David Durenberger: “as we conclude this debate on the Goals 2000 proposal, I want to commend the bill's managers for accommodating a number…”

“as we conclude this debate on the Goals 2000 proposal, I want to commend the bill's managers for accommodating a number of improvements that I and others have suggested, while still sticking to the underlying objectives of this legislation. I also want to point out several important provisions in this bill which need to be strongly supported in conference if this legislation is to retain the kind of broad bipartisan support that it will need to become law. There has been a great deal of discussion during this debate, Mr. President, about the need to reform the education system--a system that is showing serious signs of distress, signs that include: Low test scores compared to our international competitors; Rising levels of violence that threaten both students and teachers; Severe financial pressures that are closing schools, forcing layoffs, cutting valuable programs, and raising average class sizes; and Teacher strikes and high rates of turnover in top administrative positions, especially in our Nation's largest urban school systems. As we try to address these problems, Mr. President, we must remember that every local school system is different.”