Political Quotes

“First of all, I want to thank the managers of the bill for including some language to clarify the intent of this legislation to provide voluntary standards, guidelines, and challenges before our Nation's schools to elevate the level of excellence among students in our country. Senators will remember that after the historic education summit, which was held in 1989 in Charlottesville, VA, President Bush described the importance of these steps to America's future by saying: We must demand more of our students by imposing higher academic standards in our classroom. If we are to improve our standard of living, protect and defend our democratic freedoms, and strengthen our moral character as a Nation, nothing is more important than education. Today, the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, S. 1150, which is the successor to President Bush's America 2000 plan, deserves our support. Low test scores, high dropout rates, and insufficient preparation for the work force cannot be tolerated in our country.”