If you grew up in a lower-income community, or less well-off, the belief is that the way to change that circumstance is through education.

We've lost our competitive spirit. We've become so obsessed with making kids feel good about themselves that we've lost sight of building the skills they need to actually be good at things.

That should be the goal, is that every kid in every neighborhood, despite whatever challenges they may face, are getting a great education in our public schools.

I think that one thing that people are missing is that we are never going to be able to fix this country's [American] economy in the long run until we fix our public education system.

Creativity is good and whatever. But if the children don't know how to read, I don't care how creative you are. You're not doing your job.

We are always going to put the best interests of kids above the rights, privileges and priorities of adults.

An education reformer is as important in America as the first lady.

We all have to have more rigorous expectations of our kids in America.

I'd rather deal with anger than apathy.

Poverty is so significant that we can't expect to overcome the impacts of poverty in schools.

You may not do well, necessarily, up front, and in order to be the best, you've got to work hard.

With great enthusiasm and determination you will master the art in your field.

We really practice music and work really hard. Sometimes we'll leave at six in the morning, and we started at three the day before.

Changes are not unusual - I mean, most movies, when they release them, they make changes. But somehow, when I make the slightest change, everybody thinks it's the end of the world.

Education is very important to me, as is helping children.

I hit the ball early and move my wrist a lot, so I get bigger angles.

The most difficult crime to track is the one which is purposeless.

I'm not counting any chickens.

Without water the desert is nothing but a grave.

I'm so misunderstood that people misunderstand me even when I tell them I'm misunderstood.

Generous souls Are still most subject to credulity.