Political Quotes

“I rise to address concerns about Goals 2000. While there will be differing views as to whether or not to include the provision with regard to prayer, I am sure every Senator in this body joins me in looking for a dramatic change in the way our education system works. Everyone must have asked themselves why Americans seem to fall behind in this category. It is particularly amazing because the American experience is one which has resulted in excellence in almost every discipline. Indeed, our educational achievements at the graduate level and postgraduate level are remarkable and lead the world. The United States remains the place to come for graduate school and advanced degrees. Yet, for some reason our K-12 education experience has not remained competitive with many other countries around the world, some of the same countries that supplied the population that makes up America. Do people lose intellectual capacity when they cross the water to come to America? I think not. Is there something inferior about this Nation that would result in the lack of achievement in the K-12 area? I think not, Mr. President. Everything we can look at seems to indicate exactly the opposite. The freedom and democracy that has blessed this shore has showered achievement in almost every area of human endeavor. To be sure, it has brought out the best in all of us. Then why the failure of achievement in the K-12 area?”