Obamas’ girls off to school

President-elect Barack Obama's two daughters were whisked quietly past waiting photographers into their new schools yesterday. If custom is any guide, the news media will keep their distance now that they have captured 10-year-old Malia in her puffy pink jacket and 7-year-old Sasha with her pigtails, pink camouflage backpack and turquoise Uglydoll.

But protecting the privacy of presidential children always has been difficult. And now, there's any fourth-grader with a cell-phone camera and a Facebook page. At least at Sidwell Friends, children are not allowed to have cell phones at school, which should keep the girls shielded.

The school won't talk about special security precautions but has experience with the Secret Service from former students Chelsea Clinton and Al Gore III, the son of former Vice President Al Gore.

Ann Stock, who was social secretary in the Clinton White House, said she can't imagine fellow students causing problems online. "Kids are very protective of each other," she said.

"You're talking about a school environment, and I generally think that once they start school they become family and friends with each other."

The Obama transition team, acknowledging public interest in the girls, posted photographs of the family getting ready for school on the photo sharing site Flick'r.

-- The Associated Press