Without any doubt at all, teacher quality is the fundamental differentiator. Not just, incidentally, of education, but I would argue, probably the biggest single differentiator of success for the nations of the 21st Century.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
As a former teacher and a mother and grandmother, I know firsthand the importance of a quality education.
I am deeply concerned with the diminution of the teaching strength of the country as a result of the disproportionately low salaries that are paid to teachers throughout the country.
As an educator myself, I understand the profound effect that good teachers and a quality education have on the lives of our young people.
I think the teaching profession contributes more to the future of our society than any other single profession.
I think more and more respect has been accorded to teachers, and quite rightly so.
There is no education system in the world - none at all - that's better than its average teacher.
Most teachers still say they love teaching though they wouldn't mind a little more respect for their challenging work and a little less blame for America's educational shortcomings.
I believe there's not a harder job in the world than being a teacher, and there isn't a job with a more direct impact on the performance of our students.
We have found that the most successful teachers in low-income communities operate like successful leaders. They establish a vision of where their students will be performing at the end of the year that many believe to be unrealistic.
We need quantitative assessments of the success of education. We need certification and qualifications both for teachers and for pupils. It is not a choice between quantity and quality, between access and excellence. Both of these will happen together if people really do believe in the importance of education to change lives.