in that this isn't necessarily true everywhere.

The top 100 public schools in the country (of which maybe 10-15 are located in the DC Metro Area) are arguably better than all but the very finest private schools. The rest of the 100 tend to be clustered in California, New York, and a couple other spots.

A kid probably has a better chance of getting into an Ivy League school from a top Montgomery County MD public high school than they do from any of the private schools in the same area.

That said, this is definitely the exception for most of America. In most of the country, DC included, private schools tend to be a little better. In DC, they're much much much better.

As good as Sidwell is, a 3.8 from the public high school that I attended (Bethesda Chevy-Chase) is probably more meaningful to colleges than a 3.8 from Sidwell.

YEP. I knew lots of rich kids that went to public school. Seriously, like i said earlier my public school in NOVA was actually top notch(as far as public schools go.. Im not going to get into what i think about that ). I seriously cant see how you would get a better education in some private school. Theres a lot more to an education than reading, writing, facts and numbers.

There was only one teacher i ever had that i would call useless, ineffective and huge-eared. We made him quit(or maybe he got fired? idk) before the new year hit.

Hash is right about the college acceptance as well. The acceptance board is going to bust your balls if you come from a rich private school. However if you pull a 4.0 in public and your SATs are good, your pretty much guaranteed admittance to just about anywhere. 4.0 in a private school isnt nearly as meaningful.

But again.. Going back to the main issue here. BO's kids would never be safe in any public school. Its just not feasible at all.