Forum Index
»
DC Public and Public Charter Schools
Which DC public or charter school should Michelle send her kids to
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
I think, we should all pretend the Obamas have picked our school, and support our schools to the max
Treat every child like royalty |
Anonymous
|
Not everyone's okay with ignoring the hypocrisy of "school choice for me but not for thee"
http://www.gormogons.com/2008/11/obamas-version-of-school-choice.html |
Anonymous
Royalty? We elected him President, not King. Unless of course this was more of a comment about children in general than the Obama children in particular, in which case no wonder American kids have such an image problem. Are mom & dad really supposed to slave, bow, and simper before the little pashas? I think I want to avoid your house! |
Anonymous
yes, I want you to also so we agree you really never heard that old folktale? |
Anonymous
|
Yes, I really never heard of it.
But lately I have heard a lot about spoiled, over-indulged, entitled children who are accustomed to being the precious center of mummy and poppy's very existence. When the rest of the world doesn't bow and scrape to their whims, and they're furthermore tasked with actually producing something of merit to justify their coddling and self-absorption they have a psychological breakdown. Their exaggerated sense of self-regard bears no relationship to the real world nor to their lack of accomplishment in it. Like, y'know, royalty. I want nothing to do with these sort of brats and only wish they can be quarantined so as not to infect their cohorts. |
Anonymous
|
OK, let me tell you the folktale to which I was referring, tho I hate typing, I can't find a link
Once upon a time tere was a very poor village, where nothing prospered. One day, the king passed through the village, and made a surprising proclamation. 'As I have no sons to follow me, in 7 yrs, I will return and choose my heir from among the children of this village' All the parents were struck with awe and excitement by this proclamation. They returned home, and directed new energy and enthusiasm to raising their children. 'Imagine, my son may one day be king!", the parents exclaimed. Each parent took great care to ensure the health of their child, and that the child was taught carefully and widely. Homes were tended more lovingly, for the future king could not be raised in a hovel. In 7 yrs, when the king returned to the village, it had been transformed completely, to a bustling, prosperous place. 'You see', said the king,'By raising your sons as princes, you hasve raised your whole village from poverty. Let os treat every child as if he were a future king' There are, of course, different versions of this, but that's the gist of my 'treat every child as royalty' post I don't think I ever posted, 'let's raise little snots' |
Anonymous
| Typo alert, ,yes I made at least 4 booboos, darn it! |
Anonymous
|
Good tale. I've never heard it before but it makes the point effectively.
It's still disturbing to hear so many stories of pampered and entitled children, but it's clear that's not what you're getting at. Thanks for taking the time to respond in full. |
Anonymous
|
Good tale.
From yesterday's Politico, "Public Schools Are Still a Possibility for the Obamas": http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15572.html |
Anonymous
|
Slightly different perspective:
let's say that the Obamas choose the public school route. Unless they choose their in-boundaries school, they will exercise their privilege to take a spot at a "good" school that underprivileged kids (a) now can't have; and (b) don't have the connections to get. The public school experience that they would have at Oyster, Murch, Key, Mann, Janney, or Lafayette would in no way resemble what the average DCPS student gets. And consider-- the Bushes kept their TX residency (that's how they vote there). I haven't figured out if they paid state taxes to TX instead of DC as a result. If the Obamas do this, then they are getting a free public education on the DC taxpayers' dime. If they go private, they put their own funds into this education. I'd love to see them at my school anyway, but it's something to think about. |
Anonymous
| If they do go public, I imagine that the symbolism would outweigh any criticism about out-of-boundary or out-of-residency issues, or even joining an already over-crowded but good school. |
Anonymous
|
Yes, if they went public, it would be such a boost for DCPS. I'd forgive them for not paying taxes in DC!
Yes, it's true that DCPS is a reallly messed up system but there are a few places where kids can get a good education. The more those places get publicized the more likely it is the middle class will at least look at the public schools as a serious possibility. And I know this view may not be popular with some folks but it is important to get the middle class involved in DCPS -- mostly because we feel entitled to demand better education and we have some political clout. The more of us in the system, the more likely it is the system as a whole will improve. |
Anonymous
|
Before President Obama became a State Senator, he was a lecturer at the University of Chicago. Mrs. Obama was a vice-president of the University of Chicago hospital. Their children currently attend the University of Chicago Lab School. Because President and Mrs. Obama were university employees, they got some perks in terms of admission, etc.
The closest public elementary school in that neighborhood is Ray School (which happened to be where I started elementary school), and is about 3 blocks north of the Lab School. |
Anonymous
|
Interesting about the tuition perks.
Would you mind telling us something about your alma mater, the Ray School? Was it a serious contender in terms of academic quality? |