I hope the Obama girls go to Private School.....

[FrenchieCat]

For the sake of their safety.

Considering the after-effects of the McCain-Palin campaign,
I don't give a shit if the Media tries to bait us into calling
the Obamas elitists.

Their lives are more important than labels.

[Critters2]

1. Why would a private school be safer than a public school?

Public schools have locks on doors and security. Seriously, I don't understand this. Private schools are not prisons, they're just schools, with windows and campus walkways and other kids. I don't see the advantage.

[democrattotheend]

I know Secret Service has more control at a private school, for one thing

At a public school they can't necessarily keep the press away, because it's public property. Plus, DC public schools are unfortunately not very safe. I used to babysit for this girl whose mother was really progressive and wanted to send her to public school but just did not think it was safe.

[Critters2]

10. Bullshit. All public schools around here have STRICT rules as to who can and can't be on campus.

I know this for a fact. I've had to take things to parishioners who are teachers during the work day occasionally. At some schools, I have to call ahead, because they won't open the doors to anyone they don't know is coming. At others, I have to ring a buzzer, and they contact the person I'm there to see before opening the door to me.

Being public property doesn't mean anyone can just wander into the buildings.

[FrenchieCat]

4. One of my girls went to a private school, the other to a public school....

and there is a world of difference between the two.

Private schools are way smaller, to begin with....

Smaller means better control.

[cali]

14. it all depends-

evidently there are some good public schools they could attend, and it's simply not true that they wouldn't be safe. That said it's entirely up to their parents. Oh, and not all private schools are smaller than all public schools.

[FrenchieCat]

17. Where I come from, one doesn't get to "Pick" their public school.....

it is supposed to be more difficult than that.

Next thing we'll hear is that "strings were pulled" for the Obamas to get them into a particular Public school. Great!

[cali]

26. oh, c'mon.the MSM has NOT been oiverly critical of the Obamas

particularly over things like this. You really are being melodramatic about it. Fact: The MSM was much more negative about McCain than Obama.

[Critters2]

27. I suspect WAshington has magnet schools that the girls could get into. nt

[Hippo_Tron]

44. I think when you're the President you get to pick your kids' school

And I think Obama has made it clear that his family decisions are nobody's business.

[Coexist]

65. they have school choice here, but its mostly used to load sports teams.

[ChazII]

72. Where I live, as long as you are in the district

you can choose which school you want to attend. That being said, President-elect Obama will make the right decision. :D The freepers are the ones who will a big feal out of this.

[Critters2]

32. Then some of the change we should work toward is smaller public schools.

So all children can get a quality education. Not just the rich.

[Whoa20]

31. c'mon, a public school in DC?

I wouldn't want my kid going there. jealous kids are far more likely to try to abuse or bully them in a public school, because they are not well funded or staffed in DC, which is also why they woudln't get as good an education. The public schools could not afford the security, and have a lower socioeconomic class which means they are more likely to commit crimes/acts of malevalence.

[Critters2]

33. Right. No jealousy or bullying among the Muffies and Wellington IIIs of the world.

Gimme a break.

[Whoa20]

41. they'd be less likely to act violently

than the ghetto youth who go to DC public schools. Especially against "The President's Daughters."

[Critters2]

You're kidding yourself.

The polo set isn't violent?! :rofl:

[Sorceress]

43. "Why would a private school be safer than a public school?" I take it you are not...

quite familiar with the DC Public School system?

[MountainLaurel]

2. In DC, I'd be surprised if they didn't n/t

[panader0]

3. Agreed.

The underlying racism in this country is disgusting.

[greatauntoftriplets]

5. The Obama girls already attend a private school in Chicago....

The University of Chicago Laboratory School. I imagine that they will attend a private school in Washington, DC.

[FrenchieCat]

8. I'm speaking more about the anticipated criticism that the Obamas

will get for choosing Private...which has the media's mouth watering.

I am saying that I would prefer private as well.....

[treestar]

6. They should go wherever their parents think is best for their education

Wherever they go, the SS will protect them.

[Top Cat]

7. I agree Frenchie

[vanderBeth]

9. I agree

I believe it would be the wiser decision rather than the a DC school.

[Critters2]

12. Right. Only poor children should go to those schools.

:eyes:

[FrenchieCat]

21. It has nothing to do with money....

It has something to do with safety.

But I have already heard your opinion on this....
and I thank you for it.

.

[vanderBeth]

25. Where did I say that?

I don't know why they should be forced to go to the public schools. It will be safer for them and they already have attended private school. It's the decision of the parents and I think they'll do what's best for their children.

[Coexist]

11. I know Amy Carter went to public DC schools, did Chelsea Clinton?

[Critters2]

13. No, she went to a hoity-toity private school. Sidwell Friends Academy.

One of those places that has a headmaster, rather than the very pedestrian "principal".

[Scooter24]

16. Sidwell is an excellent school...

I fail to see what the problem is here?

[cali]

18. There's nothing intrinsically wrong with private schools, and the sad

truth is that the education at Cathedral or Sidwell is better than at most public schools.

[Coexist]

19. is that where most DC pols kids go?

[Critters2]

34. What difference would that make? I thought he was going to change

what most pols do.

[GarbagemanLB]

35. yep. He's going to stick with the 'change' message at the expense of his daughter's safety.

:eyes:

[Critters2]

36. Again, there's no reason to believe public schools are less safe than private ones.

Public schools have safety procedures, and the SS will be there, no matter where they go. Are you saying it's inherently more dangerous to be around working class kids?

[GarbagemanLB]

40. Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. The people who go to public schools are low-lifes.

Jesus christ. :silly:

[vanderBeth]

56. Oddly enough, this person has no problems labeling private schools and their students.

I see "hoity-toity" used and they like to imagine that all private school students have a roman numeral after their name and play polo.

[Coexist]

38. I was just curious, thats all

personally, I don't care for some of the derogatory comments on public schools I am seeing. Good hardworking Americans have no choice but to send their kids to these public schools. To say they're not good enough for Obama's kids doesn't sit well with me. Michelle and Barack can afford to hire the best tutors to supplement their children's education if they need to.

That said, the choice is a personal one best left to the two of them, not us.

[Critters2]

42. My points exactly.

I went through 16 years of public education. And I'm surprisingly literate.

[Coexist]

50. I've found that a person's natural intelligence will come out, whatever the environment

I have friends who pay $7,000 per year for private schools, their kids SAT scores are the same as mine. Another friend, public school only, only got one question wrong on the math portion of the SAT, and he knows which one it is.

So, cash for education is no guarantee.

[Critters2]

52. I maxed the Miller Analogies test. After only public ed through college.

I think I did okay.

[gblady]

73. the cash for education bit....

may be correct....
but I totally disagree with the person's intelligence
will come out whatever the enviroment...

the environment matters greatly! IMHO

[Double T]

15. The Obama girls will ALWAYS be surrounded by Secret Service Agents and Infrastructure.

Doesn't get much safer than that.

[JoFerret]

20. Georgetown Day School

is the word.

[Critters2]

29. How disappointing. nt

[JoFerret]

55. You wanted Sidwell Friends?

.

[Critters2]

57. Yeah. God forbid they should go to public school. nt

[Scooter24]

22. I think they will enroll the girls in a private school

I believe they already attend a prestigious school in Chicago already, so this will just be a continuation.

I'm a firm believer in a private education, so I support them 100%.

[JoFerret]

76. OF COURSE they will

no doubt.
Obama attended one.
The kids were in one in Chicago.
Don't even think for one second they are not going to an independent school

[Joe Chi Minh]

23. If your public schools are anything like our government run schools in the UK

these past 28 years, they will get an inferior education in a public school in the US, and their parents will have many more worries than if they sent them to a private school. That is the reality of the world we live in.

What is unconscionable is that the so-called Labour Party, or New Labour as they used to liked to call themselves, have themselves played such a major role in following Thatcher's example of increasingly underfunding education across the board. When THEY send their children to private schools, well, they can hardly expect our understanding and sympathy in "wanting the best for their children".

[gravity]

24. For the sake of their education

Obama shouldn't use his kids as political props, and do what is best for their future.

[Critters2]

28. What he should do is work to improve education for all children,

so he doesn't have to worry about the quality of education his girls will get in a public school. Most of his constituents have little to no choice about these things.

[gravity]

46. If you willing to send your kids to an inferior school, then go ahead

There are many good public school systems out there, but DC isn't one of them. Everyone who has the means, will move to a good school district or send their children to private school.

Obama should do his best to fix the public school system, but it ain't an easy tasks to do and his children shouldn't have to suffer as a result of it.

[Critters2]

49. Right. Only poor children should have to deal with public schools.

That's damn progressive of you.

[gravity]

63. What is your solution to fixing failing public schools?

I would like there to be good public schools everywhere, and we should do what it takes to make that a reality, but the problem is easier said than done.

In the mean time, Obama's kids should go to a place that offers a good education

[elocs]

30. I don't understand how anyone could rationally argue that there are no security or control issues

between public and private schools.

In my city of 50,000 there are many parents who sacrifice to send their children to private schools for a better education and for their better control and discipline. It's a matter of choice and we Democrats are rather in favor of choice, are we not?

Certainly not all can afford private schools, but does that mean that those who can should be denied the choice? As has been said, the Obama girls already attend a private school so there is no reason they should not continue. Given their father's position as leader of the free world if there is even a slight increased risk to these girls it is not worth it.

[sniffa]

37. Private schools have the best drugs

Oh, and more bullies.

[Critters2]

39. That's what I've heard....on both counts. The upper crust produces

some really impressive bullies. Who go on to become members of Congress.

[bicentennial_baby]

45. Ahem, some of us who are not "upper crust" are the product

of private education, such as me. Private school from grades 2-12. Ever heard of financial aid?

[Coexist]

47. I attended both

a private Catholic all girls high school for one year and pubic for three.

Private schools had more expensive drugs (cocaine) than public (pot), more cliques/social strata, but my reading list was more sophisticated there than at public school.

I mixed with more races/economic levels/educational ability in public school, which helped me grow as a person.

my .02.

My kids go to public school.

[sniffa]

54. I went to both as well

Pretty good round up on your end. I went to high school at a mixed Catholic school.

[Coexist]

67. I actually like public school more

we had to wear the most embarassing gym "uniforms", and and blue polyester skirts (long, not the cute short ones you see on tv), crepe soled shoes, and nuns are NOT the best teachers. In fact, many are pretty bad at it. I went from getting a perfect 100 on the Regents algebra test to a 79 on the Geometry. It recovered to a 94 on Trig back at public school. Although I did enjoy the required reading much more. I love to read and in my public school it was pretty lame stuff.

[provis99]

53. private schools are havens for ex-cons, drugs, and violent psychopaths

At least where I'm from. The idea is to take the problem kids, who've been kicked out of every public school, and ship them off to military academy or private school. Hence, the worst kids congregate at private schools, and the public schools are safe.

I don't know where these commentators above get their idea that private schools are "better" or "safer"; probably all DINOs who live in gated communities, too.

[BklynChick]

48. I'm worried about them too and I agree!

[Critters2]

51. Yep. Lots of murderers wandering the halls of public schools.

That's why the majority of American children attend them.

[BklynChick]

58. my daughter goes to public school in NYC, i don't have issues with public schools at all.

my husband is a nyc public high school teacher. but they can be watched way more closely in a small setting. I'm worried about their safety not from other kids but from those who may want to do them harm.

[Critters2]

59. All schools these days have safety and security procedures,

and they'll have SS with them at all times.

[TeamJordan23]

60. meanwhile, Bristol Palin and her future Husband are enjoying being HS dropouts. nm

[mamalone]

61. Personally, I'd love to see them homeschooled.

But I'm sure that suggestion will be about as popular around here as... oh say, Palin for SOS.;)

[Coexist]

62. can Michelle school them at Olive Garden while breastfeeding?

[mamalone]

66. hmmmmmmmmmm .....................

I'm scratching my head here trying to figure out what exactly you mean! :shrug:

[Coexist]

69. other controversial topics, like homeschooling

don't make me mention circumcision or vegetarianism.

[mamalone]

70. Ahah!

Sometimes I am a bit slow on the uptake I guess! :blush:

Thanks for enlightening me..:)

[vanderBeth]

64. Okay, when I first saw this discussion. that's what I thought

I'm sure it'll be too difficult, but thought it would be cool. :)

It's the Obamas' decision and I'm sure they'll make whatever is the best for the girls.

[mamalone]

68. It would be cool wouldn't it?

We homeschool and it is so great for the kids. Whatever the Obama's decide to do, I'm sure it will be the best choice for their family. It gives me such joy to see parents so actively focused on their kids!

[Athens30603]

77. Well, I'll back ya on this. n/t

[mamalone]

79. Thanks!

Backing appreciated! :hi:

[Zombie2]

71. It shouldn't be anyones business....

Sounds like a private matter between the Obama's and the Secret Service.

Try not to worry about it.

[ChazII]

74. Homeschooling is an option. n/t

[mamalone]

75. I think that would be so wonderful for the girls...

It'll never happen, but they'd do so well!:)

[JoFerret]

78. They were going to be enrolled in independent school anyway

No need to twist yourself into a pretzel to justify it on safety grounds. Yes Palin inexcusably added to the lunacy without a doubt.
But the outcome re the schools was settled way before that. The only question is which school. And in this economy you know they are all vying for it.

"Michelle" does that remember. Makes the school choice I mean. GDS seems pretty confident.