[SoftballMominVA]

You say that, yet you just referred to a picture of mixed age kids and said that could be a private school with vouchers/tax credits. Implying that mixed ability grouping is a great idea! You are very good at talking up both sides of an issue - whichever one fits the argument o' the morning.

[wintertime]

You are very good at creating strawmen.

I have consistently posted that home is the best place to raise and educate a child.

Yes, we will need to institutionalize some children. It is a shame. We should think of it like placing a child in a orphanage.

If a child must be institutionalized then **very** small schools, similar to one room school houses, would be better. However,,,,in a system of public education where the funding follows the students, it would be **parents** who would be choosing the school, and not an anointed Brahman of a educrat. So..some parents may prefer large, impersonal, factory-like schools for their child.

The poster to whom I was responding was referring to our current state of typical government education. These schools are ( with almost no exception) factory-like. And,,NO,,,I do not think a good idea to advance a younger child in that Lord of the Flies environment. No, I do not think it would a good idea for 3 graders to be in a middle school. This is especially true when it is a terrible environment for middle schoolers themselves!

Now,,,I expect that you will call me a hypocrite for enrolling my advanced children in community college. The following is in anticipation of that possible personal attack.

One or two classes ( with the mom, (the chauffeur), waiting in the library) at a community college. Also, the average age at the community college was 30. The students were mature adults who were there because they valued education. My children were well accepted at the community college, and had many wonderful friends and acquaintances of a wide range of ages.