[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 1039]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



            EVERY CHILD SHOULD HAVE A FIRST-CLASS EDUCATION

  Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, as a former teacher, I believe that our 
most profound responsibility is to ensure that every child has a first-
class education, that no child is left behind, and that all students 
can share in the pride and promise of educational opportunity. That is 
why I am so pleased with the bipartisan support education reform is 
receiving from my colleagues in the House and in the Senate.
  It is important that we continue to put our children above politics. 
I believe that while we call for higher standards, we must also provide 
schools with both the funding and the flexibility that they need to 
succeed. Flexibility is a key to success. After all, the needs of 
schools in Green Brook and Warren, towns in my district in New Jersey, 
are different from the needs of schools in Green Bay and in Wichita.
  Targeting resources to local priorities will ensure that dollars 
reach the programs that need them the most, such as hiring new teachers 
to reduce class size, expanding charter schools and funding for new 
school construction.
  I commend our President and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle 
for advocating common sense education reforms that, if enacted, will 
strengthen our public schools and make sure that no child is left 
behind. After all, our children are our country's most precious 
resource.

                          ____________________