Obama Girls Opt for a Posh Private School
Reader Comments
I feel that people are being unfair to the Obamas. They said themselves that if they could, they would also send their children to better schools. It's as if they are telling them that since my children have to go to bad schools, so do yours. Also, not only are DC public schools not up to par when it comes to academics, but also, they are not that safe either. I myself graduated from Banneker High School, which is considered as one of the best schools in the DC Public School System, and I still would not reccomend the President sending his children there. Between class issues, and just plain jealousy, It would not be a smart thing for them to send theur kids to a DC public school.
First hand experience
I spent a few years in a school in the suburbs of DC (alexandria) and all i can say is the obama girls would get ate alive.
Obama girls in school
This reinforces the double standard phony baloney Obama mantra. He wants to dump millions of tax payer dollars into public schools to raise their performance, but not at the expense of HIS children going to these public institutions. Typical Democrat talking points,talking the talk, but not walking the walk. Get ready for Jimmy Carter II folks. You put him in, you deal with the fallout.
Obama's choice of School
What hypocrites you are Mr & Mrs Obama---supporting the public school system...but God forbid should you send your children there. Just goes to show Mr Obama "you only support the issue(s) until it reaches your backyard"---so don't go around supporting and promoting the public school system when YOU DO NOT BELIEVE IT ENOUGH TO SEND YOUR CHILDREN THERE!!!! Thank you
Entitled?
Somehow society (popular belief) has instilled into their head that they are "entitled" to what everyone else has. You want something, you have to work your a** off for it. There will always be barriers to your dreams and ambitions. The truelly successfull people find ways around those barriers, degree or no degree!
Barack Obama- the father!
I see that Barack Obama has taken a decision which he thinks is right. It does not matter what we think or say. As far as children are concerned it is every parents' dream to give them the best and i dont see anything unjust in that nor does it suggest an elitist approach of obama. Given a chance, every parent, rich and poor, republic and democrat, gay and straight, american and native would all give their child the best of everything. So that explains it all! And lets not forget that here we are speaking of BArack Obama- the father and not BO- the president elect!
good
I think the option is good,I support Obama,and I think this is the most safe way.That'all, thank u.
Elitism
I understand why the Obamas' are sending them to a private school saying not I agree or disagree, but please, it makes me sick when anybody refers to them as 'Washington's elite.' I thought we Americans were supposed to all be equal to one other in our government by the people for the people as Obama's socialist principles would profess. Sounds to me more like a government by the bureaucrats for the bureaucrats and the masses seem to acknowledge to this. I also understand true equality is nothing more than an ideal, however, that is not to say I don't think the law should promote it.
Private vs.public school
As a retired school teacher, I cannot fault Obama's choice.
In the highest ranking office in the USA, Obama will have many worries and decisions to make. He does not need the added worry about the quality of his girls' education.
Excellent Choice
As a product of the public elementary and junior high schools of DC, I can say that the Obamas made an excellent choice. I had the good fortune to attend one of the city's better junior high schools (for grades 8 and 9) after having spent my first year at one of the worst. I spent high school in New England, in a boarding school on full scholarship.
Most parents in DC, especially those who children would not be zoned into schools like Hardy or Deal, would gladly send their children to Sidwell Friends or any of the many excellent quality private schools in the area. For the Obamas to have subjected their children to on of the worst public school systems in the WORLD would have been for nothing other than political gain. They should be happy that, because they worked hard and achieved a level of financial comfort, they can send offer their children something that perhaps was not available to them as children--expanded opportunity.
Clearly, if the President lived in Bethesda, Chevy Chase, McLean or Potomac then maybe I would have a not look as fondly on his family's decision but the reality is that they will live in DC and the DC public school system remains, again, one of the worst in the world. Until the public school system is reformed, I applaud President-elect and Mrs. Obama for not foresaking their children's future for his own political gain.
The DC public school is getting better but it is still miles away from the quality of education even a mid-tier private school in DC can offer. If you need proof, look at the graduation rates, college matriculation data, and SAT scores of the city's best public schools (e.g., Wilson, School Without Walls, Banneker)--they are dismal even when compared to suburban schools 2-3 miles away.
This is a decision about his children and not the country. There is nothing wrong with doing your part to help the public school system in DC but not at the expense of your own children's futures.
