cstone,

Your observations about public 'education' are correct. Our 'education' system originated in Prussia after Napoleon humiliated the Prussian military. It was deliberately designed to produce people fit for one of three economic/social roles: the great majority were to be workers or soldiers, able to read and do basic arithmetic sufficient to effectively follow orders (but NEVER to question the legitimacy of those orders); those selected for the next level were given more advanced mathematical, linguistic and scientific training along with limited analytical skills to prepare them for technical positions (engineers, administrators, lawyers, physicians, military officers, etc...); a tiny minority were prepared to become part of the ruling class by receiving what we might properly term a classical liberal education, including a deeper knowledge of history, philosophy and logic. That ruling class was to have a monopoly on critical thought and even its members were never to question the basic tenets of Prussian imperialism.

This ghastly obscenity was imported by 'progressives' who wanted to reform the excessively (from the progressives' perspective) self reliant and independent American people into good, pliable sheep who would not object to the imposition of a progressive utopia. Unfortunately, the plan was ultimately successful (when was the last time you heard any 'mainstream' types seriously question any of the unconstitutional programs foisted on us by the feds?) and we are all paying the price as this unworkable collectivist wet dream implodes from its own internal contradictions.

That system is antithetical to the ideals of a free society as envisioned by the founders of our republic. It is also alien to the natural, free human spirit; so thoroughly soul destroying that I have come to regard it as a serious form of child abuse.

To the original poster - your best solution would be to home school your child, providing her with healthy values and a real education instead of subjecting her to the foul agenda of the government-run indoctrination centers mistakenly referred to as 'schools'. The fact that she is not doing 'well' at complying with the government school crap is a sign that there is still hope...