David Durenberger: “I oppose this amendment, Mr. President, because I believe it upsets a very delicate balance now in the Goals 2000…”

“I oppose this amendment, Mr. President, because I believe it upsets a very delicate balance now in the Goals 2000 legislation between the role of national and State governments and local schools and communities in promoting and supporting education reform. The junior Senator from Florida is correct when he points out that education improvement in this country will depend on thousands of individual communities acting on their own to tailor school reforms to meet their unique local needs. That's one reason, Mr. President, that I so strongly oppose the kind of uniform, top-down approach to school improvement represented by so-called opportunity-to-learn standards. Under virtually all State constitutions, however, State governments play an essential role in financing and policy setting for elementary and secondary education. No significant reforms in local schools will take place without the leadership, authority, and, ultimately, deference of State governments. So, it is essential, Mr. President, that the role of State governments be recognized in this bill.”