[Evans, Marv]

Taz,
Your comment about insulting the race(s) by pointing out the lack of parental involvement seems to now be taking a PC drift (not blasting you). If it is, that is one of the reasons we're in the trouble we're in. Having taught for many years, I can attest to the fact that parental involvement is a huge factor in student success. My wife who is currently a teacher frequently comes home complaining about parents of poorly performing kids not responding to her requests for conferences (or anything else) or working with the kid at home with homework. I remember reading an account years ago of a Korean student at one of the ivy league universities at finals time. His mother came to stay with him to take care of his apartment and cook & clean for him while he studied for his finals. Not many parents do that kind of thing to help their kids get ahead.