Should Mr. Obama send his daughters to public school?
 

I started ths thread because numerous heated debates have been taking place at school. So many people think that he should send his daughters to public schools in D.C. On the other hand many think that because of his high profile position that he should send his girls to private school. So I wanted to know how you all feel about this issue. I know that I think he should send them to private school.

Do they attend public school now? I think the Obamas will do whatever it takes to keeps some iota of normalcy to the girls' lives. Regardless of where they attend, secret service will always be in tow, so security probably isn't a concern.

Amy Carter ("Dynamo" to the Secret Service) attended public school. Chelsea Clinton ("Energy") attended a Quaker school.

i would think a private school would be best...public schools in DC? lets put it this way, my child isnt anywhere near as high profile as these two and i turned down a job up there so i didnt have to put her in public schools...private was too much as well. some of the private schools up there are huge, and to me they would have more in common with the other children of senators, etc. who live in the area.

If I were the Obamas I would send them to Thomson or Lafayette (public elementary schools) then send them to Sidwell Friends for seventh grade on.

Yeah Chelsea attended Sidwell Friends.

Right now the Obama girls attend a private school: University of Chicago Lab School

Some poeple think that Obama should send them to public school because of his passion about public school education. Also, many people think that if he sends his kids to public school that it will bring some attention to the deficiencies in those schools and perhaps result in the schools getting more money.

I think he should do what is best as far as security. Amy Carter went to a public school and things were fine, but I think the world is a bit more chaotic and dangerous now. Besides, it would be unfair logistically for other children and parents in the public school to be subjected to all of the security measures that will have to be in place for the girls. :)

no..
 

has this question been considered by other president's families? why should it be a consideration for the obamas.

as someone said, the girls already attend private school. personally they should continue that tradition. they should find the best school that could meet their academic needs and one that can handle some of the nuances that go with being children of politicians

the plights of the public school system can be advertised on the local and state level. the obama children should not be guinea pigs for this issue.

i agree that it would also be a nightmare for the children and parents that already attend public schools to have their children's education undermined by presence of the obama girls.

While I advocate for public school, I don't think that his girls should attend public school. How weird would it be to be on the playground with friends, surrounded by Secret Service guys? I think the security aspects would be a "distraction" to the norm of public school. I think that private schools that serves high-profile kids will help them to ease into a new way of life without seemingly being in the spotlight, any more than they will be already. Schools that serve that population, as well as the students that attend, should be used to all the pomp and circumstance.

Welp, Soror AKA2D'91 would be better able to answer this question, however IMHO, the girls need to attend a private school due to the ease in protections by secret service.

Although this is Baltimore, the thing is it's totally not right... Who can control this?

Then the Secret Service actually will find the probation violators then contact the police to arrest them. I think it is controversial for the Secret Service to serve in local law enforcement.

Rest assured, the Secret Service is going to take whatever precautations are neccessary for the protection of the girls no matter what school is chosen, so from that standpoint, their safety really isn't an issue.

Selecting a school as a political point toward Obama's education agenda is of limited political value, in my opinion. Does it look transparent? like a political ploy, particularly given the condition of the DC public schools.

The Obamas should make their choice, ride with it, and let the speculators....speculate.

Since President-Elect Barack Obama's children are currently in private school, I think they should remain in private school....that's all...;).

One of the precuations that they take is carefully choosing the best school environment that is more conducive to protective measures.

I have to agree with you RD. I work in DC public schools, and, looking at my school, it will be a huge distraction for the other students and parents, not to mention the teachers and staff.

This is the central matter. If the school they select is public, private or parochial, it should have no bearing on his policy decisions only what he and Michelle feel is right for THIER childrern as INDIVIDUALS.

Obama has never advocated disbanning public schools or freezing out private schools. He wants to make sure that each and every parent has the same choice as he and Michelle are excercising.

Ditto.

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?

[hijack]

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?

[/hijack]

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.

in the same vein, this is not just about the girls. it is about whatever school they attend. if they attend a public school, let's say in SE DC, that entire school, their staff, the parents, their children, the community will be scrutinized in ways that may do long term detriment. the obama family will be critiqued in way that will probably be perceived as unrealistic or unfair no matter what choice they make.

Parents’ Night With the President
 

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/16/fashion/16school.html

IN a town abuzz about all things Barack Obama, the policy wonks and government insiders have been whispering and wondering about who will be who in his incoming cabinet. But among power parents in the nation’s capital, there is yet another burning question.

Where will the Obama girls go to school?

Michelle Obama toured at least two of Washington’s most prestigious private schools last week — Sidwell Friends School and Georgetown Day School — and touched off a frenzy of dreaming, gossiping and well-mannered jockeying among the Washington elite. Maret School, another exclusive academy, is also believed to be on the shortlist for the future first children, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7.

Stop.

No need to tour elsewhere.

I don't know. After reading about Georgetown Day School, I think the Obamas will weigh their options.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOO

LOL

I agree.

One of my friends mentioned Madeira. Does anyone know anything about Madeira?

I graduated from a Quaker middle school and I hear great things about Sidwell Friends. I like the fact that it is so diverse. I believe it could be a great educational and social environment for their children.

I don't know much about it. It's not a bad school. One of my homies in high school transferred from there. Her words were "Them ****** are crazy and coked out!"

This was over ten years ago though. :)

:eek:

Wow