I really appreciate your perspective on the roles of educating children, in that is really isn’t just up to the teacher. It’s a team effort..parent(s), teacher and child. I also feel that the outlook is not just applicable to Chicago, but to at least North American boundaries.

The amount of money wasted on educational products that never make it into the classroom is obscene, at least here, and could go a long way towards not having teachers buying supplies out of their own pockets or having children going door to door to fund raise (a big gripe in our schoolboard district).

My thoughts on segregation vs integration of mixed ability groups vary a little from yours, but are purely based on my experience (limited to 1 child) versus many years of teaching groups that are incompatible in learning ability and style.

Lastly, thank you for pointing out that college/university shouldn’t be the destination of everyone’s education. Not everybody thrives in an academic environment, and there should be options available that allow for a career path and a decent standard of living for those who aren’t meant to take that journey.