President Obama frequently speaks to public school students across the nation. While he always gives them a pep talk about studying hard, and even some advice on using Facebook, he never explains why he has chosen to send his own children to private school.
Dependent upon teachers’ unions, Obama has long opposed the use of vouchers to send low-income children to private schools. Of course, his children do not have to rely on vouchers to help achieve their dreams. He sends his daughters to a wonderful and very expensive private school, while publicly espousing the acceptability of government schools for everyone else.
In July 2003, Obama said: “I think that we have to consider every possibility of improving what admittedly is an intolerable school system for a lot of inner-city kids. I do not believe in school vouchers.”
In July 2007, Obama spoke at the NEA’s annual convention. He told the crowd of teachers that he would never “abandon public schools,” by giving out school vouchers. He also said that he thought a great way to invest in our children was by “raising teachers’ salaries.”
So, even though Obama supposedly believes that our public schools have become “intolerable,” he still wants our kids to continue attending them. He believes that public schools are good enough for most children, but not for his.
Obama’s two daughters currently attend the most exclusive and most expensive private school in the District of Columbia, the haute Sidwell Friends School. Of course, such exclusivity comes with a hefty price tag, at an annual rate of $30,000 per student.
Before moving to Washington, both Sasha and Malia Obama attended the University of Chicago Lab School. The sprawling campus boasts three gyms, a dance studio, a gymnastics facility, a swimming pool, and a fitness center.
Middle school students can participate in several music programs, including chamber music, as well as a jazz band.
In the age of technology, it is very important that children become highly proficient in the use of computers if they are to be competitive in the job market. The University of Chicago Lab School apparently understands this and lists the following description of their computer labs on their official website:
“The Lower School computer lab is equipped with 26 iMac and three G5 Macintosh computers. Color scanners, digital cameras, and color printers are available for student use.
All computers have access to applications for word processing, spreadsheets, graphics, multi-media, and LOGO programming, as well as a variety of specialized educational programs. The computers are equipped with network access to allow students to explore the internet. Library card catalogues and magazine article indices are available at each computer through the school's network.”
“The Middle School Computer Lab is used for Middle School and High School computer science classes and is available for teachers to use as a tool in other subject area classes. When not in use by classes, the computers are available for independent student use.
The room is equipped with 26 iMac DV computers and two graphics stations comprised of Macintosh G5s with 22-inch monitors, and color scanners. A computer connected to a ceiling-mounted projector is used for demonstration and instruction. Black-and-white and color printers are available for student use. All computers have access to applications for word processing, spreadsheets, databases, graphics, multi-media, programming in a variety of languages, and many other uses. Specialized software for math, world language, and science classes is also available.
All computers have Internet access for students to access their server accounts or explore the Internet. The library card catalogues and magazine article indices are available through the school's network.”
Barack and Michelle Obama had one daughter attending classes in the lower school and one in the middle school. Yearly tuition for the lower school is $18,492, while tuition for the middle school is $20,286. While in Chicago, the Obama’s were paying a total of $38,778 a year so that their children would have the best education available.
What a pity it is, that we have another limousine liberal as President. It is also a pity that millions of children are forced to attend failing schools, while the pleas from their parents fall on the deaf ears of that same President who promised “hope” for so many, but never delivered.
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