Many observers and critics of current public school practices have advocated that parents be given more control over their children's education. On the other hand, the suggestion has sometimes been voiced that children-particularly those from "disadvantaged" families-be removed from their own parents and reared in public nurseries. Admittedly the latter suggestion is distasteful, even shocking, to most of us; yet it is doubtful whether our emotional revulsion to this suggestion is accompanied by any rational considerations. So great is our commitment to the nuclear family, that the idea of removing children from their natural parents seems utterly alien to everything we believe and hold dear. But, as with other deep, personal commitments, once we begin to search for solid, rational grounds upon which such a commitment might be defended, if not based, we find ourselves floundering in deep and troubled waters.' It is unlikely that our society would ever seriously consider forc