Michelle Obama visits LAMB

[Anonymous]

Michelle Obama was at LAMB today

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/04/AR2009050402027.html

[jsteele]

I think it's great how the Obamas are getting involved in our schools.

[Anonymous]

I mean this as a practical, as opposed to cynical, observation: A visit is one thing, involvement ...

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:I mean this as a practical, as opposed to cynical, observation: A visit is one thing, involvement ...

Frankly, you come off as neither practical nor cynical. Jealous, perhaps. The Obamas have made multiple visits to DC schools. In each case they spent quality time with the students. Michelle hosted students from Bancroft Elementary who helped plant her garden. She has visited students at Anacostia High School. I could go on, but you get the point. You can argue semantics or you could recognize the very positive impact of these visits.

[Anonymous]

I'm PP 8:03. I think these visits to schools and invitations to the White House are wonderful and of course I would much rather have them than not. At the same time, I would like to see initiatives from the administration that go beyond social events. This is not either/or. For instance, I think it's terrific that the White House has launched a new internship program for DC students age 18 or older. I wonder if it could do more.

I spent nearly a decade as a DCPS parent, and DCPS's ongoing issues concern and frustrate me. I love the successes and hope for more, many more. For instance, I have high hopes for H.D. Cooke, my neighborhood schools. At the same time, I am worried that some of the systemic problems are too entrenched for any one mayor or chancellor, and sometimes I dream that the White House, this White House, might lend a hand, create a special commission or a task force or a private-public partnership fund for instance. So, that's where I''m coming from on this.

[Anonymous]

PP sorry for typos.

[Anonymous]

It is a great time to live in the District and it is great to see the Obamas making the city their home. We have certainly had Presidents past that have not made DC their home. We are on the waiting list for LAMB....what an awesome experience for the students there now...

[Anonymous]

NP here, and I get what PP 8:03 above is saying. Maybe if these were private schools we were talking about then "jealousy" or some other petty insult would make sense, but under the circumstances I think that's a pretty facile insult.

Showing up for a promo is nice. It's a warm little happy Kumbayah photo op for the White House and for LAMB. Win-win.

However, if she really wants to really help out? How about sending Fenty a pointed message that if he really wants to be the "Education Mayor" then trying to handicap charter schools just so that they can perform as badly as DCPS and thereby make DCPS look better isn't the way to go about it. Let's give charter students the same funding as DCPS students - if not more. After all, their schools are doing a better job.

[Anonymous]

Thanks NP 21:37, I'm PP 8:03. Yes that was my point. I do plan to write folks in the Obama administration and request deeper involvement. I will be sure to copy Mayor Fenty and Chancellor Rhee.

[Anonymous]

Did we have an expectation of deeper involvement with prior Administrations?

[Anonymous]

Yes. One thing we could absolutely count on from a Republican administration and majority was a legislative and financial commitment to charter schools.

[Anonymous]

21:10 I didn't, but if George W. and Laura had reached out to DC the way the Obamas have, I would have. Plus personally I was just getting started as a DCPS parent back in January 2001, I was optimistic, I didn't realize how valuable outside help would be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:21:10 I didn't, but if George W. and Laura had reached out to DC the way the Obamas have, I would have. Plus personally I was just getting started as a DCPS parent back in January 2001, I was optimistic, I didn't realize how valuable outside help would be.

You mean like this?

http://www.friendshipschools.org/home/news_item.asp?id=9&newsarea=all

How does America’s First Lady spotlight the global effort to prevent malaria –a leading cause of illness among children 5 and under in sub-Saharan Africa?... Take the cause to elementary students. First Lady Laura Bush did just that at Friendship’s Woodridge Elementary and Middle School on National Malaria Awareness Day, Wednesday, April 25, 2007.

[Anonymous]

17:59. What is your point? What's done is done. If John McCain was in the White House right now and his administration was reaching out to DC schools with visits and invitations, I'd be thinking more White House involvement would be great, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:17:59. What is your point? What's done is done. If John McCain was in the White House right now and his administration was reaching out to DC schools with visits and invitations, I'd be thinking more White House involvement would be great, too.

My point is that Laura Bush did visit DC charter schools. I would hope you would hope either type of administration accountable, and also give credit to both where credit is due. What matters more than these visits is actual policy of course, and Republicans were friends to charters policy-wise. It remains to be seen if the Obama administration follows through on what appears to be support; Fenty's administration so far gets an F- in this regard.