First every time you post you say something inaccurate. Check out your facts or keep quiet! Although CMU is a strong school; it is certainly NOT one of the top schools in the WORLD. My children attended Butler School District and were well educated there. If your son had difficulty competing once admitted to CMU then it was his fault for not taking advantage of the education made available to him. It is laughable you say "character" helped him catch up. As his mother you should know it was his hard work and intelligence that enabled him to achieve there. Character doesn't relate to achievement as defined in the dictionary. All three of my children have been successful; which was supported by their outstanding education at Butler. They attended Brown(one of the top schools in the US; an IVY), Penn State, and Drexel. If they would have had difficulty at college the last excuse they would have made would have been that others were better prepared. Perhaps that is a direct reflection on how we raised them to be adults, responsible for their actions and course in life.

As for Butler and the need to extend the school day ten minutes that was done at a public board meeting and no one kept it hush hush. Since I had children in school at that time I received the letter from the district explaining the extension. That certainly isn't hush, hush is it?

Finally you know nothing about what it takes to be a teacher, doctor or anything else other than what you do for a living. I will always appreciate the teachers who taught my children to read, do math, love science,appreciate art, and

understand history. I will also appreciate the coaches and advisors who supported them in their activities and enabled them to be exposed to competition, giving back to the community, and achieving through competitions.

Lastly, I am not a teacher nor do I have any relatives who teach. What I am is an intelligent person who doesn't have the need to put down others because they chose to teach and are paid out of tax dollars. You accomplish nothing by tearing down. It certainly isn't a way to build a productive life.

If people like you Cass continue to speak out of ignorance, get elected to school boards,and disrespect educators then education will become the profession of last resort. Currently it is not and I dare say we have one of the best educational systems in the world should a parent decide to support their child in taking advantage of it.