Why Barron Trump May Not Be Returning To School In The Fall
When First Lady Melania Trump and Barron Trump moved from New York City to be with President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., there was immediate interest in where the commander-in-chief's son would attend school. Malia and Sasha Obama went to the Sidwell Friends School during President Barack Obama's tenure, for instance, the same school Chelsea Clinton graduated from, according to Business Insider. However, Melania and Donald decided to go another route, and ultimately settled on St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Maryland, which costs about $44,000 a year for grades 9 through 12.
"It is known for its diverse community and commitment to academic excellence," Melania said in a 2017 statement about the decision, per The Washington Post. "The mission of St. Andrew's is 'to know and inspire each child in an inclusive community dedicated to exceptional teaching, learning, and service,' all of which appealed to our family."
Of course, the education of a president's child is of interest to many, so it's not too surprising people took notice when news broke in July 2020 that Barron might not return to school in the fall.
So what's going on with Barron's education? We reveal the truth about this news below.
Barron Trump's school prioritizes safety
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, there has been debate about whether American schools should reopen for in-person learning. Some schools have decided on remote learning for fall 2020, while other institutions plan to open with precautionary measures in place. And some schools, like Barron Trump's, are considering a mix of the two options. "We are hopeful that public health conditions will support our implementation of the hybrid model in the fall," a letter sent home to parents reads, according to The New York Times. "As we prepare to make a decision the week of Aug. 10 about how to best begin the school year. We will continue to follow guidance of appropriate health officials and refine both our hybrid and distance learning plans."
As the outlet noted, a hybrid model means "students in Grades 7 through 12 would rotate between on-campus and distance learning, with half of the students learning remotely each week."
So, although there's a chance Barron will spend time on campus, it's unlikely he'll have a traditional school experience in the fall.
President Donald Trump wants to reopen schools
For those who are wondering where President Donald Trump stands on reopening schools, he made his feelings clear during a July 7, 2020, speech. "We want to reopen the schools. Everybody wants it. The moms want it, the dads want it, the kids want it. It's time to do it," he said, according to the White House press transcript. The president continued later on in the speech, "We want to get them [schools] open quickly, beautifully, in the fall. And the — as you know, this is a disease that's a horrible disease, but young people do extraordinarily well."
Melania Trump appeared to echo Donald's sentiment, stating, "When children are out of school, they are missing more than just time in the classroom. They're missing the laughter of their friends, learning from their teachers, and the joy of recess and play. For children with disabilities, without access to technology or whose homes are not a safe place, the situation can be even worse."
We don't know how the two feel about Barron's school not reopening fully, although it's clear Donald might want to fact check his take that "everybody wants" in-person learning come fall 2020. "Eight percent of Americans say their local K-12 schools should open for in-person instruction as usual," according to a July 2020 poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs.
Where does Ivanka Trump stand on the issue?
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump aren't the only members of the White House with an opinion on reopening schools. Donald's daughter, Ivanka Trump, took to Twitter on July 7, 2020, to advocate for in-person learning, writing, "Single mothers will disproportionately bear the burden of school closures in the form of lower pay, less job security and general overwhelm in part because work in jobs without the option of telecommuting. We must prioritize safely reopening America's schools."
Ivanka didn't reveal whether her eldest daughter, Arabella Rose Kushner, will return to school in the fall. Arabella, who was born in 2011, was rumored to attend Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School of the Nation's Capital, according to Town & Country, although that never got confirmed.
There's no mistaking the Trump parents have strong views about reopening schools, but it appears they'll have to make do with what their children's learning institutions decide. This sentiment especially applies to Barron Trump, who will not have a typical fall 2020 semester.