THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: "I am the product of a Jesuit education, and institutions like the Jesuits and the Marines have for generations produced impressive intellectual and motivational results by undermining the self- esteem of recruits." That's a bit of autbiography in a Dinesh D'Souza column recommended by Joanne Jacobs, whose prescription for a mugging by reality I reproduce here. "Eventually, their inflated self-esteem will be punctured by reality. Better to let students struggle, learn from their failures and take pride in real achievements."

Amen.