I am having a hard time understanding what is 'wrong' with public schools. Learning is an active process, a 2 way street between the teacher and the student. A failed school is one where a child legitimately tries for a goal, to succeed, and fails because there is no venue for his efforts. What kids who have tried to succeed have failed? If we are talking about straight numbers of literacy for a school and blaming teachers, then isn't that turning the learning experience into a 1 way street and a cop-out of our parents for not motivating their children, or children being taught too young a stage in their particular lives to care?