James M. Jeffords: “I wish that were to be the case. But I think we will all understand when we fully understand the dimensions of the goals…”

“I wish that were to be the case. But I think we will all understand when we fully understand the dimensions of the goals and the dimensions of the problems that this is a beginning of a prolonged effort in the sense it should have been here years ago but what will be a prolonged effort to improve the education of America. It does, however, represent a bipartisan compromise to improve teaching and learning and making our schools really ready to go into the work force in the 21st century. My support for this bill sprouts not from a naive belief in some theory, but from the very real experience in my home State of Vermont.”