Obama Daughters to attemd the "Harvard of Washington's Private Schools"

With the weeks counting down to his inauguration, Americans have been watching President-elect Barack Obama's choices carefully in hopes of understanding what kind of president he will be. Just before Thanksgiving he announced that the Obama family would be sending their their two daughters to Sidwell Friend's School, a "prestigious academy that has educated generations of this city’s elite." Many had hoped that he would send his children to one of the District's public schools in support for the public system and as a show of equality of opportunity. The Obama family had, however, only visited private institutions during their search. For a man who had pledged great change, he has not always appeared to deviate much from the elite.

Yet, America also prides itself in freedom of choice and given the current state of public schools it may be unfair to fault him with such a decision. What Americans should hope for instead is that Mr. Obama will work to either give less fortunate families the same choice, or improve public schools so that they become a more appealing option. But this is not to say that there are not fundamental difficulties, especially regarding that urban schools such the District's, in attempting either option. Ultimately, Americans need to remember that Mr. Obama is only a man, not a messiah.