I led a group through Ellis Island back in 1978, and one family with their 10-year-old son stayed at my elbow the entire time. As we walked between stops where I talked this kid had a million really good questions, after listening carefully during the talk. We reached the end of the tour where there was a sign painted for the railroad terminal waiting room. It points to the right and says "To New York." I spoke there about how people then left by train from New Jersey to go to anywhere in America, or went by ferry to Manhattan, and 98% of the people considered Ellis "The Golden Door." For the 2% deported this was "The Island of Tears." This kid looked thoughtful, then announced "It sounds like the Golden Door had a rusty doorknob." Sublime! I looked at those two parents and said "I hope you have this boy in a really good school!" They beamed back and said yes, they made sure he was in a school that suited his wonderful intelligence.

There are lots of other stories like that, but this one is easiest to describe briefly.

SRS