Kevin Carey over at The Quick and the Ed had this nicely put thought regarding the Obamas and their choice to enroll their girls in a private school:

Presuming all goes well and I’m not bumped for someone more photogenic and/or an international crisis of some kind, I’ll be on CNN’s The Situation Room today between 4:15 and 4:45, where they’re using Malia and Sasha Obama’s first day of school as an excuse to talk about the DC public schools they won’t be attending, why said schools are so bad, Michelle Rhee, etc.

CNN didn’t ask but in case anyone’s wondering I think the Obamas are perfectly justified in sending their children to the best schools they’re able to find and afford. I also hope that they and the many other political and business leaders in Washington DC who are similarly fortunate feel a commensurate special responsibility to help give all of DC’s schoolchildren the opportunity to attend a public school of similar high quality.

As stated previously, for the sake security issues I absolutely understand why the Obamas would choose a private school versus a public one. However, I’m holding out hope that if the Obamas chose to avoid the public schools because they aren’t up to snuff, that improving the public school in this country will be a priority when Barack hits the Oval Office. I really like that guy, but I’m still being superstitious and am keeping my fingers crossed.

Posted by Alexa Harrington

photo: Paul J. Richards/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images