nope I win. The educational system seems to be different everywhere. I'm lucky that my high school age children are in a school that is amazing. They look after them spiritually, physically, emotionally and educationally. My youngest daughter has just started college full-time (she was part school part college taught last year) and she absolutely adores it. All three are encouraged to think. question, debate, research and learn in their own way, at their own pace and take the subjects they want to take (the core subjects are mandatory of course). They love school, love college and have all been bullied at some point. However, this has been dealt with swiftly and put down immediately. I'm sad that other schools are not as forthcoming as the one my sons go to. I'm also sad that children are not nurtured and protected in the very establishments that should do just that. Maybe one day...