Exactly, Inky. The first sentence in your quote from the original letter is the part that bothered me the most. Not only is one sacrificing the child's learning potential, one is also sacrificing on the altar of one's political agenda the child's chance at having real friendships with others in his or her class. The child who substitutes for/assists in a teaching capacity the teacher is never going to be treated as an equal by the other children.

minnie