Pete Sessions: “I think the Senator from New Hampshire is precisely correct. It may be that a school system is in circumstances where…”

“I think the Senator from New Hampshire is precisely correct. It may be that a school system is in circumstances where they believe that class-size reduction is important. That can be done under this bill as it is written today. They can use the funds for class-size reduction. But I think we ought to be careful that we do not require them to take steps that could cost tremendous sums of money, money which could be better spent for bringing in a high-quality computer laboratory, a new science laboratory, the latest and best ways to teach mathematics, sending teachers to attain advanced degrees and advanced training in history and science and math and how to teach reading. Those kinds of things may be more important than simply whether the number of students in the classroom is 20 or 16. If you go from 20 students to 16 students in a classroom, that is a 20-percent increase in the number of teachers you have to hire. If you go from 20 students to 16 students, you have to have 20 percent more classrooms and 20 percent more overhead and cost. So I would just say that from Professor Hanushek's analysis, and from what appears to be common sense over 40 years of rapidly reduced class size with no academic benefit, we ought to be a little bit humble in this body before we start suggesting that it is the sole and best way for any school system in America to spend its money to enhance learning. That is all I am saying in opposition to this amendment.”