Equally mind-boggling is the fact that the incident took place only 40 years ago. For those of us under the age of 40 it seems bizarre that such blatant segregation existed in such recent history — not just racism, but government-sanctioned racism.

As much hoopla as surrounded this anniversary celebration at this tiny public school, so too did it surround Bill and Hillary when the first couple dropped off their only daughter at Stanford. Separating them from the other families was the fact that they had to ask the press to give them some space and allow their daughter the opportunity to experience college as others do. "As others do," presumably, includes covering the $30,000 annual Stanford tuition.

Bill has said that he would like to see the day when "the 13th and 14th years of education as universal to all Americans as the first 12 are today..." His version of a-chicken-in-every-pot, I suppose. But I know of few people who can afford to pay, out-of-pocket, even the tuition of many state institutions these days, much less housing, books, etc. Of course, financial aid and student loans are available, but financial aid can't cover everybody. And how to pay back a $40,000 or more loan fresh out of college? Especially when, per Clinton's vision, the college degree will one day be as worthwhile in the job market as a high school diploma is today.

In my ideal world I see fewer 18-year-olds entering college. I would prefer that kids fresh out of high school were encouraged to travel, to work myriad jobs, to explore the world around them. Only after a couple years of this exploration would they then enter college to declare a major and a life occupation. Some of them would bypass college altogether, using their creative minds or their technical skills to add to this world. It is a rare few who know at such a young age what they want out of life and themselves. Besides, maybe we ought to worry about basic literacy first.