Political Quotes

“10 years ago, we were told that America was a Nation at risk. We were told that if a foreign power had imposed such an educational system on the United States, we might very well consider it an act of war. That report was our wake-up call. Or was it? What has happened since then? There have been more reports and more studies and more stories on how desperate our public education system is. Yet, there has been very little action at the Federal level. Granted, some the doomsaying rhetoric has been overblown. But, every one who has a child in school-- and every child in school--knows that we can do better. We can demand more of our parents, our teachers, and especially our students. We can work to see that all students start school ready to learn; that the high school graduation rate is increased to at least 90 percent; that all students meet the highest standards in English, math, science, civics, history, art, and geography; that American students rank No. 1 in the world in math and science achievement; that we eradicate illiteracy; that all schools are free of violence and drugs; and that all parents are involved in the education of their children. These, Mr. President, are the national education goals established at the education summit in 1989 by President Bush and the Nation's Governors, led by then-Governor Clinton. Today, those goals are before us in the Goals 2000: Educate America Act. I am pleased to support this legislation.”