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"I can't believe schools like that exist any more. Where are they? It certainly has not been my experience in any California public school, or university."

They do, and in California, too. Our local school system is outstanding, and that's because the community supports the schools, both by taking interest in the actions of the local school boards and by, in many cases, directly volunteering to help in the schools.

It wasn't always this way. But after a couple of school board recalls and constant attendance at school board meetings, the word is out that the community cares about its schools.

I volunteer to teach about my area of expertise, and do that several times a year as a guest of the school. We had trouble with the budget for the music programs, too, so local musicians stepped in and filled in to keep the programs going, donating time, instruments, and more.

Maybe you just live somewhere where nobody cares about the schools enough to do something about them. I'm sorry to hear that, but it all starts with your first school board meeting.