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[Clansgian AT wmconnect.com]

> My post was for the more open-minded, non-zealots
> on the list.
> 

The mention of 'zealots' and 'religious fervor' in this thread brings so much 
to mind that shows the opposite.  I am reminded of the scene in the flick 
"Searching for Bobby Fischer" where the father of the protagonist is called 
in by 
his teacher and told that this "chess business" has got to stop because it is 
interfering with the boy's school work.  The father gives the teacher a 
lecture on how his son is better at chess than he or the teacher will be at 
anything in their entire lives.

Yet there is a religious mistique, a zealot's dogmatism, about government 
schools.  You have to do well at school work, nothing in life is of more 
importance to a child.  You HAVE to attend, there is no excuse for not 
attending 
school.

Given examples of young people who are off on some other tangent and are 
doing marvelously at it, the government schools apologist says "But .... but 
... 
look at what they are missing if they don't attend!!!"   No logic, no facts, 
just an indoctrinated gut reaction that schools are good and need not be 
defended ... but the decision to NOT attend schools must be vigorously 
challenged.