DeBurca, Now we have to go into withdrawal…………..he won’t be back on until 2009 I love Bill Maher.

I’ve read a lot about the Quakers and a bit about their schools. It does sound like a good philosophy to build an education on.

Ro, I attended a Quaker (all girls) high school in Philadelphia, PA. Everything you mentioned about ‘Quaker Schools’ is correct. Yet, you are remiss to assume that Quaker Schools are ‘less ridgid’ - IF you are speaking about academics. In fact, the emphasis on excellent academics is entrenched in Quaker ideology. Admission to the high school I attended was based on strict academic guidelines. Also, Quaker Schools were the first schools which embraced racial diversity. I’ve been to Sidwell Friends on a parent tour (1980-1981) when deciding on a school for my sons. I was VERY impressed with the ethnic diversity and the overall educational environment of the school. Most impressive was the look of happiness on the faces of the students. I’ve no doubt that the Obama children will be happy at their new school, and they will come away with excellent academic preparedness, while meeting children of all nationalities and cultural backgrounds.

When you have the money you usually spend it on the best education money can buy. The school they go to in Chicago is, as far as I have heard, about the best around. But it also costs about a $20,000 per year as opposed to $28,000 per year. Schools in DC must be exceptionally expensive. Obama attended a top school in Hawaii, but it was a real sacrifice for his family. I sent my children to the local public schools but, in Illinois the better part of the school funding comes from property taxes. So, when my oldest was ready to begin school we moved into a neighborhood known for its exceptional public schools. But although they are public and we didn’t have to pay high tuition costs, in our case it was a very big sacrifice to move into this neighborhood with its very high priced housing and high property taxes. We had to buy a much smaller home than we could have afforded elsewhere, and our taxes are a burden. But we made that sacrifice for the sake of our children’s education. It paid off. The sacrifice that Barack Obama’s family made to put him in the school he attended in Hawaii paid off as well.