It's not like learning magically happens with no input or help from the student. They have to put in the time and effort, and while it's all fine and good to say that it's the teacher's job to inspire them, the reality is also that our culture has told them that learning should be FUN and if it isn't, they don't have to do it and it's someone else's fault.

I'm not saying there aren't a host of other issues, but the students themselves seem to be getting a free pass here and I'm not sure that is completely fair.

Panama's cost-effectiveness is "below average." Panama has some of the highest paid teachers in the area, particularly for a small school.

I have in my hand a copy of my school district's performance, from the most recent Business First Report. Pizan you and Pam are part of the problem. The taxpayer and our kids are not getting what they pay for. If you can't do the job, then you should be removed. And since Pizan suggests I or someone else perform his/her duties, I rest my case.

I can only assume that hoser, pam and pizan condone and benefit from, this corrupt system. Better collect all that taxpayer money while you can. Those that pay your salaries have had enough of your ineptitude and your attitude. Continue to convince yourself that you are worth it. The rest of us know exactly what you are worth. We're not going to stop bringing attention to it.

As I said last week, everyone thinks the other guy is overpaid and he is underpaid. Human nature. And I am not a teacher.

How ironic that teachers praise themselves and the schools when the scores are good, and when the scores are bad, then the data is flawed. In this state teachers and administrators are overpaid. A simple opinion that many of us have that pay the salaries. It is called wasteful spending.

And I must say, for what they are paid, they certainly should have the answers. Educators are paid to educate, if it is too difficult, then they should find another profession and stop defending the failure.

Bemus Point, Fredonia, Southwestern, and Frewsburg are the only school districts with under 30% of their kids eligible for reduced price lunches.

Finally, rather than comparing the districts against each other, which gives me no real idea how big the gap is in academic achievement between two schools, just that there were X number of schools in between them, I'd rather see them ranked on a scale of 1 to 100 or something like that. The 5-star rating system in 4 subjects with no explanation for how they arrived at that is useless to me.

I want an absolute ranking, not a relative one.

Also, "The district's rating for cost-effectiveness is below average."

This doesn't mean that people in those areas aren't paying the same for their schools, or that the teachers aren't great, or that the kids aren't trying. But sometimes when students come from poorer areas, they don't have as many advantages outside of school to help them along. There may also be a greater percentage of problems outside of school distracting them from their scholarship. This is not always the case--Sherman proves that this year. (Or Alfred-Almond in Allegany County--6th overall in WNY and 43 in combined wealth ratio).

For now, I have to ask, what are our tax dollars going for? Obviously, not educating our students.

That should bring out all the cheerleaders with their Panther Pride! Maybe we should pay the super a little more money, hire a few more of those brilliant teachers, and give them all a raise.

Hey let's look at the bright side Panama Central is not in last place, yet!