homeschoolmom Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 [url="http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/us_world/Obama-Family-Chooses-Sidwell-Friends-School.html"]http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/us_world/Ob...nds-School.html[/url] Obama Family Chooses Sidwell Friends School Sidwell picked over Georgetown Day School The Obama family has picked Sidwell Friends School for their daughters' education. 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. Obama Kids Will Attend Sidwell Friends School View Gallery Obama drops his kids off at school in Chicago. The family has decided on a new school in Washington. "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 undestands 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." Copyright Associated Press / NBC New York Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galloglasses' Alt Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 (edited) TL;DR for those of us not in the mood for reading articles today, please. What's important about this? Edited November 24, 2008 by Galloglasses' Alt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
princessgianna Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 yea so their daughter is getting some spiffy private education while Obama then makes everyone else go to a public school that the government can indoctrinate i mean er teach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fidei Defensor Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 [quote name='princessgianna' post='1710356' date='Nov 24 2008, 11:53 PM']yea so their daughter is getting some spiffy private education while Obama then makes everyone else go to a public school that the government can indoctrinate i mean er teach.[/quote] Except, you know, that option you have to go to a private school or home school your children Of course, since conspiracy theories seem to be all the rage around here, I'm sure Obama will develop some kind of mind control device so all children will be brainwashed, despite the type of education they receive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vincent Vega Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 [quote name='fidei defensor' post='1710363' date='Nov 25 2008, 02:07 AM']Except, you know, that option you have to go to a private school or home school your children Of course, since conspiracy theories seem to be all the rage around here, I'm sure Obama will develop some kind of mind control device so all children will be brainwashed, despite the type of education they receive.[/quote] Gotta say, I agree with the FD here. Obama's not [i]making[/i] anyone go anywhere. People are free to homeschool/private school/public school their kids as they so please. I'm sure all of the Washington types make enough to send their children to private school, so why not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmom Posted November 25, 2008 Author Share Posted November 25, 2008 I have no problem whatsoever with Obama's girls going to Sidwell... other than the fact that many, many people do NOT have the choice to send their kids to private schools. To say that Obama is not MAKING anyone send their kids to crappy schools is a little off. Many people are not free to choose to homeschool or send their kids to a private school. In many places around the country the notion of "school choice" is a joke. I'm sure all the senators, members of congress, their staffs, aides, the media etc in Washington, DC do send their kids to private schools. What about the poor in the District who have no choice? I tried to get a clear understanding of his position on school choice/vouchers, but everything I read was wishy-washy and unclear. If he toes the NEA line, he is against vouchers, against homeschooling (unless the parents are certified and use gov't curriculum) and against school choice. Therefore, he is in favor of the continuation of the government monopoly on education unless you are rich enough to opt out. Some change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
princessgianna Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 (edited) Coming from a homeschooling family,this has been our experience democrats have never said anything against homeschooling but they refuse to give their opinion on the matter and if they are for homeschooling then they want to make it that you have to use their books and get tested and have all these other higher expectations (than the public school) so the government still has control and it is harder to home school- and so far the republicans it's pretty cool! So I am just a little worried about losing the right to be home schooled. But i also realize that there is not a big chance that Obama will do anything to do that! I though will be carefully watching sorry is this going off topic? Pax~ Edited November 25, 2008 by princessgianna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bone _ Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 [quote name='princessgianna' post='1710620' date='Nov 25 2008, 08:21 AM']Coming from a homeschooling family,this has been our experience democrats have never said anything against homeschooling but they refuse to give their opinion on the matter and if they are for homeschooling then they want to make it that you have to use their books and get tested and have all these other higher expectations (than the public school) so the government still has control and it is harder to home school- and so far the republicans it's pretty cool! So I am just a little worried about losing the right to be home schooled. But i also realize that there is not a big chance that Obama will do anything to do that! I though will be carefully watching sorry is this going off topic? Pax~[/quote] Perhaps using government approved books would teach you about run-on sentences? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fidei Defensor Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 [quote name='homeschoolmom' post='1710600' date='Nov 25 2008, 07:37 AM']I have no problem whatsoever with Obama's girls going to Sidwell... other than the fact that many, many people do NOT have the choice to send their kids to private schools. To say that Obama is not MAKING anyone send their kids to crappy schools is a little off. Many people are not free to choose to homeschool or send their kids to a private school. In many places around the country the notion of "school choice" is a joke. I'm sure all the senators, members of congress, their staffs, aides, the media etc in Washington, DC do send their kids to private schools. What about the poor in the District who have no choice? I tried to get a clear understanding of his position on school choice/vouchers, but everything I read was wishy-washy and unclear. If he toes the NEA line, he is against vouchers, against homeschooling (unless the parents are certified and use gov't curriculum) and against school choice. Therefore, he is in favor of the continuation of the government monopoly on education unless you are rich enough to opt out. Some change.[/quote] I agree with you, here. Something needs to be done with education. It's been a black hole for years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kujo Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 Ugh....who cares? Is it "elitist" that Obama's daughters will attend a private school? Would we be bitter if a Republican had made the same choice? Petty... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmom Posted November 25, 2008 Author Share Posted November 25, 2008 [quote name='kujo' post='1710670' date='Nov 25 2008, 11:13 AM']Ugh....who cares? Is it "elitist" that Obama's daughters will attend a private school? Would we be bitter if a Republican had made the same choice? Petty...[/quote] No, it's not petty. It should not be seen as elitist for Obama's kids to go to a private school. If everyone had the opportunity to go where they chose then it would not be seen as anything other than "normal." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bone _ Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 If a politician, like Obama, says that the public schools are "good enough" for the little guys, then s/he should send their kids there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkwright Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 [quote name='T-Bone _' post='1710633' date='Nov 25 2008, 10:34 AM']Perhaps using government approved books would teach you about run-on sentences?[/quote] haha... I love the grammar nazis. Sieg Heil! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dominicansoul Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 why would they want to advertise where their daughters are going? if it were me, i would keep that top secret... i don't care how protective the secret service agents are... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kujo Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 [quote name='T-Bone _' post='1710719' date='Nov 25 2008, 01:07 PM']If a politician, like Obama, says that the public schools are "good enough" for the little guys, then s/he should send their kids there.[/quote] Oh stop it. This whole discussion reeks of jealousy and petulance... [quote name='dominicansoul' post='1710823' date='Nov 25 2008, 03:42 PM']why would they want to advertise where their daughters are going? if it were me, i would keep that top secret... i don't care how protective the secret service agents are...[/quote] Yeah, I guess I can see that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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