Ee by gum! Obama’s girls for Yorkshire?

Twinning scheme could see English school play host to President’s daughters

23rd January 2009, 12:00am

Being the child of the leader of the free world brings with it many advantages. As Barack Obama was sworn into office this week, his daughters could look forward to life in the White House, trips on board Air Force One, chauffeur-driven limousines - and an exchange trip to a Yorkshire school.

Sidwell Friends, the Washington, DC school attended by Malia and Sasha Obama, is twinned with Bootham independent school in York. In alternating years, a group of pupils from one school visits the other.

So in March, Bootham’s Year 10 pupils will play host to Sidwell teenagers, showing them a range of local historical sites. And, because both Bootham and Sidwell are Quaker schools, pupils will be taken to the birthplace of Quakerism in nearby Cumbria.

Sidwell is renowned as the school of choice for left-leaning Washingtonians. Chelsea Clinton spent her Washington schooldays there, as did Ashley Biden, daughter of Joe, the new Vice-President.

But Jonathan Taylor, Bootham’s head, points out that the schools have much in common. For example, teachers have remarked that their morning assemblies are virtually interchangeable.

“There’s a shared sense of being slightly askew from the establishment,” he said. “Quakers have always been quite individualised people. But it’s pretty impressive for our kids to be taken into host families who might be senators or significant people.”

Having Sidwell friends in high places also helps to open doors in the United States capital. When Bootham pupils visited Washington, DC last year, Joe Biden arranged a trip to the Pentagon for them, followed by a visit to his Senate office.

But Judith Campbell, the Bootham teacher in charge of the exchange programme, insists her pupils are unfazed by Sidwell’s high-profile parents.

“We’re not interested in who their parents are,” she said. “Obviously, the kids know that the Obama girls go there, and that’s one of the things they’ll ask about. But we love the school anyway.

“The kids there may come from families that are well-travelled. They know about the world, and are politically and socially interested. But they’re very much like our kids here.”

Bootham pupils agree. Lizzie Foster, 15, visited Sidwell last year and will host her exchange partner in York in March.

“She mentioned in one of her emails that the Obama daughters were there,” Lizzie said. “So I might ask her if she’s met them. But it’s not really what we’ll talk about. She’s just a good friend.”

Her classmate, Lucy Lewis, 14, is similarly disinclined to ask too many questions. “It’s a bit of an infringement of the kids’ privacy,” she said. “They’re just going to school. So it’s a bit unfair on them if people come up and say, `Your dad’s President.’ It’s just school for them.”

But the world’s most famous political parent may make a difference the next time Bootham pupils visit Washington.

Last year, plans to visit the White House had to be cancelled at the last minute because of local security fears.

“Next time - well, you never know,” said Ms Campbell. “I wouldn’t push it - I wouldn’t want to take advantage. But you never know.”

Some Yorkshire lingo it might be helpful for Sidwell pupils to learn in advance of their trip:

Allus - Always

Anall Me too - as well

`Appen - Perhaps

`Appy as a pig in muck - Very happy, content with oneself

Be Reet - It’ll be all right

Blether - Talk nonsense

Britches or Keks - Trousers

Cake `ole - Mouth