Political Quotes

“I have expressed some concerns about the feasibility of implementing the No Child Left Behind legislation in the remote villages of rural Alaska. Descendants of the first peoples of Alaska, Eskimos, Indians and Aleuts, make up most of the inhabitants of these villages. Last year, I brought Secretary Paige to rural Alaska so that he could fully comprehend the challenges of educating children in the villages. It is clear to me, and I believe it became clear to the Secretary, that our national education policy must be informed by the experiences of parents, teachers, and school administrators on the ground if it is to be effective. The Secretary must not only know what is going on in the classrooms of our largest cities but also in the farthest corners of our Nation. When it comes to educating our children, one size does not fit all, and nobody knows this better than an experienced classroom teacher. I was pleased to learn that President Bush has selected an exemplary Alaska classroom teacher to work with Secretary Paige in the improvement of educational opportunities for American Indian and Alaska native students.”