mainstream for whatever reason. This is an achievable goal, but requires parents who value such options to be active in initiating and supporting them. The parents who want more exploratory, free school type options have been quite successful in ensuring these choices are available; now those who wish a stronger or more focused academic emphasis need to do the same. In fact Paul, we are hearing that the private schools, the elite ones are serving an even richer clientel since the marginal ones now cannot afford it. My estimate is that 80% of private school success is due to high SES and selective enrolement. The remaining 20% is due to very small classes, individual attention, enriched curriculum and in many cases, highly qualified teachers. I'm a little shocked to hear that teachers in the public schools aren't already "highly qualified". I suspect most folks have that expectation as a default. No doubt we'd have to determine being a "highly qualified teacher" even means. You make a compelling case TDSB when it comes to the small number of "elite" independent day schools. I do question how representative they are of the private school community. Of the 92 CAIS member schools only a half dozen remain highly selective in their admissions. And over the past five years boarding school enrolment is down 15 per cent across Canada. Your revelation that you were significantly ahead of your peers entering university is a story I have heard many times. My own daughter and I