people learn from and adapt to their local environments and that such adaptations in childhood often set the course for the rest of their lives.

We could provide every child with a fairer shot at security and success. We could make immense headway in driving down the many agonizing correlates of poverty, like violence, sickness, and despair. Crime rates would plummet. Eviction rates, too. Neighborhoods would stabilize and come alive. Schools could focus more on education instead of dedicati

No school or profession can guarantee success, financial or otherwise. The child who values close connections with mentoring adults is unlikely to feel successful at a large, impersonal school, no matter how prestigious. And the child whose blood runs music is not likely to feel successful in a dental program. While every protective parenting bone