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Today the wind blew and leaves fell. My children spent a couple of hours making piles of leaves and frolicking in them.

I can't help but think that they learned more that prepared them for a good future in these two hours of play than any of them might have learned in an entire day of school. They learned to use imagination, creativity, the value of work, the pleasure of being with people and the fun of life.

On the other hand, there is a regular school day:

My children's typical school day would begin with a mad dash for classrooms, where, once they arrive, they are expected to sit down and listen to somebody talk for a while. They are expected to raise their hands before talking and they are expected to take turns at the water fountains.

These are good things, mostly. It is good to learn to take turns and respect those around you.

But then there are all the problems. My children could easily find themselves in a history class where they are expected to memorize dates and names. They don't discuss themes in history such as the pride cycle, bravery, good and evil, and causes of war. Why don't they discuss these things? Because you can no longer take a position in public schools. If you take a position and defend it, you will be labeled as racist, ethnocentrist, chauvinist, nationalist or even homo- or hetero- phobic. Thus, our children are not taught to discuss issues deeply and to examine sides. This mental malaise that is allowed to infect our children today prepares them for a dreary world of political correctness that is colorless and without passion.

This is not a future I want for my children.

Let's say my children then attend a Physical Education class. There are two extremes to these classes today: Might is right and Everybody's a winner. What about the joy of competition and exercise? Why can't children be allowed to compete and learn to take failure in a pragmatic way, such as, "Dangit! I lost! *&%@#$! I'm gonna try harder and do better next time! You just wait!"

Instead, those who do not win are told they did their best, and may even be told they don't have to participate if they don't want to. The future they are being prepared for is one of quitting, laziness and specialization.

On the other extreme there is the idea of Might is Right. Those students who excel at sports get attention, teams and funding. They get accolades and are even encouraged to go and spend all of their soul on making it to the big leagues. What happens to those who are good, but not

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