Political Quotes

“I rise today in strong support of S. 1361, the School-to-Work Opportunities Act. In the last few days, we have charted a new course in Federal education legislation. For over a decade, States and communities have been at work developing innovative programs to address the challenges facing today's schools. With the Goals 2000 legislation and the School-to-Work Opportunities Act, the Federal Government finally steps forward as a full partner in these efforts. And unlike in the past, we are bringing more than our ideas and mandates to the table. These new initiatives come not with strings, but with money and flexibility. The School-to-Work Opportunities Act is aimed at the 75 percent of students who never complete college. These students are often overlooked by the current system. To a great extent, the focus of our high schools has been on the college-bound student. Computer programming, accounting, automotive engineering, and other vocationally-oriented courses have been offered as electives, if at all. Students who complete high school, but not college, find themselves with a diploma, but few job skills. Thirty years ago, a high school diploma was enough to put a young man or woman into a job that could support a family and a home. Today, that is just not the case. The average monthly earnings of a full-time worker with only a high school diploma is just $1,200. There are few places in America where this income could support a family.”