As Amy Carter walked through the doors of Thaddeus Stevens Elementary School, the media had a heyday. But most of the country?s top politicians ever since have opted instead for private schools. So a lot of people this week are urging the Obamas to make the PC decision and send their two daughters, Sasha and Malia, to D.C. public schools.

Among them is the D.C. superintendent of schools. He lauds the district?s many fine neighborhood and charter schools. He cites the opportunity for language instruction, multicultural environment, and the many students who are wooed by top-notch colleges. Additionally, D.C. is a ?school choice? district, meaning parents have the right to enroll their children out of the boundaries of their neighborhood school, assuming there is room in the desired facility.

The superintendent also suggests that the Obamas can learn about all the problems with No Child Left Behind (NCLB) by putting their kids in the thick of it.

I was on his side until I got to that part. As a public school teacher by profession myself, I think that the superintendent is making his request at the children?s expense. Not that I disagree with the idea that the Obamas should consider ALL of their options. Nor do I disagree that the local public school could be their best option. But they should make a decision based on what works best for each child and the family as a whole. They should not make educational decisions in order to make a political statement. They especially should not send their daughters into a mess (the superintendent?s opinion of NCLB, not mine) so they can see firsthand how bad it is.

That doesn?t make a lick of sense.

My husband is also a public school teacher, so we raised a few eyebrows when we decided to home school our son through junior high. But I would not be shamed into enrolling him in a school that I did not feel best met his educational needs. School is not one-size fits all. And teachers know this better than anyone. I have several friends who take their children to different schools because the one that?s best for the oldest child is not best for he next.

Of course, the Obamas have more options than some families because of their position in life. I think that?s great. Their decision may involve more than just academics, as do all of our school choices. They must consider their values, as well as what?s convenient. They also (unlike most of us) need to consider politics and security. But it?s not just public vs. private anymore.

Parents can choose to homeschool, they can investigate charter schools (which are tuition-free), and there are public or private hybrids with homeschooling. If the Obamas? move has you thinking about school, maybe it?s time to re-evaluate your own school choices. Hopefully, you find that what you have decided is still the best place for your kids. But if not, it?s a great time to look at the new opportunities that may have arisen in your community.

Several weeks ago, I had written about a gentleman who named his daughter after the Republican presidential and vice presidential candidates. A new trend has developed; this one is also associated with the American presidential elections.

Mothers in Kisumu, Kenya, have celebrated the election of Barack Obama as president of the United States by naming their newborns after he and his wife Michelle. Kisumu is a village in Africa close to where Barack’s father was born.

The day after the elections, there were 15 children born at the local hospital. Five of the male children were named Barack and three of the female children were named Michelle. Many of the mothers interviewed said that they hoped to honor the couple, but they also hoped that their children would be inspired to succeed in life because of their names.

I am deeply touched that women in another country have chosen to name their children after our president elect and his wife. While I think that their intentions are admirable, I guess I wonder – will these children face ridicule because they are named after an American couple? I have never been to Kenya, and so I don’t know if these names will “stand out” from the names that other children have been given. Then again, if the naming trend continues, their names won’t “stand out” anyway.

I wonder what will happen to the babies Barack and Michelle as they grow. Will they spend their lives explaining their names to people? What happens if they meet people who do not support the political ideals of their namesakes? I think of the man I mentioned at the beginning of this blog post who named his daughter Sarah McCain. What happens to her now that the candidates that she was named after lost their bid for the White House?

The world seems to be happy to see Barack Obama in the White House. So am I. But I am also delighted to have a first family with little children – the first since the Kennedys, if I am not mistaken.

This reminds me of one of my favorite poems – Longfellow’s Children’s Hour – about a Daddy hearing from his study “the patter of little feet” and then taking “a pause in the day’s occupation” to play his little girls. I just hope Barack will have enough time for his own children’s hour.

I’ve always wondered how it would feel to be a child of the president. For the little girls Sasha and Malia, the transition won’t be easy – their faces will be known by everybody but they will probably be the most tightly guarded children on planet earth. Imagine having birthday parties, play dates and sleep overs at the White House. That would definitely give the Secret Service guys a headache – or a thrill.

For Michelle soon-to-be First Lady Obama, her family comes first. According to a write-up in The Guardian UK, she vows to remain “mom-in-chief” to her girls and puts her priority in “making sure my family is happy and settled” at the White House.

It takes a strong man to run a country. It takes a strong woman to stand beside him and keep the family together. To all of you, all the best.

What do you think about political shirts for babies? I’ve seen “Weepublicans” shirts for John McCain, and “Mama for Obama” shirts, onesies and bibs for newborns, babies and toddlers.

Do you think they are cute, or inappropriate for babies? After all, babies don’t have political opinions (yet) and most of us would object to being made to wear a shirt bearing a slogan they didn’t agree with. Political opinions usually – but not always – run in families so while your offspring are likely to vote the same way as you, there’s no reason why a Mama for Obama’s baby won’t be a future Republican.

So are these shirts imposing a political view on someone who should be allowed to make up their own mind, or are they harmless extensions of Mom’s McCain or Obama t-shirt or lawn sign?