Seeing so many kids and parents at yesterday's public education rally reminded us of how great it must be growing up in a place like the Bay Area, aside from the whole aforementioned public education budget cuts.

Update -- Let's reiterate because some people got rubbed the wrong way: The biggest thing we like about the Bay Area is seeing parents and kids caring about and being involved in their community together. It's not about money because this contributor certainly doesn't have any.

Many of the kids we know are muni veterans, sushi lovers, vegetable eaters, loyal Hardly Strictly Bluegrass attendees, Mandarin or Korean-immersion students, skilled knitters, world travelers (one kid we know says his favorite vacation spot is Singapore) and long-time arts patrons (another kid we know is a long-time member of a club that has weekly film screenings -- think Kurosawa et al -- and gallery walks).

Here's hoping we find a way to bring the quality of education back on par with the level of culture our kids are exposed to.