Barack Obama's campaign was premised on the notion change will happen. But as the president-elect prepares to move into his new home at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., there is one presidential practice that seems to be standing to survive his tidal wave of change - sending his kids to private school.
Mr. Obama and his wife, Michelle, are not the only Obamas coming to town this January, as Sasha, 7, and Malia, 10, will return the age of innocence to the White House. Sasha will be the youngest child in the White House since the Kennedys resided there in the early 1960s.
But the arrival of the Obama youngsters raises questions about Mr. Obama's faith in the public school system he championed for two years on the campaign trail.
Mr. Obama's plan to revitalize the education system does not mention vouchers in any form and a decision to send his kids to private school, while denying working-class families the same right, could ruffle a few feathers early on in the Obama administration.
The Obama camp's opposition to vouchers was so fierce that when the New York Sun reported last February that the Democrat favored school vouchers, his campaign pounced seeking to discredit the story.
During a meeting with the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Mr. Obama, when quested about vouchers, responded, "I will not allow my predispositions to stand in the way of making sure that our kids can learn," adding, "We're losing several generations of kids, and something has to be done."
The Obama camp responded fast and furiously.
"Sen. Obama has always been a critic of vouchers," a campaign statement read. "Throughout his career, he has voted against voucher proposals and voiced concern for siphoning off resources from our public schools."
But while the Democrat is offering to flood U.S. public schools with more resources, he appears unwilling to hand over his children to the same system he fiercely defends.
As the Obamas prepare to leave Chicago for Washington, D.C., they have been traversing the streets of D.C. looking for a school for their daughters. Where are they looking? Private schools.
This should not be a surprise, as the Obama girls went to private school while the family has lived in Chicago. Mr. Obama defended sending the two girls to the University of Chicago Lab School, by saying it was a matter of convenience, not an indictment of public schools.
"My kids have gone to the University of Chicago Lab School, a private school, because I taught there, and it was five minutes from our house. So it was the best option for our kids," Mr. Obama said during a July 2007 debate.
"But the fact is that there are some terrific public schools in Chicago that they could be going to. The problem is, is that we don't have good schools, public schools, for all kids. A U.S. Senator can get his kid into a terrific public school."
There was no mention as to why Mr. Obama did not try and get his two children into one of those "good schools."
And while the odds are the Obamas will send the kids to private school - Mrs. Obama visited Georgetown Day School and Chelsea Clinton's alma mater Sidwell Friends School last week - D.C. school officials are holding out the hope Mr. Obama will put his money where his mouth has been.
"We've gladly discussed the many educational options at DCPS, encouraged them to explore all of the alternatives and in the end will fully support whatever decision the Obamas make," the D.C. schools said in a statement released after discussions were held between public school officials and the Obamas about the possibility of the two children attending public school. source>>>