By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist
Barack and Michelle Obama's children will attend Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., it was confirmed Saturday. It's a private school that charges (gulp) $29,000 a year in tuition.
And that doesn't cover the cost of textbooks or other services from the school. You can see the eye-popping numbers at the school's Web site.
In KC, that's double what the most expensive private schools -- Rockhurst, St. Theresa's, Barstow, Pembroke Day -- charge.
While some die-hard liberals will be upset that Obama is sending his children to private schools, he had no choice given the low quality of Washington, D.C., schools.
At least when he's president he will save a few thousand dollars on after-care payments. It's unlikely the president's daughters will need it.
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silly, ridiculous, absurd
Complaining about the President's children going to this or that private school--whoever the President is--is such a waste of time. If for no other reason but sheer safety the children will virtually ALWAYS have to go to a private school.
And--separate note--vouchers are the surest way to undermine the existing public school system. It shouldn't even be considered.
Mo Rage
The Blog
Some Americans can be idiots.
Yea I think Obama's kids should go to public schools in the ghetto. Don't ya know black kids belong in the ghetto.
I see just a little bit of racism. How about the cost of protecting Bush's two spoiled out of control girls?
Apop...
Teachers are also exempt from FICA, which HELPS to fund their generous pensions. The standard in American industry today is self-funded pensions with employer contributions ONLY during the employee's career, which is not 30 and out as our education system is. 40% is far above industry standards.
I noticed you did not address the health care bonanza for educators. I expected that. Standard healthcare today is high copays and deductibles, educators have low copays and deductibles. This money will fund any additional transportation costs from a free-enterprise education system.
But I guess this is "just clueless and uninformed" to your lib mind. I hate to bring facts up, but facts are friends apop.
To Apop, from Brainiac
Every kid could be driven to school by a limo if we had the money. That was my point. IF WE HAD THE MONEY. You say we don't have enough money for vouchers, but you put out a plan that you know full well there's not enough money. So your long post is for nothing. If you can find the money for your plan, I say we instead use it for vouchers, so parents can decide where their kids go to school, not some government. Your plan still restricts kids to specific schools, and if liberals are running the school, they will figure out a way to screw it up.
What exhorbitant pensions?
Teachers are underpaid as it is and retire at maybe 40% of their pay. Please explain what is exhorbitant about that.
Oh and just like your 401K, the teachers pay into their pensions themselves. But you want to take their own money away from them?
Clueless and uninformed. Tsk. Tsk.
How dense are you?
No, and I don't know how many times I have to say it. No vouchers. Period. I favor improvements that benefit ALL of our kids.
And yes, brainiac, of course they cost money. I happen to think our kids are worth it. If we can build a stadium for an NFL team with a losing record, we can find the money to improve our schools. Then there is also that $720 million we spend every day in Iraq. Or that $3 billion a year we send to Israel.
Priorities. Mine are with our kids. Where are yours?
Money for Vouchers
Private enterprise can provide education for LOWER costs then our presently bloated public system. Just removing the exorbinant pensions that educators receive will be millions of dollars every year. Couple this with what in todays environment are deluxe health care plans, and you cover the voucher route plus. As you say, do the math Apop.
Apop - you missed my point
You say there's not enough money for vouchers (because of the extras). OK, fine. Let's assume you are right. Now, I ask you - where is the money coming from for your proposal below, ie. class size, two teachers in every class, year-round school, a/c, and everything else you mentioned? I say that your proposal is a pipe-dream because there's a money problem. So, if the money is found, would you be in favor of vouchers?