I appreciate Mr Sherwoods comments, but I think he has overreacted to what I posted. First, I don't believe my comment has the scope or the power to "calumniate the educational system in the USA". If you want to strongly disagree, then chalk it it to a difference of opinion. Second, I am aware that the term "Prop 13" refers to the California Tax Initiative. I am also aware that the passage of the California Initiative prompted a wave of similar initiatives in several other states. The term "Prop 13" has come to mean an anti-tax initiative passed by the electorate - whatever the actual name on the ballot and in whatever state the initiative was presented to the voters. Third, my comment did not single out any school or school district. My comments refer to my own experience as a parent with children in school and as a parent who talks to other parents in different areas of the country. Maybe Mr Sherwood's school district is exceptional and the students come out of their school experience with some CM appreciation. But Mr Sherwood's mention of "government schools" indicates that they do not face some of the funding shortages other school districts face. As to our esteemed moderator's comments, I beg to differ. As I explained above, other state's passage of tax initiatives similar to California's Prop 13 certainly *does* have bearing on schools anywhere else. Dave Harman El Paso, Tx [That's the strangest logic I've read this week. That's not a compliment. Hyper-simplistic jingo-ism treating all schools districts the same and invoking outside influence as if each school district didn't make it's own decisions, prevents meaningful discussion - it does apparently facilite unfocussed grousing, as we have seen. -Dave]