<several discussions of America's educational system snipped> ....So that's why we home-school, which pretty much sums up *my* opinion. Hmm... what's the ideal home-schooling computer? I want the kids to own the computer, be able to learn languages (Pascal, C++, Forth, open to suggestions, as well as Japanese, Russian, etc.), be able to do science projects with it, be able to word-process but not necessarily spell-check, be able to run good educational software. I'm already biased towards a Mac Plus (and own one), but certainly ready for suggestions. NeXT? MicroVax 3100? Cost, hardware and software, is a factor, of course. I'm *hoping* this is an on-topic question, in as much as classic computers are cheaper and simpler but demand more of the user to make work properly and therefore make better learning tools than current machines; if the answer is a new wintel box or a new iBook, I'd still like to hear it but I'd like to hear it off-list. TIA, - Mark