I have talked a lot about safer schools and smaller class sizes, about the need to put respect for teachers and discipline back into the classroom; and, yes, I have talked a lot about the need for more character education. We must focus more through character education on things like respect and citizenship. I think we need to get back to some of the basics in education. We need to teach our children. We must strive for them to do academically, but we must also strive to help them become good citizens and future leaders for all of us. 

   I am pleased to stand here today in support of this bipartisan amendment. I hope it demonstrates that a lot of us are truly trying to put our children and are truly trying to put progress before partisanship.