Solving the Same Old Problem by Doing the Same Old Thing

What is good enough for the Obama children might be a bit too good for the rest of urban schoolchildren.

Michelle Obama visited at least two well-known private schools in Washington on Monday as she and President-elect Obama prepare to move their two young daughters to the White House in January. The soon-to-be first lady toured Georgetown Day School in the morning and Sidwell Friends School in the afternoon. 10-year-old Malia and 7-year-old Sasha attend a private school in Chicago.

I certainly do not begrudge the Obamas for choosing private school for their children--for DC schools are proven to be nearly as bad as those in Detroit and Chicago. While I don't expect to be transferred any time soon to a job that provides a furnished home in the middle of a crappy school district, If I ever am you can bet I'll check out the private schools. In other words, DPS, count me out.

However, what is the greater issue, of course, is that while the Obamas have the financial resources to enjoy a private school education, they believe that other children should be denied the opportunity of attending private schools obstensively because "the data doesn't show that it actually solves the problem."

Keeping urban children trapped in hugely ineffective public schools operated by strengthening education-is-a-jobs-program-for-employees labor unions and schools-are-a-great-venue-for-social-indoctrination activists is not a way to turn the tide on poor public school performance.

With the labor unions and activists decidedly in Barack Obama's corner, votes and campaign contributions being a bit more important than some neighbor kid's education anyway, there is little reason to believe that cementing the status quo will do anything to help solve our educational problems either.

Please, is this the change we can believe in?