Well, Bobert, I think you are taking this metaphor too far, but I'm game --

If your pencil breaks, that doesn't mean you can't draw a line. You get another pencil -- and you pick up where you left off and STILL keep your eye on where you are going. If you are watching the pencil lead, it's easy to give up on the line if it breaks.

That doesn't mean that *discussing* the line and studying it's path doesn't have merit. It's just not how the line gets drawn.

Okay, the metaphor is falling apart now... *sigh*

You're right, Bobert, we are simply disagreeing and running in circles. While I am totally in agreement on the goal, I'm just not sold on the method. But I have faith in people -- and I don't think an entire generation of kids needs to have equal opportunity education from birth to do some good. I don't think it's too late to work toward balancing the scales in 11th or 12th grade by mentoring and better schooling and access to better learning materials, and it does a lot more good for the self-esteem of the student.

If you show them point B and give them a pencil, it's amazing how many different ways people can draw a line to get there.

Then again, I don't think it's too late if you can help a 55 year old minimum wage hotel maid to take classes at the local community college for $11 a unit. (Gotta love that CA community college system.) Even if *she* doesn't get a better job, pride and knowledge are contagious. We all need role models :)