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NO WHITE HOUSE WELCOME
Conway Elementary students miss a chance to tour the White House
Date published: 5/23/2009
BY JONAS BEALS Time and traffic conspired to keep Stafford County school kids out of the White House Thursday. In a situation most local commuters can relate to, kindergartners from Conway Elementary School were shut out of a scheduled White House tour when they showed up late. Parent and chaperone Paty Stine said buses left Conway Elementary at 8:30 a.m. She said they were supposed to arrive at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. between 10 and 10:15 a.m. "Unfortunately, we ran into heavier than normal traffic," she said. She said that when they arrived at 10:25 a.m., the gates were closed, with the kids on the outside looking in. "I just think the White House should have made a little bit of leeway time," Stine said. "The kids knew what they were going to see, and they were thoroughly disappointed. Kids were crying, teachers were crying." A White House spokeswoman said yesterday morning that the field trip tour was scheduled for 9:30 a.m., and the gates are typically closed for tours at 10 a.m. The spokeswoman noted that tour groups are required to arrive on time due to the tight schedules of White House operations, but an exception was made for the Conway students and the gates were held open until 10:35 a.m. While the students were not scheduled to meet with President Barack Obama, he was at home, and later met with the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers football team. The traditional exchange between president and winning team had a Memorial Day bent. Players and politicians--including Senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey--assembled care packages for troops overseas. Stine doesn't hold it against the Steelers. "I'm sure they didn't know anything about us," she said. "I blame the administration. They made the decision to keep Stafford County kids out to prepare a luncheon for a bunch of millionaires." Stine said the kids took a walk around the outside of the White House, then visited the Lincoln Memorial. It was a trip that cost each student and chaperone $20. Stine does not see how the situation can be rectified--the money was spent and there are not many days left in the school year to reschedule. "The visitors center has put the school at the top of the list for rescheduling as soon as possible and has already been in touch with the school," the White House spokeswoman said. School officials confirmed that the White House is helping to reschedule, and has been "extremely supportive of the Conway Cougars visit." In a statement, Conway staff acknowledged that they knew a late arrival would cost them a chance to tour the White House. It also stated that White House staff made every effort to accommodate the visit and extend the arrival time. Conway Principal Roxie Cooper said students and teachers took the situation in stride, making adjustments to their schedule and inserting a lesson in handling life's disappointments. "We commend our kindergarten students and the many chaperones who showed resilience and positive attitudes," Cooper said in the statement. Jonas Beals: 540/368-5036
Read more stories about Fredericksburg Date published: 5/23/2009
Losers find a place to whine
(posted by
wildernessjim
, May 24, 2009 10:44 pm)
Donttreadonme you just prove to everyone how far out of reality you right wingers are. Your guy lost. Get over it. Don't try to make everything Obama's fault. It isn't his fault you are so paranoid that we won't have bigotry, hatred and my god is better than your god crap in this America any more. Your guy GWB has destroyed what it took centuries to get, HONOR. Your kind has made America hated around the world. We should outlaw the republican party, just like what Bush did in Iraq to the Ba'ath party.
dr428...
(posted by
DontTreadOnMe
, May 24, 2009 10:43 pm)
I am also for taking responsibility for ones own actions. As previously stated, I find it so very hard to believe that someone from Stafford Co would ever plan a field trip that required them to be in DC at 9:30am. I am sure that there are correspondence with the White House that could prove, one way or the other, what time the students were scheduled to be there. If in fact it was scheduled for 9:30, then, yes, those who scheduled the field trip should be the ones to apologize.
Sorry DontTreadOnMe...
(posted by
dr428
, May 24, 2009 11:50 am)
I am not an "O" supporter. Trust me! However, I am a fan of common sense and taking responsibility for my own actions. These planners seem to have screwed up a great opportunity. And this one parent in particular seems to be showingup all over the media blaming the White House. How is that O's fault? That particular parent needs to self-reflect and re-direct her vitriol.
please enough bashing
(posted by
karma
, May 24, 2009 8:59 am)
Yes, the teachers/administrators/bus company did not allow enough time to navigate NOVA traffic and arrive in time for their appointment. That is a shame, but the kids have now learned the value of keeping their word and arriving on time. Let's stop bashing everyone and chalk it up to poor planning. I hope the teachers were able to show the kids the other amazing sites in D.C. Next year everyone will do a better job.
IF the appointment was scheduled at 9:30
(posted by
DontTreadOnMe
, May 24, 2009 7:15 am)
then someone at the school really messed up, BUT I don't believe that anyone in Stafford County would schedule an appointment to be in DC at 9:30am. The "o's" are just adding to a long list of flat out lies, which gets longer by the day. If this had been a school of underprivileged children or had been a scheduled photo op, the gates would have been held open. Oh, that's right, o doesn't need the press for photo ops any longer, he has his own. Welcome to, not even socialism, but COMMUNISM!
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