since self-sufficiency of school and of community are main themes here, what types of businesses does the community need. businesses not just to quench consumerism, but that we really need to become self-sufficient.

i think solarus said something in a previous response about teaching the children some basic skills like filling out paperwork...well they can also learn basic computer office suites, filing, and busines operations.

the state of maryland unemployment office has this program for unemployed people, where they ask if yo have any ideas for a business, and if you do you fill out a little questionaire and then get to go to these training classes for entrpreneurs. well, this could work in the same way, only the school (older students and teachers) in addition to providing this training could also provide office support (word processing, filing, desktop publishing of marketing materials, even web design) of these entrepreneurs when they first start out. and with telecommunications, depending on the business, people could work from home, or use the home as the main office and outsource adminisration to the school, establishing the family compound (dare i even dream) as an economic unit. is this making sense?

**********THE SIG**********

"the matrix is a system...that system is our enemy. when you're inside, when you look around, what do you see? businessmen, teachers, lawyers, carpenters, the very minds of the people we are trying to save. until we do, these people are still a part of that sysytem, and that makes them our enemy. but you have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged...they are so helplessly dependent on the system, they will fight tooth and nail to protect it...anyone we haven't unplugged is potentially an agent. inside the matrix, they are everyone, and they are no one. we have survived by hiding from them and by running from them. but they are the gatekeepers. they are guarding all the doors, they are holding all the keys. which means that sooner or later, someone is going to have to fight them."
-morpheus "the matrix"