Herbert Pell: “as we all know, the Federal Government is not the major player in education. That is a role played by State and local…”

“as we all know, the Federal Government is not the major player in education. That is a role played by State and local government. The Federal role is a small but highly targeted one, providing assistance primarily in areas of clearly defined needs. Because of that, I believe our emphasis should be upon those schools that serve the vast number of students in our Nation, namely the public schools. Basically, I am of the mind that the way to achieve educational excellence nationwide is to have the schools that are open to all students be second to none in the world. The investment we make in public education will unquestionably determine our future strength as a nation. Make no mistake about it, our public schools are in trouble; they need our help. Teachers are overburdened with large classes and need opportunities to upgrade their skills. Many schools lack adequate science facilities. Students go without updated textbooks and a safe environment in which to learn. These are the needs where we should be directing Federal resources to make our schools the best in the world.”