[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 91 (Thursday, June 24, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H4832]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      ACCOUNTABILITY IN EDUCATION

  (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. STEARNS. I would say to my colleague from Washington (Mr. 
McDermott) I do not think the doctors are ever going to run to the 
Democratic party because they do not want to have socialized medicine.
  Now when it comes to education, Mr. Speaker, Republicans and 
Democrats have different visions. We differ on our assumptions, and 
that leads to very different policy choices. Democrats start with the 
assumption that what ails public education is more money. We need much 
more money.
  Republicans do not agree. If money were the problem, and given that 
Congress has increased federal spending on education every single year 
since 1960, the schools would long ago have improved. However, both 
parties agree smaller class size, better teacher training, writing, 
wiring classrooms for the Internet; that will improve education.
  But here is the main point, my colleagues. What it needs is more 
accountability for the money that is already spent and discipline in 
the classroom. Democrats believe that competition is bad and that the 
public school monopolies are good. Republicans do not agree. 
Competition produces excellence and requires, Mr. Speaker, 
accountability.
  But we do have exactly the same goal: better schools for our 
children.

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