When I was 59 and paying half attention to a news clip about the failure of our schools, I heard an interviewee comment, in passing, that of course every parent wants the best possible education for his or her kid.

I goggled. But it’s true. And crazy.

It’s an understood among liberal parents. It’s implicit in Berkeley. Everyone wants the best education for their kids. Whatever for? Aren’t these parents thinking about what education is? Of course it consists of the steps in math and science, the study of language, and time for art. But education is mostly about exposure and training in how to answer questions and solve problems. You don’t need the best possible anything for that. You need to pay attention to what you’re trying to achieve.

I didn’t understand the “college tour” either. I watched my kids’ friends travel to campuses with their parents and I thought “Fine if they want one more family vacation, but then call it that. A college tour? What college campus isn’t attractive enough?”

Every child deserves an adequate education. It has to be good enough. That’s all.

(This was adapted from one of the 10 questions in IDGI, which is the name of the page just added to this blog. As usual, sorry about the oddities in line spacing on the new page, but when I try to repair them they multiply like tribbles.)