There's no second-rate children in Arizona. There's no second-rate children in America.

As we work to keep the peace we've also got to work to make America a better place for all of us. I mean every single citizen. That means we've got to have an education system that is next to none.

It's very important for the school children here to listen to what I'm about to say. You're probably wondering why America is under attack. And you need to know why. We're under attack because we love freedom, is why we're under attack. And our enemy hates freedom. They hate and we love. They hate the thought that this country is a country in which people from all walks of life can worship an almighty God any way he or she fits.

American children are not born knowing what they should cherish — are not born knowing why they should cherish American values. A love of democratic principles must be taught.

We didn't need any more theory in Washington. We needed people that actually done.

Especially important in a time of war that our children understand the context of why we fight.

Across America today, Americans are reciting 31 world — words that help define our country. In once sentence we affirm our form of government, our belief in human dignity, our unity as a people, and our reliance on Providence. And this pledge takes on a special meaning in a time of war. Our enemies hate these words. That's what you've got to understand. They hate the words, and they want to erase them. We're determined to stand for these words, and live them out in our lives. Our allegiance has never been stronger. We've never been more determined. And we must work to teach our children to love our nation as much as we do.

And I don't need to tell that to the people of this room, but there is a — some in our country — uh, believe in the, what I call the soft bigotry of low expectations. They don't believe in the bigotry, but because there's low expectations, there is a soft bigotry.

It's the systems that don't test are those that quit on the kids.

[Arkansas and Alabama] don't need fancy theories, or what may sound good. Science is not an art — I mean, reading is not an art. It's a science. We know what works.

I figured if [Rod Paige] could handle the Houston Independent School District, the Department of Education was nothing.

But today I want to talk about what we're creating in Arkansas, called the Center for State Scholars... and the catalyst will be what they call the Business Roundtable. ... They start interviewing children in 8th grade about their ambitions, and explaining reality. If you don't have any ambitions, the minimum wage job isn't going to get you to where you want to get.

He's got his priorities straight. He has faith foremost in his life, and his family are his two priorities. ...And his first priority — his first priority is to make sure every child in this state gets educated.

If you believe every child can learn, therefore we ought to know whether that's the case.

In the way they're kind of writing it right now out of the Senate Finance Committee, some people could spend their entire five years on welfare - there's a five-year work requirement - going to college. Now, that's not my view of helping people become independent, and it's certainly not my view of understanding the importance of work and helping people achieve the dignity necessary so they can live a free life, free from government control.

Steve [Riggs, volunteer with the South Carolina Military Department,] believes it's important to teach history — live history, or history that through people wearing uniforms, so they can see history come to life.

When we were walking in, Bob was telling me how proud he is of Hope and the job she does, particularly to promote literacy. And I told him, I'm real proud of my wife, too.

We have just passed historic reform in Washington, D.C., education reform. It may be hard for you to believe, but there are, at moments, when Republicans and Democrats come together for the good of the nation.

I appreciate Thomas Downs, who's your superintendent. Interestingly enough, he showed me a picture of he and my dad when he was — I think a teacher, he said — in Iowa.

You're the first high school class to have graduated with America under attack.

I want to thank your Governor for traveling with me today. It's an honor to be in a presence who has made public education his top priority.

It's important for you all to understand that when our country speaks, that we mean it, and we do what we say. I said either you're with us or you're against us. I meant that.

We've got to trust the local people. We've got to trust the Andys, the teachers here. We've got to trust the Keiths, the principals all across — the parents.

With all due respect to the cameras, I hope you read more than you watch TV.

And, finally, in order to go to college, to meet the goal you've set, make sure you make right choices. Tell them, no, when somebody tries to say drugs are cool, or alcohol is good. Make the right choices. You'll be in college, and that's what we want.

[Local school districts] have a responsibility to reject curriculum that do not work.

The people who care more about the Iowa children when it comes to education, are Iowans, not people in Washington, D.C.

Sometimes when I sleep at night I think of "Hop on Pop."

You can help by helping build one of these school chests. It doesn't matter how you do it, how you raise the money. Just get it done.

We need to know whether or not people are learning. And if they are, there will be hallelujahs all over the place.

I understand taking tests aren't fun.