Robin Carnahan: “It has been suggested that families and communities give us roots, but our schools give us wings--the wings of…”

“It has been suggested that families and communities give us roots, but our schools give us wings--the wings of opportunity that come with a solid educational background. I commend President Bush for putting education at the top of the national agenda. His goal to 'leave no child behind' is one that all of us in the Congress should support. Indeed, education is a cause that all Americans can rally behind. For it is in the common interest to prepare our children for success. If we are interested in increased prosperity, higher productivity, safer streets, lower welfare rolls, and reduced need for government services, the place to start is in our public schools. The Better Education for Students and Teachers Act that we are debating today is an important first step. It is the product of arduous and painstaking negotiations on the part of my colleagues and the Bush administration. It represents bipartisan consensus. I applaud all those involved, who have put our children ahead of politics. The legislation will bring greater accountability to our school system.”