Obama daughters going to Sidwell Friends

Sasha and Malia Obama are following in Chelsea Clinton's footsteps, and Salon's cadre of Quaker-trained writers are as pleased as sober-minded ascetics can be.

Published November 21, 2008 11:19PM (EST)

Salon has a surprisingly large number of writers educated by Quaker schools, and we’re excited about the Obama family’s choice of Sidwell Friends School for Sasha and Malia -- as excited as our Quaker training in steadiness and prudence will permit, anyway.

In addition to a world-class education, Quaker schools usually impart a few key virtues: First, a commitment to peace and social justice (see half-Quaker Richard Nixon). Second, the ability to sit silently for an extended period of time, which students at Quaker schools learn at Meeting for Worship. This will be useful when Joe Biden comes over for dinner.


By Gabriel Winant

Gabriel Winant is a graduate student in American history at Yale.

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