Oh, I remember that well--I've had to self-educate for the price of the odd library fee from the time I was sixteen or so and fully realized I wasn't going to learn too much in our compromised institutions.

I think it really comes down to the parents not wanting their spirits hurt, not the kids. They don't like to admit that maybe for all his ritalin Johnny's just an idiot, one of many we're not allowed to acknowledge. I'm sure Johnny himself would be much happier in a class with kids of his own intelligence, not having to strain to keep up with the smarter ones (just like they don't want to be dragged down by his ilk). Personally, I can't see him sobbing his eyes out that he might not rise to new levels of erudite transcendence, only proud Mama furious that anyone dare disobey our cultural dogma that every child is equally special. I remember Sports Day at my elementary school, where there were no prizes so as not to offend the losers. I was a mediocre athlete, but I was indignant on behalf of the really athletic kids who deserved honours but got none, all because of our equality bullshit.