Parents asked educators about their children's learning. Frustrated when they were ignored, they asked politicians to put pressure on the educators. They were then surprised when the politicians provided personal advice about the optimal way to nurture learning. They were even more surprised when the politicans prescribed changes to instruction, curriculum, textbooks, technology, school safety, teacher retention, student behavior, school funding, and even the menus for school cafeterias. More frustrated than ever, they intensified their barrage of common sense questions.