Steve Rothman: “public school education has made this country the most productive and advanced country on the planet. It is the key that…”

“public school education has made this country the most productive and advanced country on the planet. It is the key that opens the door of opportunities to achieve the American dream. It is not only where we learn our common American heritage and our common values, but it is where we can set a high level of achievement and expectation for all American students. Supporters of public schools understand that our public schools must get better, but let us start at the beginning, grades 1, 2 and 3. That is why I support President Clinton's 100,000 new teachers to reduce class size. Smaller class sizes mean more individualized attention for all of our kids, and a safer and better environment in which they can learn. But there are those in the extreme who want to tear down our public schools and take money from them, to eliminate the opportunity for all Americans to be able to achieve the American dream. I urge my colleagues to support President Clinton's plan to reduce class size for 100,000 more schoolteachers, and to provide repairs to the needy school districts whose school buildings are in disrepair.”