Today, a huge crowd of students and parents alike gathered on Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C. to raise their voices in opposition to President Barack Obama’s decision to eliminate school choice for many students, who receive opportunity scholarships to attend private schools throughout the metropolitan area. D.C. Public Schools have been in decline for several years, along with increases in school violence, do not provide or promote a safe learning environment. Many of the parents who were there at the event supported Barack Obama during the General Election last year, but now, some are beginning to regret their votes. No surprise as Obama promised to campaign on change, except this is not the change many were hoping for.
The event featured noted speakers, such as Former Mayor Anthony Williams, Councilman Marion Barry, R&B artists Mya and Ginuwine, and School Choice activist Virginia Walden Ford. Additionally, parents addressed the crowd saying how this program has helped their child excel in a safe learning environment, and how they fear that their child will have to be placed in an environment not conducive to learning. However, the two speakers, who had the most impact were two students, who attended Archbishop Carroll and Georgetown Day School respectively under the D.C. Opportunity Scholarships. The student from Georgetown Day mentioned how he would like to be President, but his dream might be threatened if he has to attend the local public school due to the violence. (Writer’s Note: Video is being uploaded and will be included in a later edition.)
If Obama can choose to send his children to Sidwell Friends, which is a prestigious private school, then why can’t the parents in Washington, D.C. send their children to the same schools? After all, children are the future and they deserve the same high quality education without being in an unsafe environment. The key thing to remember is that Obama was a product of a scholarship program that allowed him to attend a prestigious private school in Hawaii. Why would Obama deny a child the same opportunity?
