After Seattle Public Schools catastrophically failed my child, I started sending her to a Catholic school. My mother used to tell horror stories about nuns and rulers and knuckles, but the Catholic system apparently learned the value of honey over vinegar: my daughter's school is about one-third non-Catholic and all students' beliefs are respected. The teachers are all laypersons. Yes, there are occasionally mandatory attendances for Mass and a class in religion, but when I objected to one event in particular because of its subject matter there was no fuss over just having her leave early that day. And, it's been an interesting catalyst for some interesting father-daughter conversations about spirituality. The education has been top notch. In her last year of public "school" my daughter begged to be home-schooled, she was so bored. Now she gripes about homework and such, but it's always accompanied by, "Guess what I learned today!" It's worth every dime (and there are more than a few of them spent!). -- Ian