Parental Negotiating

Traditionally, the Wallace family sends it children to public school for the first three grades of school. The purpose is less to expose them to rote education than to socialize them fully. The belief they should never lose touch with the average person strongly motivates them to befriend regular kids. As a result, Morgan went to a regular grade school, despite an obvious disability. It strengthened his bond with Michael and taught them both to deal with preconceptions of blind people. It taught him to deal with crowds of new people and they learned navigation techniques for busy public areas. Bullies also learned that messing with either was not a good idea.

Once some acquaintances are made, hopefully lifelong, the children are pulled from school and returned to more the formal tutoring and grooming that starts at age three. The tutors center the youngsters in their role as British citizens and nobility....

“And that's why you no longer need to go to public school.”

“But my friends are there.”

“Yes, and you can still keep them, visit with them, write them and play with them. You're just going to get a better education and have mannerisms polished into those of a young lady. Your father is gentry and there is no reason you can't be, too.”

“Can't school teach me that?”

“I don't think they teach heraldry, protocol, or dressage. All of which I expect you to learn.”

Nicole screwed her face up into a grimace.

“Okay, well, you can skip the dressage if you don't want to ride horses...”

“Can I have my own pony?!”

Michael smiled broadly “You may have your own pony, if you accept a tutor.”