Will Obama Support Public Education or Go Private?

[deacon blues]

Is Obama willing to put his school-aged daughters where his political promises have been? Will Obama send his girls to private school while he continues to oppose programs that offer a similar choice to less fortunate parents?

Vouchers as an alternative to public schools is favored by black parents by larger majorities than white parents do. Black students face a disproportionately number of under-performing schools.

Teachers unions lead the opposition against vouchers. A 2004 Thomas B. Fordham Institute report found big-city public school teachers to more likely to have their own children in private schools.

Michele Obama toured the private Georgetown Day School this week. The Obama's daughters already attend a private school in Chicago. My guess is they'll go private while denying less fortunate Americans the right to choose the school that woud best suit their child.

School Chancellor Michelle Rhee of Washington DC a single mom of two has her daughters enrolled in the troubled DC school system. She has closed 23 schools, restructered 27, fired more than 250 teachers and dumped about 1/3 of the system's principals.

She recently asked a critical question to a principal who was defending a teacher: "Would you put your grandchild in that class?" The principal replied "If that's the standard, we don't have any effective teachers in my school." Rhee's response: "That is the standard."

Public schools belong to all of us, whether we use them or not. We should treat the students as though they belong to all of us, too. And that includes the president-elect.

(The above is a reworking of an editorial by Clarence Page of The Chicago Tribune, November 13,, 2008)

[Cindy]

I would not want my grandchild in public school in D. C. In fact I wish none of my grandchildren had to go to public school, anywhere. One of my DIL's is homeschooling. On the other hand, I want them to be prepared for the world they will have to live in.

I think it would be a nightmare for his kids to go to public school.

[A_PoMo]

I don't want my kids in public school if I can help it. They're safer in private schools.

[deacon blues]

Originally Posted by cneasttx

I would not want my grandchild in public school in D. C. In fact I wish none of my grandchildren had to go to public school, anywhere. One of my DIL's is homeschooling. On the other hand, I want them to be prepared for the world they will have to live in.

I think it would be a nightmare for his kids to go to public school.

Which is a strong argument for vouchers. A voucher simply gives you as a parent the ability to chose where the federal money per child goes versus the government telling you where it goes. People naturally will choose to send their children (and the federal money) to the best schools. The schools underperforming will be pressured to strive for excellence or lose a lot of federal money. It will naturally raise the level of our educaton system exponentially.

The Dems that don't support you having the freedom to make that choice are also making sure their kids are getting the best education available. That usually means private school. They don't want to send their kids to the very public schools they dictate that you must.

Teachers unions and the politicians that receive millions in campaign contributions from them are to blame.

[A_PoMo]

Originally Posted by deacon blues

Which is a strong argument for vouchers. A voucher simply gives you as a parent the ability to chose where the federal money per child goes versus the government telling you where it goes. People naturally will choose to send their children (and the federal money) to the best schools. The schools underperforming will be pressured to strive for excellence or lose a lot of federal money. It will naturally raise the level of our educaton system exponentially.

The Dems that don't support you having the freedom to make that choice are also making sure their kids are getting the best education available. That usually means private school. They don't want to send their kids to the very public schools they dictate that you must.

Teachers unions and the politicians that receive millions in campaign contributions from them are to blame.

I agree w/most of what you're saying here except that we aren't required to send our kids to public school. It's just the free alternative to home schooling and private schools. Every child is required to go to school, but not public school. There is choice, and like you, I'm pro-choice.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by A_PoMo

I agree w/most of what you're saying here except that we aren't required to send our kids to public school. It's just the free alternative to home schooling and private schools. Every child is required to go to school, but not public school. There is choice, and like you, I'm pro-choice.

But Obama stated openly that he is AGAINST vouchers and wants teachers to be certified. That means he is wanting to lock down school choice. I believe that was discussed on the last debate with Obama and McCain.

We had a big issue in the homeschool industry, a few years ago, on the certification issue. The White House phones were bogged down and the measure did not pass. It is not necessary to be certified to teach.

We need freedom of choice and I don't see Obama in support of that.

[PraiseHymn]

He will put them in private school.

[Ferd]

Obama understands the primary rule of liberalism.

That is there are two classes of people. The ruling class and those they rule.

The ruling class lives by a seperate set of rules. They need good private schools to teach their kids to be leaders. They need to keep everyone else in public schools to keep the masses quiet.

Obama will play by the rules.

[Cindy]

I am for the President, VP, Congressmen/women, Senators, etc. sending their children/grandchildren to public schools. Since they seem to think it's good enough for ours, they should think it's good enough for theirs.

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by PraiseHymn

He will put them in private school.

Yes, he really doesn't have a choice. I wonder if they were in private school in Chicago.