The Obama children currently attend a private school that is one of the best so there would be no reason to change them into a public school setting. Protection aside, because they will have that anyway, I think that any parent wants the best education for their children. If they feel that private is the best way then private school it is.

It was a consideration for the Clintons, who had always sent Chelsea to public schools in Arkansas. Because public schools are on public property, they can't limit who comes onto the grounds as much as private institutions.

Since they go to private school now, why change it? Chances are I'll send my kids to private school, especially if I continue to live in NYC. How can I hate on someone else for doing what I intend to do?

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Well now... Do you think this is the do drop inn? LOL :D Haven't seen you here in these parts for a year of Sundays!!!! How might you be?

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i hear what you are saying. but my question is, was this expectation placed on the clintons or any other president elect?

since chelsea went to a public school in arkansas, that speaks to my position on the obama girls having a sense of normalcy in their lives. for chelsea public school was the norm. for the obama girls it is not.

you shouldn't hate any parent for making the choice in the best interest of their child.

on a personal note, would you mind sharing offline why you are considering private school for your child in NYC? with so many options, i would think there would be wonderful opportunities available. my best friend is dealing with finding middle schools for her niece, so i am trying to help her as best i can with viable options and reasons for and against public and private. in my experience the smarter kids had the best opportunities. i was very lucky during middle and highschool. i know times have changed, so i would love to hear your perspective :).

in this regard, i feel this is where the concerned parents at the school should have stepped in to regulate this mess. i do not know what i would have done as the teacher but im not sure if i would have allowed some child to beat up on me in that way. that was horrible! that poor teacher! i hope she pressed charges against the child and the parents.

i remember seeing that story and i was disgusted!

Educating the First Daughters....
 

There's no way that President Obama's daughters should attend anything but an extremely secure and amazing private school. Not just for their safety sake, but too, children who are born and raised around financial wealth, who tend to be exposed to the presences of entertainers and politicians, etc., would be able to handle to a greater degree, having the First Daughters as schoolmates.

They need to go to private school, especially in DC. Why shouldnt they go, because their parents are black? All the other presidents kids attend private school because their safety is at risk wherever they go, so why should the Obama kids be any different?

Well the people that I spoke with didn't base it on him being black, they were talking about how passion about issues surrounding public education.

would you mind sharing some specifics on what these folks are saying? i saw a news report about this issue but did not get a chance to see it. are there specific groups that are making the claim that the obamas should educate their children in a public school?

Public Schools v.s. Private Schools
 

We all know the issues that plague most of the public schools in our nation, and we all know that the truths of those issues won't be fixed overnight, but rather, that it will take years to correct the flaw filled
schools in our nation's cities. But the issue of keeping these girls in
a Private School setting is again, not just about their protection and or
security, but too, it's about allowing them the opportunity to learn how to compete on the highest and most impactful fields of academic strife available to them.

I think the point is being missed in this thread. The president's children have 24/7/365 Secret Service protection. They will be "safe" whatever school choice is made.

In past elections, particularly regarding candidates who have made public school/school voucher plan a key component of their campaigns, the post-election question has arisen "what will you do with your children" vis-a-vis their education, given your stance during the campaign.

To my knowledge President-elect Obama has been a strong supporter of public schools but is amenable to to the voucher concept. I don't think he made it a hardcore issue in his campaign either way, so I'd think anything beyond surface-level "criticism" for whatever choice the Obamas eventually make would be largely irrelevent anyway.

Although that is the case, the Secret Service has said in the past that it is much easier to secure children in a private school than in a public one.

I haven't seen specific groups who are addressing this issue. However, I have seen some pundits take on this issue. Also, people in general that I come in contact with are talking about it.

Basically the information that I read from the pundits was that Obama would be hypocritical for sending his children to a private school once he becomes president. As mentioned previously they have stated that he is passionate about public schools and so they feel that as president he should make a statement by sending his girls to public schools. Of course they always point to former presidents who sent their children to public schools, like Jimmy Carter. I think some of these poeple were unaware that his daughters already attend private school.

I remember it being considered a significant public statement for the Carters to send Amy to public school.

Exactly. They should send the kids wherever they believe the best place for the kids might be, and the rest of us should respect that decision.

His stance is that parents should not have to send their children to private school just to guarantee a good education. Especially since most parents cannot afford private school, even with scholarships or vouchers. A good education should not be dependent on your family finances. This is the same line of reasoning that he uses for his tuition-for-service program for college students.