Asa Hutchinson: “I certainly associate my remarks with those of the distinguished Senator from New Hampshire who truly has displayed not…”

“I certainly associate my remarks with those of the distinguished Senator from New Hampshire who truly has displayed not only great leadership but great expertise on this whole subject area, and who, I think, very eloquently and very articulately explained the differences in philosophy and approach, and while sincere, the misguided efforts of the proponents of this amendment. I take a few minutes to make a couple of observations about what the other side said about their amendment and then will outline my objections and what I think are the flaws in the approach advanced by the Senator from Washington. Certainly, I think Senator Gregg was right. The Republican approach is superior because it emphasizes the qualities of the teacher, not simply putting more teachers out there. I recall very well, in the third grade, when there was an overabundance of third graders in a small rural school in Arkansas that I attended, we were placed in the second grade class. There were 7 third graders placed in the second grade class. Our teacher, Mrs. Hare--I remember her well--had 30 students in her class: 23 second graders and seven third graders. It was not an ideal situation by any means. It was not what anybody desired. We would have liked it if they had smaller classes.”