My daughter would like to be a music teacher (she is a junior in HS this year). We talk about the stupid politics of school systems, as Marksman refers to, and I tell her to have a back-up plan. There is a lot that goes on in a school system that indicates leadership seems to lose track of the fact that the first job should be to give the kids the best shot at an education they can.

I envy your ability with the violin. It is a beautiful instrument. If I had the slightest shred of musical ability, I would be torn between it and the piano. I was a brass man when I was in school, but not much of one.