Political Quotes

“I am grateful to both Senators. Senator Kerry offered two wonderful amendments. I am pleased to be an original cosponsor of both of them. I thank him for his leadership. We have spent a fair amount of time talking about academic standards we have set in our schools and other States have set in their schools. We have spent a fair amount of time acknowledging tests are being taken to measure student progress and we need to hold folks accountable-- schools, school districts, and teachers. It has been acknowledged again and again how important having a good teacher in a classroom is to enable all students to reach the standards that are being set in their respective States. Professional development of teachers is critical in my State of Delaware, obviously Massachusetts, and other places. Senator Kerry put his finger on it. It is not enough just to work on the professional development of the teachers or to make sure we have teachers who know their business, know their stuff, love to teach, love kids in our classrooms, but it is critically important that the men and women leading those schools, the principals and assistant principals, learn how to do their jobs well.”