NQ99HQ

 We have noted that the entire school system all the way from Kindergarten through college is coming under more scrutiny today than during anytime in our lives, and that is a long time.  This scrutiny by many parents and watchdog groups is due to a concern that children are being taught social concepts that are contrary to that of the parents.  This becomes serious when the child has to review what was learned in school on any day; a review which precipitates some corrective teaching by the parent. We know this happens because more than one mother has told us of the routine of review what was taught in today's class. Think of the stress that this contest between that which the teacher professes and what the parents then correct sets up in the child's mind.  Makes one wonder if social concepts should be taught in school at all.   There are other reasons for the increased scrutiny, but these seem to be overshadowed by the one mentioned.  These other two are: (a) the cost to teach

 Over the many years we have exchanged an occasional note since we left high school but that was not but once every few years.  More recently, we have stepped up our communications via email and an occasional telephone call since Darold moved to New Mexico, thus leaving Colorado in the snow and dust. We have often talked of visiting him in New Mexico when we vacationed in Taos, but that has not occured in recent years, so there never has been a visit. One thing led to another in our conversations and then Darold suggested he and his partner visit us in late July.  This sounded great and we both realized that it would be a big adventure, especially on his part as he had to make the effort of driving all that distance, and especially because he would be hauling his travel trailer.  In fact, he would plan on visiting us as his first stop on a two week tour to Florida and then up and over to Arkansas and back to Las Cruces.  Now that is a big effort.  But, as he said on the phone, "wh