Brenda, You make a number of good points about the learning environment and student success. In my work I go to developing countries and set up educational programs. I recently was in a mountain village where the school was a cave. The only education supplies and resources were worn out textbooks that were over twenty years old. The children in the village were so excited about being able to go to school and learn to read. They thought the worn out and torn textbooks were made of gold. They arrived early, never missed and soaked up everything the teacher said. This was done in a cave with a lantern for light. Everyday 16 million kids wake up with no school or are not allowed to go to school. I sometimes lose patience with the youth in America that complain about everything in relation to education. I would like to show them the places I have been and the schools other children in the world attend or in some cases do not get to attend. I support your idea about the value of internships because they help students to see what they are going to experience once they enter that career area. The more real world experience the easier their transition to employment is going to be. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.