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Norristown High School 9/9/92 [OA 5812]
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Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
FOIA Number:
S
S
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection:
George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
Collection/Office of Origin:
Speechwriting, White House Office of
Series:
Speech File Draft Files
Subseries:
Chron File, 1989-1993
OA/ID Number:
13640
Folder ID Number:
13640-003
Folder Title:
Norristown High School 9/9/92 [OA 5812]
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Row:
Section:
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Position:
G
26
18
4
6
NORRISTOWN, PA
SEPTEMBER 9, 1992
1
THANK YOU DR, HOLTON (SUPERINTENDENT), AND GOOD
MORNING EVERYONE; IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK IN
PENNSYLVANIA. LET ME ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE SEC. ALEXANDER,
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS (ARLEN Lamy Coughlin
SPECTER, REP. CURT WELDON,
BLCK PRINCIPAL (BARRY) SPENCER, AND JOSH
LIPPY (PRESIDENT OF STUDENT COUNCIL). AND I SHOULD ADD
-- WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL. I HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT
Payson Burt
SUMMER.
Mankers of C ofC
Volum
Salute Class of 2000 - great job
I'M TOLD THAT MANY OF YOU WERE NERVOUS THIS WEEK.
TENSION'S RISING ABOUT THE BIG EVENT. WONDERING HOW
YOU'LL HANDLE ALL THE ATTENTION. WELL, I'M HERE TO PUT
YOUR FEARS TO REST. I KNOW YOU'LL DO GREAT AGAINST
NORTH PENN FRIDAY NIGHT. //
YOU KNOW, OUR WORLD HAS BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF
CHANGE THE PAST FEW YEARS. WHEN MY KIDS WERE YOUR AGE,
THEY USED TO PRACTICE NUCLEAR DISASTER DRILLS. THE
ALARMS WOULD GO OFF, AND THEY WOULD ALL CRAWL UNDER
THEIR DESKS AND WAIT.
THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN ANYMORE. AS A PARENT AND A
GRANDPARENT, I'M GLAD THAT AMERICAN KIDS CAN GROW UP IN
THE SUNSHINE OF PEACE.
Photocopy-GB Handwriting
- 2 -
2
NOW THAT THE COLD WAR IS OVER, THE CHALLENGE BEFORE
OUR NATION -- IS TO WIN THE PEACE. TO GUARANTEE THAT
AMERICA IN THE 21ST CENTURY WILL BE NOT JUST A MILITARY
SUPERPOWER, BUT ALSO AN EXPORT SUPERPOWER, AND AN
ECONOMIC SUPERPOWER.
THAT'S JUST A FANCY WAY OF SAYING THAT WHEN YOU
GROW UP, YOU DESERVE THE CHANCE TO HAVE A GOOD JOB, AND
LIVE A BETTER LIFE THAN YOUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS.
YOU SHOULD LIVE THE AMERICAN DREAM.
THAT'S WHY I'M HERE THIS MORNING, TO TALK ABOUT HOW
WE CAN BUILD WHAT YOU NEED AND DESERVE -- THE VERY BEST
SCHOOLS IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. 11
NOW I ADMIT, EDUCATION IS NOT USUALLY FOUND ON THE
FRONT PAGE OF THE NEWSPAPER, OR AT THE TOP OF THE
EVENING NEWS -- BUT IT IS THE SOLUTION FOR MOST OF WHAT
YOU DO SEE THERE. AS PRESIDENT AND AS A GRANDPARENT,
MY LOYALTY LIES WITH YOUNG PEOPLE. KIDS LIKE THESE
FIFTH GRADERS -- WHO DID SUCH A FANTASTIC JOB LAYING
OUT OUR NATIONAL EDUCATION GOALS THIS MORNING.
- 3 -
IN THE YEAR 2000, THESE FIFTH GRADERS WILL GRADUATE
FROM HIGH SCHOOL. THEY WILL HAVE CHANGED SO MUCH, WE
WILL BARELY RECOGNIZE THEM. I WANT THE SCHOOLS FROM
WHICH THEY GRADUATE TO HAVE CHANGED SO MUCH, THAT WE
WON'T BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THEM EITHER.
FOUR YEARS AGO, I SAID I WANTED TO LEAD A
REVOLUTION IN AMERICAN EDUCATION. TODAY, I COME BEFORE
YOU TO REPORT -- THE REVOLUTION IS UNDERWAY.
AS PRESIDENT, MY JOB IS TO SET THE AGENDA, AND
MOBILIZE THE NATION. AND I'M PROUD THAT THE GOALS THE
STUDENTS READ THIS MORNING ARE THE VERY FIRST EDUCATION
GOALS IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY. THEY WERE CREATED BY
ALL THE GOVERNORS -- REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ALIKE -
- AND ARE BEING EMBRACED BY PARENTS, BY TEACHERS, BY
BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS -- IN TOWN AFTER TOWN,
CITY AFTER CITY, ALL ACROSS AMERICA.
- 6 -
BUT IF YOU THINK THAT MONEY ALONE WILL REINVENT
OUR SCHOOLS -- THINK AGAIN. AS A NATION, ONLY
SWITZERLAND SPENDS MORE PER STUDENT ON ELEMENTARY AND
SECONDARY EDUCATION. THIS DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULD NOT
MAKE NEW INVESTMENTS, IT MEANS WE CANNOT SPEND OUR
MONEY ON THE OLD WAY OF DOING THINGS.
OUR SCHOOLS WERE BASICALLY DESIGNED FOR ANOTHER AGE
-- A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. A WORLD OF MODEL T CARS, IN
WHICH TOASTERS AND FLASHLIGHTS WERE A BIG DEAL. A
WORLD IN WHICH MOST CLOTHES WERE MADE AT HOME --
IMAGINE -- A WORLD WITHOUT THE KING OF PRUSSIA MALL!//
TODAY, IF YOU APPLY FOR A SUMMER JOB IN A CAR
FACTORY, THEY'LL ASK YOU IF YOU CAN HANDLE MATHEMATICS,
ESTIMATION AND SPATIAL RELATIONS, THINGS YOUR MOM AND
DAD JUST DIDN'T HAVE TO KNOW. AND OTHER THINGS HAVE
CHANGED. IT'S TOUGHER BEING A PARENT, TOUGHER BEING A
TEACHER, AND MY GRANDKIDS TELL ME -- IT'S PRETTY TOUGH
BEING A KID THESE DAYS.
- 7 -
7
THE WORLD HAS CHANGED, SO MUST OUR SCHOOLS.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK FAR FOR NEW IDEAS.
TEACHERS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, PARENTS, BUSINESS
LEADERS -- ALL ARE FOUNTAINS OF INNOVATION. THEY
REPRESENT THE TRUE GENIUS OF AMERICA -- AND WE MUST
ENCOURAGE THEM.// RIGHT NOW, AS WE GATHER TODAY,
AMERICA IS RESPONDING TO THIS CHARGE. REALLY, FOUR
REVOLUTIONS ARE UNDERWAY.
FIRST, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CREATING HUNDREDS
OF WHAT WE CALL "BREAK-THE-MOLD" SCHOOLS -- SCHOOLS
THAT REJECT THE STATUS QUO. FOR EXAMPLE, A SCHOOL
WHERE STUDENTS ATTEND ALL YEAR ROUND. I CHALLENGED
AMERICA TO COME UP WITH IDEAS FOR THESE SCHOOLS, AND
NORRISTOWN WAS ONE OF 700 COMMUNITIES THAT RESPONDED.
I APPLAUD YOU FOR YOUR ENERGY AND YOUR CREATIVITY. //
- 8 -
REVOLUTION NUMBER TWO HAS TO DO WITH WHAT WE TEACH
IN OUR SCHOOLS. WE MUST DEMAND MORE OF YOU, SO THAT
YOU CAN COMPETE IN THE WORLD ECONOMY. YOUR MATH
TEACHERS ARE ALREADY RELYING ON NEW, WORLD-CLASS
STANDARDS, AND YOU ARE LEARNING MORE THAN YOUR OLDER
BROTHERS AND SISTERS. BY THE TIME TODAY'S FIFTH
GRADERS ENTER HIGH SCHOOL, WE WILL HAVE NEW STANDARDS
IN SCIENCE, HISTORY, ENGLISH, GEOGRAPHY, CIVICS AND THE
ARTS.
TO SUPPORT THESE STANDARDS, WE WILL HAVE A NATIONAL
EXAMINATION SYSTEM -- I CALL IT THEM AMERICAN
ACHIEVEMENT TESTS, SO THAT PARENTS CAN KNOW HOW OUR
KIDS AND OUR SCHOOLS ARE DOING. THE THIRD REVOLUTION
INVOLVES A VERY IMPORTANT PERSON -- YOUR TEACHER.
(IF I CAN ASK A FAVOR, SINCE THIS IS THE FIRST WEEK
OF SCHOOL, I ASSUME NONE OF YOU HAVE RECEIVED ANY TESTS
BACK YET. SO LET'S TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE GOOD FEELING,
AND SAY THANKS TO ALL THE TEACHERS IN THE ROOM. THEY
ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE -- AND WE SHOULD
APPLAUD THEM.)
- 9 -
9
WHEN YOUR TEACHERS CHOSE THEIR CAREER, THEY DID IT
BECAUSE THEY LOVE LEARNING, AND THEY LOVE HELPING YOU
LIVE UP TO YOUR POTENTIAL.
NOT LONG AGO, AS PART OF MY AMERICA 2000 EFFORT, I
MET WITH SOME TEACHERS UP IN LEHIGH VALLEY, I ASKED
THEM WHAT WAS THEIR BIGGEST PROBLEM. I THOUGHT THEY
MIGHT TALK ABOUT A LACK OF MONEY, OR DISCIPLINE, OR THE
DRUG PROBLEM. BUT INSTEAD, THEY TALKED ABOUT ALL THE
PAPERWORK AND REGULATIONS -- ABOUT GETTING STATE
GOVERNMENT OFF THEIR BACK. - Some Program chars
Ed Domelly - Gov.Casey Penn
2000
WELL, I CAN'T DO MUCH ABOUT HARRISBURG, BUT THIS
WEEK CONGRESS WILL CONSIDER MY LEGISLATION TO GIVE
TEACHERS MORE FLEXIBILITY IN USING FEDERAL FUNDS, AS
LONG AS THEY ACHIEVE RESULTS. CONGRESS WANTS TO GIVE
FLEXIBILITY TO JUST 300 SCHOOLS, I WANT TO GIVE IT TO
ALL 110,000. YOU SEE, I TRUST TEACHERS, NOT THE
GOVERNMENT, TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR OUR KIDS. //
- 10 -
10
THERE'S ONE FINAL REVOLUTION UNDERWAY -- I THINK
EVERY PARENT SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE THE SCHOOL
THEY WANT FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
NOT LONG AGO, I WAS TALKING WITH A MILWAUKEE PARENT
-- HER NAME WAS JANETTE WILLIAMS. SHE TOLD ME HER SON
JAVON [JAY-VON] WENT TO A CROWDED SCHOOL, TEACHERS
COULDN'T PAY ATTENTION TO HIM, HE WAS SO BORED, HE'D
JUST GO HOME HALFWAY THROUGH THE DAY. THEN MILWAUKEE
GAVE SOME PARENTS THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE NEW SCHOOLS FOR
THEIR KIDS. TODAY, JAVON IS DOING HIS HOMEWORK,
ATTENDING ALL HIS CLASSES, EVEN HELPING CLEAN UP AROUND
THE CLASSROOM.
I WANT TO HEAR MORE STORIES LIKE THAT. MY G.I.
BILL FOR KIDS WOULD GIVE THOUSAND DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIPS
TO CHILDREN OF MIDDLE-AND LOW-INCOME FAMILIES THAT THEY
CAN USE TO SPEND ON ANY SCHOOL OF THEIR CHOICE. MOST
PARENTS WOULD CHOOSE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT EVERY PARENT
SHOULD BE ABLE TO CHOOSE ANY SCHOOL -- PUBLIC, PRIVATE,
OR RELIGIOUS.
- 11 -
11
HERE IN NORRISTOWN, ALMOST 6,000 KIDS -- ABOUT TWO-
THIRDS OF THE SCHOOL POPULATION -- WOULD BE ELIGIBLE
FOR THIS THOUSAND- DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIP. NORRISTOWN
WOULD RECEIVE ANOTHER $6 MILLION IN NEW FEDERAL FUNDS -
- NOT CONTROLLED BY BUREAUCRATS, BUT PARENTS AND
TEACHERS. WHEN IT COMES TO CHOOSING SCHOOLS -- I TRUST
PARENTS -- NOT THE GOVERNMENT -- TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
SO THESE ARE THE FOUR REVOLUTIONS IN AMERICAN
EDUCATION. "BREAK-THE MOLD" SCHOOLS. NEW STANDARDS.
GETTING GOVERNMENT OFF TEACHER'S BACKS. AND GIVING
PARENTS REAL CHOICE.
TOGETHER, THESE REVOLUTIONS WILL CHANGE OUR
SCHOOLS. WHEN THESE FIFTH GRADERS COME BACK TO VISIT
MISS RITTER AND MRS. BIELER [BEEL-UHR] IN EIGHT YEARS,
THEY WILL MARVEL AT HOW SMALL THE DESKS ARE, AT HOW
THEY HAVE TO STOOP TO USE THE WATER FOUNTAIN. BUT AS
THEY LOOK AND LISTEN TO THE SCHOOL AROUND THEM, THEY
WILL SAY -- EVERYTHING ELSE HAS CHANGED. //
- 12 -
12
NOW, AS SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE HEARD, THERE IS AN
ELECTION IN ABOUT 55 DAYS. SO, BEFORE I LEAVE YOU THIS
MORNING, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE JUST A MOMENT, AND
CONTRAST MY EDUCATION VISION -- WITH MY OPPONENT'S. I
WANT TO BE FAIR, WHEN I CONVENED THE NATIONAL EDUCATION
SUMMIT, MOST OF THE GOVERNOR'S ATTENDED. GOVERNOR
CLINTON'S ROLE WAS CONSTRUCTIVE IN HELPING SET THE
NATIONAL EDUCATION GOALS.
HOWEVER, THE FACTS TELL THE STORY ABOUT HIS RECORD.
IN 1980, ARKANSAS RANKED 47TH IN THE PERCENTAGE OF
ADULTS WITH HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS, NOW THEY ARE 48TH.
TODAY, THEY ARE DEAD LAST -- IN THE PERCENTAGE OF
ADULTS WITH COLLEGE DEGREES.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE REAL ISSUE -- THE REAL ISSUE IS
WHAT KIND OF EDUCATION PRESIDENT MR. CLINTON WOULD BE.
- 13 -
13
WELL -- IN THIS CAMPAIGN -- GOVERNOR CLINTON HAS
SPENT A LOT OF TIME COURTING THE EDUCATION
ESTABLISHMENT, TEACHERS UNIONS LEADERS, AND THE LIBERAL
CONGRESS. THESE PEOPLE FEAR CHANGE. THEY WANT TO
SPEND MORE MONEY ON EDUCATION, BUT ON THE SAME OLD
SYSTEM. I WISH FIXING OUR SCHOOLS WAS THAT EASY, BUT
IT'S NOT.
A PRESIDENT'S JOB IS TO SET A NEW PATH -- AND
INSIST THAT THE NATION STICKS TO IT. BUT GOVERNOR
CLINTON IS IN WITH THE CROWD WHO SAY "NO" TO BREAK-
THE-MOLD SCHOOLS, "NO" TO HIGHER STANDARDS, "NO" TO
LESS REGULATION, AND "NO" TO MY GI BILL FOR KIDS.
HERE'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ME AND MY OPPONENT.
GOVERNOR CLINTON HAS TOLD THE EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENT
WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR -- I WILL CONTINUE TO TELL THEM
-- WHAT AMERICA NEEDS TO HEAR.
- 14 - -
14
YOU HEAR A LOT OF TALK ABOUT CHANGE IN THIS
ELECTION. BUT ULTIMATELY, CHANGE ISN'T WHAT YOU SAY,
IT'S WHAT YOU DO. WITH YOUR HELP AND THE HELP OF
MILLIONS OF OTHER AMERICANS, WE HAVE SET THE FORCES IN
MOTION, TO REVOLUTIONIZE THE WAY WE PREPARE OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE. AND I HOPE YOU WILL GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY,
TO FINISH THE REVOLUTION.
TO THE PARENTS, TEACHERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND
STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN NORRISTOWN 2000, I SAY -- --
"THANK YOU." YOU ARE WRITING A BETTER CHAPTER, IN THE
HISTORY OF AMERICA'S NEXT GENERATION.
THANKS FOR LISTENING. GOD BLESS PENNSYLVANIA AND
MAY GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
###
MARTIN
NORRISTOWN, PA
SEPTEMBER 9, 1992
THANK YOU DR, HOLTON (SUPERINTENDENT), AND GOOD
MORNING EVERYONE; IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK IN
pap.
PENNSYLVANIA. LET ME ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE SEC. ALEXANDER,
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, PRINCIPAL (BARRY) SPENCER, AND
JOSH LIPPY (PRESIDENT OF STUDENT COUNCIL). AND I
SHOULD ADD -- WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL. I HOPE YOU HAD A
GREAT SUMMER.
I'M TOLD THAT MANY OF YOU WERE NERVOUS THIS WEEK.
TENSION'S RISING ABOUT THE BIG EVENT. WONDERING HOW
YOU'LL HANDLE ALL THE ATTENTION. WELL, I'M HERE TO PUT
YOUR FEARS TO REST. I KNOW YOU'LL DO GREAT AGAINST
NORTH PENN FRIDAY NIGHT.
YOU KNOW, OUR WORLD HAS BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF
CHANGE THE PAST FEW YEARS. WHEN MY KIDS WERE YOUR AGE,
THEY USED TO PRACTICE NUCLEAR DISASTER DRILLS. THE
ALARMS WOULD GO OFF, AND THEY WOULD ALL CRAWL UNDER
THEIR DESKS AND WAIT.
THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN ANYMORE. AS A PARENT AND A
GRANDPARENT, I'M GLAD THAT AMERICAN KIDS CAN GROW UP IN
THE SUNSHINE OF PEACE.
- 2 -
NOW THAT THE COLD WAR IS OVER, THE CHALLENGE BEFORE
OUR NATION -- IS TO WIN THE PEACE. TO GUARANTEE THAT
AMERICA IN THE 21ST CENTURY WILL BE NOT JUST A MILITARY
SUPERPOWER, BUT ALSO AN EXPORT SUPERPOWER, AND AN
ECONOMIC SUPERPOWER. //
THAT'S JUST A FANCY WAY OF SAYING THAT WHEN YOU
GROW UP, YOU DESERVE THE CHANCE TO HAVE A GOOD JOB, AND
LIVE A BETTER LIFE THAN YOUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS.
YOU SHOULD LIVE THE AMERICAN DREAM.
THAT'S WHY I'M HERE THIS MORNING, TO TALK ABOUT HOW
WE CAN BUILD WHAT YOU NEED AND DESERVE - -- THE VERY BEST
SCHOOLS IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. 11
NOW I ADMIT, EDUCATION IS NOT USUALLY FOUND ON THE
FRONT PAGE OF THE NEWSPAPER, OR AT THE TOP OF THE
EVENING NEWS -- BUT IT IS THE SOLUTION FOR MOST OF WHAT
YOU DO SEE THERE. AS PRESIDENT AND AS A GRANDPARENT,
MY LOYALTY LIES WITH YOUNG PEOPLE. KIDS LIKE THESE
FIFTH GRADERS -- WHO DID SUCH A FANTASTIC JOB LAYING
OUT OUR NATIONAL EDUCATION GOALS THIS MORNING.
- 3 -
IN THE YEAR 2000, THESE FIFTH GRADERS WILL GRADUATE
FROM HIGH SCHOOL. THEY WILL HAVE CHANGED SO MUCH, WE
WILL BARELY RECOGNIZE THEM. I WANT THE SCHOOLS FROM
WHICH THEY GRADUATE TO HAVE CHANGED SO MUCH, THAT WE
WON'T BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THEM EITHER.
FOUR YEARS AGO, I SAID I WANTED TO LEAD A
REVOLUTION IN AMERICAN EDUCATION. TODAY, I COME BEFORE
YOU TO REPORT -- THE REVOLUTION IS UNDERWAY.
AS PRESIDENT, MY JOB IS TO SET THE AGENDA, AND
MOBILIZE THE NATION. AND I'M PROUD THAT THE GOALS THE
STUDENTS READ THIS MORNING ARE THE VERY FIRST EDUCATION
GOALS IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY. THEY WERE CREATED BY
ALL THE GOVERNORS -- REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ALIKE -
- AND ARE BEING EMBRACED BY PARENTS, BY TEACHERS, BY
BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS -- IN TOWN AFTER TOWN,
CITY AFTER CITY, ALL ACROSS AMERICA.
- 4 -
I HAVE COME TO NORRISTOWN -- BECAUSE YOU ACCEPTED
MY CHALLENGE TO REINVENT AMERICAN SCHOOLS. NORRISTOWN
IS IN THE LEAD -- BUT YOU ARE NOT ALONE. TODAY,
SEVENTEEN HUNDRED COMMUNITIES -- IN EVERY STATE -- HAVE
ADOPTED THE VISION OF WHAT WE CALL "AMERICA 2000."
SEVENTEEN HUNDRED COMMUNITIES HAVE DRAWN LINES IN THE
SAND OF THE FUTURE THAT READ -- "OUR CHILDREN MUST BE
NUMBER ONE."
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO MORE THAN OFFER
CONGRATULATIONS, AND WE ARE MATCHING OUR WORDS WITH
ACTION -- AS WE PROMISED.
- 5 -
YOU HEARD ABOUT OUR FIRST GOAL -- MAKING SURE EVERY
STUDENT ARRIVES AT SCHOOL READY TO LEARN. TODAY -- FOR
THE FIRST TIME -EVERY ELIGIBLE FOUR-YEAR-OLD WHO WANTS
A HEAD START ON KINDERGARTEN -- CAN GET ONE.// WE HAVE
ASKED FOR RECORD INCREASES IN INVESTMENT FOR MATH AND
SCIENCE EDUCATION -- TO HELP TRAIN TEACHERS. THAT IS
CONSISTENT WITH GOAL NUMBER FOUR -- MATH AND SCIENCE
EXCELLENCE. (I BET YOU WERE PROUD TO WATCH THE
OLYMPICS, AND SEE JORDAN AND EWING AND MALONE SLAM DUNK
THE OPPOSITION. BY THE YEAR 2000, I WANT YOU -- OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE -- TO BE SLAM DUNKING THE REST OF THE
WORLD IN MATH AND SCIENCE.//)
GOAL NUMBER FIVE IS TO GUARANTEE A SKILLED,
LITERATE WORK FORCE. MY OPPONENT ACCUSES ME OF CUTTING
EDUCATION SPENDING. BUT THAT'S JUST FLAT WRONG. I
HAVE PROPOSED RECORD INCREASES IN EDUCATION FUNDING --
AND DURING MY FOUR YEARS, FEDERAL INVESTMENTS IN
EDUCATION HAVE INCREASED AT A MORE RAPID RATE THAN
STATE AND LOCAL FUNDING.
- 6 -
BUT IF YOU THINK THAT MONEY ALONE WILL REINVENT
OUR SCHOOLS -- THINK AGAIN. AS A NATION, ONLY
SWITZERLAND SPENDS MORE PER STUDENT ON ELEMENTARY AND
SECONDARY EDUCATION. THIS DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULD NOT
MAKE NEW INVESTMENTS, IT MEANS WE CANNOT SPEND OUR
MONEY ON THE OLD WAY OF DOING THINGS.
OUR SCHOOLS WERE BASICALLY DESIGNED FOR ANOTHER AGE
-- A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. A WORLD OF MODEL T CARS, IN
WHICH TOASTERS AND FLASHLIGHTS WERE A BIG DEAL. A
WORLD IN WHICH MOST CLOTHES WERE MADE AT HOME --
IMAGINE -- A WORLD WITHOUT THE KING OF PRUSSIA MALL!//
TODAY, IF YOU APPLY FOR A SUMMER JOB IN A CAR
FACTORY, THEY'LL ASK YOU IF YOU CAN HANDLE MATHEMATICS,
ESTIMATION AND SPATIAL RELATIONS, THINGS YOUR MOM AND
DAD JUST DIDN'T HAVE TO KNOW. AND OTHER THINGS HAVE
CHANGED. IT'S TOUGHER BEING A PARENT, TOUGHER BEING A
TEACHER, AND MY GRANDKIDS TELL ME -- IT'S PRETTY TOUGH
BEING A KID THESE DAYS.
- 7 -
THE WORLD HAS CHANGED, SO MUST OUR SCHOOLS.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK FAR FOR NEW IDEAS.
TEACHERS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, PARENTS, BUSINESS
LEADERS -- ALL ARE FOUNTAINS OF INNOVATION. THEY
REPRESENT THE TRUE GENIUS OF AMERICA -- AND WE MUST
ENCOURAGE THEM.// RIGHT NOW, AS WE GATHER TODAY,
AMERICA IS RESPONDING TO THIS CHARGE. REALLY, FOUR
REVOLUTIONS ARE UNDERWAY.
FIRST, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CREATING HUNDREDS
OF WHAT WE CALL "BREAK-THE-MOLD" SCHOOLS -- SCHOOLS
THAT REJECT THE STATUS QUO. FOR EXAMPLE, A SCHOOL
WHERE STUDENTS ATTEND ALL YEAR ROUND. I CHALLENGED
AMERICA TO COME UP WITH IDEAS FOR THESE SCHOOLS, AND
NORRISTOWN WAS ONE OF 700 COMMUNITIES THAT RESPONDED.
I APPLAUD YOU FOR YOUR ENERGY AND YOUR CREATIVITY. //
- 8 -
REVOLUTION NUMBER TWO HAS TO DO WITH WHAT WE TEACH
IN OUR SCHOOLS. WE MUST DEMAND MORE OF YOU, SO THAT
YOU CAN COMPETE IN THE WORLD ECONOMY. YOUR MATH
TEACHERS ARE ALREADY RELYING ON NEW, WORLD-CLASS
STANDARDS, AND YOU ARE LEARNING MORE THAN YOUR OLDER
BROTHERS AND SISTERS. BY THE TIME TODAY'S FIFTH
GRADERS ENTER HIGH SCHOOL, WE WILL HAVE NEW STANDARDS
IN SCIENCE, HISTORY, ENGLISH, GEOGRAPHY, CIVICS AND THE
ARTS.
TO SUPPORT THESE STANDARDS, WE WILL HAVE A NATIONAL
EXAMINATION SYSTEM -- I CALL IT THEM AMERICAN
ACHIEVEMENT TESTS, SO THAT PARENTS CAN KNOW HOW OUR
KIDS AND OUR SCHOOLS ARE DOING. THE THIRD REVOLUTION
INVOLVES A VERY IMPORTANT PERSON -- YOUR TEACHER.
(IF I CAN ASK A FAVOR, SINCE THIS IS THE FIRST WEEK
OF SCHOOL, I ASSUME NONE OF YOU HAVE RECEIVED ANY TESTS
BACK YET. SO LET'S TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE GOOD FEELING,
AND SAY THANKS TO ALL THE TEACHERS IN THE ROOM. THEY
ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE -- AND WE SHOULD
APPLAUD THEM.)
- 9 -
WHEN YOUR TEACHERS CHOSE THEIR CAREER, THEY DID IT
BECAUSE THEY LOVE LEARNING, AND THEY LOVE HELPING YOU
LIVE UP TO YOUR POTENTIAL.
NOT LONG AGO, AS PART OF MY AMERICA 2000 EFFORT, I
MET WITH SOME TEACHERS UP IN LEHIGH VALLEY, I ASKED
THEM WHAT WAS THEIR BIGGEST PROBLEM. I THOUGHT THEY
MIGHT TALK ABOUT A LACK OF MONEY, OR DISCIPLINE, OR THE
DRUG PROBLEM. BUT INSTEAD, THEY TALKED ABOUT ALL THE
PAPERWORK AND REGULATIONS -- ABOUT GETTING STATE
GOVERNMENT OFF THEIR BACK.
WELL, I CAN'T DO MUCH ABOUT HARRISBURG, BUT THIS
WEEK CONGRESS WILL CONSIDER MY LEGISLATION TO GIVE
TEACHERS MORE FLEXIBILITY IN USING FEDERAL FUNDS, AS
LONG AS THEY ACHIEVE RESULTS. CONGRESS WANTS TO GIVE
FLEXIBILITY TO JUST 300 SCHOOLS, I WANT TO GIVE IT TO
ALL 110,000. YOU SEE, I TRUST TEACHERS, NOT THE
GOVERNMENT, TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR OUR KIDS.
- 10 -
THERE'S ONE FINAL REVOLUTION UNDERWAY -- I THINK
EVERY PARENT SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE THE SCHOOL
THEY WANT FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
NOT LONG AGO, I WAS TALKING WITH A MILWAUKEE PARENT
-- HER NAME WAS JANETTE WILLIAMS. SHE TOLD ME HER SON
JAVON [JAY-VON] WENT TO A CROWDED SCHOOL, TEACHERS
COULDN'T PAY ATTENTION TO HIM, HE WAS SO BORED, HE'D
JUST GO HOME HALFWAY THROUGH THE DAY. THEN MILWAUKEE
GAVE SOME PARENTS THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE NEW SCHOOLS FOR
THEIR KIDS. TODAY, JAVON IS DOING HIS HOMEWORK,
ATTENDING ALL HIS CLASSES, EVEN HELPING CLEAN UP AROUND
THE CLASSROOM.
I WANT TO HEAR MORE STORIES LIKE THAT. MY G.I.
BILL FOR KIDS WOULD GIVE THOUSAND DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIPS
TO CHILDREN OF MIDDLE-AND LOW-INCOME FAMILIES THAT THEY
CAN USE TO SPEND ON ANY SCHOOL OF THEIR CHOICE. MOST
PARENTS WOULD CHOOSE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT EVERY PARENT
SHOULD BE ABLE TO CHOOSE ANY SCHOOL -- PUBLIC, PRIVATE,
OR RELIGIOUS.
- 11 -
HERE IN NORRISTOWN, ALMOST 6,000 KIDS -- ABOUT TWO-
THIRDS OF THE SCHOOL POPULATION -- WOULD BE ELIGIBLE
FOR THIS THOUSAND- DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIP. NORRISTOWN
WOULD RECEIVE ANOTHER $6 MILLION IN NEW FEDERAL FUNDS -
- NOT CONTROLLED BY BUREAUCRATS, BUT PARENTS AND
TEACHERS. WHEN IT COMES TO CHOOSING SCHOOLS -- I TRUST
PARENTS -- NOT THE GOVERNMENT -- TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
so THESE ARE THE FOUR REVOLUTIONS IN AMERICAN
EDUCATION. "BREAK-THE MOLD" SCHOOLS. NEW STANDARDS.
GETTING GOVERNMENT OFF TEACHER'S BACKS. AND GIVING
PARENTS REAL CHOICE.
TOGETHER, THESE REVOLUTIONS WILL CHANGE OUR
SCHOOLS. WHEN THESE FIFTH GRADERS COME BACK TO VISIT
MISS RITTER AND MRS. BIELER [BEEL-UHR] IN EIGHT YEARS,
THEY WILL MARVEL AT HOW SMALL THE DESKS ARE, AT HOW
THEY HAVE TO STOOP TO USE THE WATER FOUNTAIN. BUT AS
THEY LOOK AND LISTEN TO THE SCHOOL AROUND THEM, THEY
WILL SAY -- EVERYTHING ELSE HAS CHANGED. //
- 12 -
NOW, AS SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE HEARD, THERE IS AN
ELECTION IN ABOUT 55 DAYS. so, BEFORE I LEAVE YOU THIS
MORNING, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE JUST A MOMENT, AND
CONTRAST MY EDUCATION VISION -- WITH MY OPPONENT'S. I
WANT TO BE FAIR, WHEN I CONVENED THE NATIONAL EDUCATION
SUMMIT, MOST OF THE GOVERNOR'S ATTENDED. GOVERNOR
CLINTON'S ROLE WAS CONSTRUCTIVE IN HELPING SET THE
NATIONAL EDUCATION GOALS.
HOWEVER, THE FACTS TELL THE STORY ABOUT HIS RECORD.
IN 1980, ARKANSAS RANKED 47TH IN THE PERCENTAGE OF
ADULTS WITH HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS, NOW THEY ARE 48TH.
TODAY, THEY ARE DEAD LAST -- IN THE PERCENTAGE OF
ADULTS WITH COLLEGE DEGREES.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE REAL ISSUE -- THE REAL ISSUE IS
WHAT KIND OF EDUCATION PRESIDENT MR. CLINTON WOULD BE.
- 13 -
WELL -- IN THIS CAMPAIGN -- GOVERNOR CLINTON HAS
SPENT A LOT OF TIME COURTING THE EDUCATION
ESTABLISHMENT, TEACHERS UNIONS LEADERS, AND THE LIBERAL
CONGRESS. THESE PEOPLE FEAR CHANGE. THEY WANT TO
SPEND MORE MONEY ON EDUCATION, BUT ON THE SAME OLD
SYSTEM. I WISH FIXING OUR SCHOOLS WAS THAT EASY, BUT
IT'S NOT.
A PRESIDENT'S JOB IS TO SET A NEW PATH -- AND
INSIST THAT THE NATION STICKS TO IT. BUT GOVERNOR
CLINTON IS IN WITH THE CROWD WHO SAY "NO" TO BREAK-
THE-MOLD SCHOOLS, "NO" TO HIGHER STANDARDS, "NO" TO
LESS REGULATION, AND "NO" TO MY GI BILL FOR KIDS.
HERE'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ME AND MY OPPONENT.
GOVERNOR CLINTON HAS TOLD THE EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENT
WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR -- I WILL CONTINUE TO TELL THEM
-- WHAT AMERICA NEEDS TO HEAR.
- 14 -
YOU HEAR A LOT OF TALK ABOUT CHANGE IN THIS
ELECTION. BUT ULTIMATELY, CHANGE ISN'T WHAT YOU SAY,
IT'S WHAT YOU DO. WITH YOUR HELP AND THE HELP OF
MILLIONS OF OTHER AMERICANS, WE HAVE SET THE FORCES IN
MOTION, TO REVOLUTIONIZE THE WAY WE PREPARE OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE. AND I HOPE YOU WILL GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY,
TO FINISH THE REVOLUTION.
TO THE PARENTS, TEACHERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND
STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN NORRISTOWN 2000, I SAY --
"THANK YOU." YOU ARE WRITING A BETTER CHAPTER, IN THE
HISTORY OF AMERICA'S NEXT GENERATION.
THANKS FOR LISTENING. GOD BLESS PENNSYLVANIA AND
MAY GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
# # #
Document No. 348991
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
DATE:
09/09/92
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY:
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: NORRISTOWN HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY, PA - - 09/09
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MCBRIDE
BAKER
MOORE
SCOWCROFT
MULLINS
DARMAN
PETERSMEYER
BATES
PORTER
BRADY
PROVOST
BROMLEY
ROSS
CALIO
SMITH
DEMAREST
TUTWILER
FITZWATER
ZOELLICK
GRAY
KAUFMAN
HOLIDAY
MCGROARTY
HORNER
REMARKS:
The attached has been forwarded to the President.
RESPONSE:
PHILLIP D. BRADY
Assistant to the President
and Staff Secretary
Ext. 2702
8
Well -- in this campaign -- Governor Clinton has spent a lot
of time courting the education establishment, teachers unions
leaders, and the liberal Congress. These people fear change.
((They fear change the way Luke Perry would fear someone crashing
his Porsche.)) They want to spend more money on education, but
on the same old system. I wish fixing our schools was that easy,
but it's not.
A President's job is to set a new path -- and insist that
the nation sticks to it. But Governor Clinton is in with the
crowd who say "no" to break-the-mold schools, "no" to higher
standards, "no" to less regulation, and "no" to my GI Bill for
Kids. Governor Clinton has told the education establishment what
they want to hear -- I will continue to tell them -- what America
needs to hear.
You hear a lot of talk about change in this election. But
ultimately, change isn't what you say, it's what you do. With
your help and the help of millions of other Americans, we have
set the forces in motion, to revolutionize the way we prepare our
young people. And I hope you will give me the opportunity, to
finish the revolution.
To the parents, teachers, community leaders, and students
participating in Norristown 2000, I say -- "thank you. You are
writing a better chapter, in the history of America's next
generation.
Thanks for listening. God Bless Pennsylvania and may God
bless The United States of America.
Document No. 348991
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
DATE:
09/09/92
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY:
----
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: NORRISTOWN HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY, PA - - 09/09
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MCBRIDE
BAKER
MOORE
SCOWCROFT
MULLINS
DARMAN
PETERSMEYER
BATES
PORTER
BRADY
PROVOST
BROMLEY
ROSS
CALIO
SMITH
DEMAREST
TUTWILER
FITZWATER
ZOELLICK
GRAY
KAUFMAN
HOLIDAY
MCGROARTY
HORNER
REMARKS:
The attached has been forwarded to the President.
RESPONSE:
PHILLIP D. BRADY
Assistant to the President
and Staff Secretary
Ext. 2702
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
2 SEF 8 FII : 35
September 8, 1992
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
STEVEN PROVOST
it
SUBJECT:
REMARKS AT NORRISTOWN HIGH SCHOOL
On Wednesday morning, September 9, you will address
approximately 2000 attendees, most of whom are high school
students, in the gymnasium of Norristown High School. Your
remarks (16 minutes, teleprompter) discuss your vision of
education for the future and commend Norristown for adopting the
ideals of America 2000.
NOTE: The mention of Luke Perry on the top of page eight refers
to the teenage heart-throb of the popular prime-time
television show, "Beverly Hills 90210". Luke Perry
plays tough-guy Dylan McKay.
Provost/Aarhus
Presidential Remarks
Norristown, PA
September 9, 1992
Draft: 10:00 p.m.
Thank you Dr, Holton, and good morning everyone; it's great
to be back in Pennsylvania. And I should add -- welcome back to
school. I hope you had a great summer.
I'm told that many you were nervous this week. Tension's
rising about the big event. Wondering how you'll handle all the
attention. Well, I'm here to put your fears to rest. I know
you'll do great against North Penn Friday night.//
You know, our world has been through a lot of change the
past few years. When my kids were your age, they used to
practice nuclear disaster drills. The alarms would go off, and
they would all crawl under their desks and wait.
That doesn't happen anymore. As a parent and a grandparent,
I'm glad that American kids can grow up in the sunshine of
peace.
Now that the Cold War is over, the challenge before our
nation -- is to win the peace. To guarantee that America in the
21st Century will be not just a military superpower, but also an
export superpower, and an economic superpower./
That's just a fancy way of saying that when you grow up, you
deserve the chance to have a good job, and live a better life
than your parents and grandparents. You can live the American
Dream.
2
That's why I'm here this morning, to talk about how we can
build what you need and deserve -- the very best schools in the
entire world.//
Now I admit, education is not usually found on the front
page of the newspaper, or at the top of the evening news -- but
it is the solution for most of what you do see there. As
President and as a grandparent, my loyalty lies with young
people. Kids like these fifth graders -- who did such a
fantastic job laying out our national education goals this
morning.
In the year 2000, these fifth graders will graduate from
high school. They will have changed so much, we will barely
recognize them. I want the schools from which they graduate to
have changed so much, that we won't be able to recognize them
either.
Four years ago, I said I wanted to lead a revolution in
American education. Today, I come before you to report -- the
revolution is underway.
As President, my job is to set the agenda, and mobilize the
nation. And I'm proud that the goals the students read this
morning are the very first education goals in our nation's
history. They were created by all the governors -- Republicans
and Democrats alike -- and are being embraced by parents, by
teachers, by business and community leaders, -- in town after
town, city after city, all across America.
3
I have come to Norristown -- because you accepted my
challenge to reinvent American schools. Norristown is in the
lead -- but you are not alone. Today, seventeen hundred
communities -- in every state -- have adopted the vision of what
we call "America 2000.' Seventeen hundred communities have drawn
lines in the sand of the future that read -- "our children must
be number one.
The federal government should do more than offer
congratulations, and we are matching our words with action -- as
we promised.
You heard about our first goal -- making sure every student
arrives at school ready to learn. Today -- for the first time -
every eligible four-year-old who wants a Head Start on
kindergarten -- can get one.// We have asked for record
increases in investment for math and science education -- to help
train teachers. That is consistent with goal number four -- math
and science excellence. I bet you were proud to watch the
olympics, and see Jordan and Ewing and Malone slam dunk the
opposition. By the year 2000, I want you -- our young people --
to be slam dunking the rest of the world in math and science. 11
Goal number five is to guarantee a skilled, literate work
force. My opponent accuses me of cutting education spending.
But that's just flat wrong. I have proposed record increases in
education funding -- and during my four years, federal
investments in education have increased at a more rapid rate than
state and local funding.
4
But if you think that money alone will reinvent our
schools -- think again. As a nation, only Switzerland spends
more per student on elementary and secondary education. This
doesn't mean we should not make new investments, it means we
cannot spend our money on the old way of doing things.
Our schools were basically designed for another age -- a
hundred years ago. A world of Model T cars, in which toasters
and flashlights were a big deal. A world in which most clothes
were made at home -- imagine -- a world without the King of
Prussia Mall!/
Today, if you apply for a summer job in a car factory,
they'll ask you if you can handle mathematics, estimation and
spatial relations, things your mom and dad just didn't have to
know. And other things have changed. It's tougher being a
parent, tougher being a teacher, and my grandkids tell me it's
pretty tough being a kid these days.
The world has changed, so must our schools.
You don't have to look far for new ideas. Teachers, school
board members, parents, business leaders -- all are fountains of
innovation. They represent the true genius of America -- and we
must encourage them. Right now, as we gather today, America is
responding to this charge. Really, four revolutions are
underway.
First, we are in the process of creating hundreds of what we
call "Break-The-Mold" schools -- schools that reject the status
quo. For example, a school where students attend all year round.
5
I challenged America to come up with ideas for these schools, and
Norristown was one of 700 communities that responded. I applaud
you for your energy and your creativity. 11
Revolution number two has to do with what we teach in our
schools. We must demand more of you, so that you can compete in
the world economy. Your math teachers are already relying on new,
world-class standards. Because of them, you are learning more
than your older brothers and sisters. And by the time today's
fifth graders enter high school, we will have new standards in
science, history, English, geography, civics and the arts.
And to support these standards, we will have a national
examination system -- I call it them American achievement tests,
so that parents can know what our kids and our schools are doing.
The third revolution involves a very important person --
your teacher.
(If I can ask a favor, since this is the first week of
school, I assume none of you have received any tests back yet.
So let's take advantage of the good feeling, and say thanks to
all the teachers in the room. They are making a difference in
your life -- and we should applaud them.)
When your teachers chose their career, they did it because
they love learning, and they love helping you live up to your
potential.
Not long ago, I met with some teachers up in Lehigh Valley
2000, I asked them what was their biggest problem. I thought
they might talk about a lack of money, or discipline, or the drug
6
problem. But instead, they talked about all the paperwork and
regulations -- about getting state government off their back.
Well, I can't do much about Harrisburg, but this week
Congress will consider my legislation to give teachers more
flexibility in using federal funds, as long as they achieve
results. Congress wants to give flexibility to just 300 schools,
I want to give it to all 110,000. I trust teachers, not the
government, to do what's right for our kids. 11
There's one final revolution underway -- I think every
parent should have the right to choose the school they want for
their children.
Not long ago, I was talking with a Milwaukee parent -- her
name was Janette Williams. She told me her son Javon went to a
crowded school, teachers couldn't pay attention, he was so bored,
he'd just go home halfway through the day. Then Milwaukee gave
some parents the right to choose new schools for their kids.
Today, Javon is doing his homework, attending all his classes,
even helping clean up around the classroom.
I want to hear more stories like that. My G.I. Bill For
Kids would give thousand dollar scholarships to children of
middle-and low-income families that they can use to spend on any
school of their choice. Most parents would choose public school,
but all parents should be able to choose any school -- public,
private, or religious.
Here in Norristown, almost 6,000 kids -- about two-thirds of
the school population -- would be eligible for this thousand-
7
dollar scholarship. Norristown would receive another $6 million
in new federal funds -- not controlled by bureaucrats, but
parents and teachers. When it comes to choosing schools -- I
trust parents -- not the government -- to do the right thing.
So these are the four revolutions in American education.
"Break-The Mold" Schools. New standards. Getting government off
teacher's backs. And giving parents real choice.
Together, these revolutions will change our schools. When
these fifth graders come back to visit Miss Ritter and Mrs.
Bieler ((BEEL-uhr)) in eight years, they will marvel at how small
the desks are, at how they have to stoop to use the water
fountain. But as they look and listen to the school around them,
they will say -- everything else has changed. 11
Now, as some of you may have heard, there is an election in
about 55 days. So, before I leave you this morning, I would like
to take just a moment, and contrast my education vision -- with
my opponents. I want to be fair, when I convened the national
education summit, all the governor's were there. Governor
Clinton helped set the national education goals.
However, the facts tell the story about his record. In
1980, Arkansas ranked 47th in the percentage of adults with high
school diplomas, now they are 48th. Today, they are dead last -
- in the percentage of adults with college degrees.
But that's not the real issue -- the real issue is what kind
of education President Mr. Clinton would be.
8
Well -- in this campaign -- Governor Clinton has spent a lot
of time courting the education establishment, teachers unions
leaders, and the liberal Congress. These people fear change.
( (They fear change the way Luke Perry would fear someone crashing
his Porsche.)) They want to spend more money on education, but
on the same old system. I wish fixing our schools was that easy,
but it's not.
A President's job is to set a new path -- and insist that
the nation sticks to it. But Governor Clinton is in with the
crowd who say "no" to break-the-mold schools, "no" to higher
standards, "no" to less regulation, and "no" to my GI Bill for
Kids. Governor Clinton has told the education establishment what
they want to hear -- I will continue to tell them -- what America
needs to hear.
You hear a lot of talk about change in this election. But
ultimately, change isn't what you say, it's what you do. With
your help and the help of millions of other Americans, we have
set the forces in motion, to revolutionize the way we prepare our
young people. And I hope you will give me the opportunity, to
finish the revolution.
To the parents, teachers, community leaders, and students
participating in Norristown 2000, I say -- "thank you. You are
writing a better chapter, in the history of America's next
generation.
Thanks for listening. God Bless Pennsylvania and may God
bless The United States of America.
ENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 9- 8-92 ; 16:22 ;
The White House-
202 456 7739;# 1
Document No. 348991ss
CHARLIE
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
DATE:
9/8/92
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY:
TODAY, 9/8 ASAP!!!
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: NORRISTOWN, PA.
SUBJECT:
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 9, 1992
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MCBRIDE
BAKER
MOORE
SCOWCROFT
MULLINS
DARMAN
PETERSMEYER
BATES
PORTER
BRADY
PROVOST
BROMLEY
ROSS
CALIO
SMITH
DEMAREST
TUTWILER
FITZWATER
ZOELLICK
GRAY
KAUFMAN
HOLIDAY
MCGROARTY
HORNER
REMARKS:
Please forward your comments directly to Dan McGroarty, Rm. 122, x2930,
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE 1 with a copy to this office. Thank you.
RESPONSE:
for BD' 9/8/42 7pm.
PHILLIP D. BRADY
Assistant to the President
and Staff Secretary
Ext. 2702
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 9- 8-92 ; 16:22 ;
The White House-
202 456 7739;# 2
Provost/Aarhus
Presidential Remarks
Norristown, PA
12 SEP 8 P3: 50
September 9, 1992
Draft: 3:00 p.m.
Thank you ( ), and good morning everyone, it's great to
be back in Pennsylvania.
I wanted to start this morning by saying welcome back -- but
I know that the start of school can provoke mixed emotions.
I'm sure many of you had a lot of fun this summer. Now you
have to get used to new teachers and new classes, new routines.
But if this ever gets you down, just remember, you could be
getting beat over the head every day, you could be having your
character assassinated on television, -- you could be running
for President. 11
our world has been through enormous change the past few
years. Today, I can stand before you and say something no
President could ever say before. The Cold War is over -- freedom
finished first.
Now, the challenge before our nation -- is to vin the peace.
To guarantee that America [in the 21st century] is not just a
military superpower, but also an export superpower, and an
economic superpower.
That B the central question at this time of wrenching
global change I have made one promise to America -- not to
scare people in this campaign, but to talk about real issues --
real answers SOLUTIONS -- to the important questions before our nation.
CHALLENEES
SENT. BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 9- 8-92 ; 16:22 ;
The White House-
202 456 7739:# 3
2
That's why I am here this morning, to talk about how we can
build for our children what they need and deserve -- the very
best schools in the entire world. 11
Now I admit, education is not usually found on the front
page of the newspaper, or at the top of the evening news -- but
it is the solution for most of what you do see there.
As President and as a parent, my loyalty lies with the I young
people. Kids like the fifth graders -- who did such a fantastic
job laying out our national education goals this morning.
In the year 2/000, 2 000, these fifth graders will graduate from
high school. They will look much different. The schools from
which they graduate be much different as well.
Four years ago, I said I wanted to lead a revolution in
American education. Today, I come before you to report -- the
revolution is underway.
D because this devolution shoust then grown yo This worth when D
convened
The credit is certainly not mine alone. The federal
the Characters
Education
government has merely been a catalyst natural " it should Le. The Summit with
goals those students read are our the first education goals in our governors.
HAVE BEEN
ALL FIFTY
This
nation's history. They are being embraced by governors --
Survivist
ud to
Republican and Democrat alike, by parents, by teachers, by
the
Six natural
business and community leaders, and most important, by young
people like you -- in town after town, city after city, all
James.
across America.
I have come to Norristown -- because you are in the lead --
but you are not alone. Today 1,700 communities -- in 44 states
-- have adopted the vision of what we call "America 2000."
BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 : 9- 8-92 ; 16:23 ;
The White House-
202 456 7739:# 4
3
Seventeen hundred communities -- representing ( ) young people
adopt our
-- have agreed to tof the first national education goals in American
el
history. Seventeen hundred communities agreed to lines in the
sand of the future that read -- "our children must be number
one."
The federal government should offer more than pffer
congratulations for these efforts, and we are matching our words
with action.
have
You heard about our first goal -- making sure every student
arrives at school ready to learn. Today -- for the first time -
CAN GOT
every eligible four-year-old who wants a Head Start on
WHOSE PARENTS WANT AHEM TO PARTICIPATE
kindergarten can get one
education
asked for record increases in
We have reorganized federal spending for math and science -
- giving special emphasis to teacher training. That is to help
consistent with goal number four -- math and science excellence.
THE DREAM TEAM
I was proud to watch the Olympics, and watch Charles Barkely slam
dunk the entire Angolan basketball team. team By the year 2,000, I
EVERY OPPONENT THEY FACED
want our young people to be slam dunking the rest of the world in
math and science.
CHARLES BARKLEY PLAYS FOR
PHOENIX Now. NOT PHILADELPHIA
Goal number five is to guarantee a skilled, literate work
force. And I I am proud to say that in our colleges today --one
out of every two students has a federal grant or loan -- that's a
higher ratio than ever before in our history.
Education is my too one priority, and my budgets have Devel
reflects& I it. During my four years, federal investments in
OVER THE LAST
ENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 9- 8-92 ; 16:23 ;
The White House-
202 456 7739;# 5
here is it skedd
4
why we I The
education have increased at a more rapid rate than State and
the wall buy we an should
local funding.
hwo
litim
REVOLUTIONIZE
But if you think that money alone will reinvent our schools
that
also
-- think again. As a nation, only Switzerland spends more per
student on elementary and secondary education. This doesn't mean
WASTE
we should not make new investments, it means we cannot spend our
money on the old way of doing things.
Our schools were invented for the age of the Model T. (young
Ontpertam:
But
not
We don't drive Model T's anymore, we don't live in log
the
^
world
cabins, so why are our schools the same?
After all, America has changed. Today, the guy on the
That's who
assembly line in a car plant must know far more about math than
his father ever did. our families look different, in most
I'm THE
families, both parents work, and in many families, only mom or
that
dad comes home at night. Our schools have not kept up with the
new world around them.
enhaver for and solid
Talk to teachers, school board members, parents -- and
they'll give you thousands of ideas of what new schools might
look like. That is the point of our education revolution. Not
to devise one solution in Washington and force it on you -- but
to encourage the true genius of America -- grassroots creativity
and problem solving.
Right now, as we gather today, America is responding to this
charge. Really, four revolutions are underway.
ENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 9- 8-92 ; 16:24 :
The White House-
202 456 7739:# 6
CLASSES
5
First, we are in the process of creating hundreds of what we
call "Break-The-Mold" schools. These might be schools where
students attend all year round. or where one I schoolY concentrates
S THAT
on one subject area -- like arts or English. These break-the-
mold schools may come in every size and substance -- but all
share one characteristic -- they reject the status quo.
Revolution number two has to do with what we teach in our
schools. We must demand higher standards of young people. Math
world-class national education for what our kids should
teachers are setting higher standards bodrey
know
and be
my
for science, history, English, geography, civics and the arts.
able to,
have called for the development
administration
And I support the two of a, national examination. system
:
IS supporting
voluntary
call It an American achievement test, to let parents and
the same
national
communities know what our children know.
standard
Something else I'm supporting, that's to help someone very
special, someone very important to your future -- your teacher.
(By the way, since this is the first day of school, I assume
that none of you have received any tests back yet. So lets take
advantage of this good feeling, to say thanks to all the teachers
in the room. They are making a difference in your life, and we
should salute them.)
(Now when you go home tonight, you can tell your parents you
should not be
saw two things that out of the ordinary. The President, and
a crowd of kids applauding their teachers.)
When the professionals in this audience decided on the
know
the
noble profession of teaching, they did it because they
importance
learning, and helping you live up to your potential.
of
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The White House-
202 456 7739;# 7
6
My guess is none of our teachers -- chose their job because
they have a secret passion for paperwork, a or an incurable
romance with the copying machine.
But that's what too many of our teachers spend their time
doing, and I want the government to get off teacher 's backs.
I don't want our teachers slaving over paperwork, I want them to
be working to free our young people from the slavery of ignorance
and apathy. 11 That's V Rate repeateds asked the Congress to pase Cysilation
thit would way from teachers and Schools move flaxibility in wing
federal
Funds
There's one final revolution underway -- very important, and
in
it mimics what we've/around Been the world in recent years.
cychage for
more
accountability
Freedom works. Freedom wins. Yet in our nation, only the
for
results
achievid.
privileged, have the freedom to choose where their kid goes to
school.
Let me tell give you an example of what I mean.
Today in Chicago, there are 66 public high schools, and only
19 graduate more than half their students and, very frankly, even
?
many of those graduates cannot read and write. Where do teachers
to settor
SOME
in Chicago send their kids? Well, almost half send them to
2
private schools.
Listen to Starr Parker, a small business owner in Chicago.
He says when it comes to education, "the rich have choice now.
When I was on welfare, there was no way I could put my child in a
good school. It's time we stop condemning the poor to a monopoly
education system."
Well, I agree with Starr Parker. Choice in education
shouldn't be limited to just the prosperous and the privileged.
NT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 9- 8-92 ; 16:25 ;
lhe white House-
202 456 7739:# 8
7
Every parent should be able to choose the school they want for
their kids.
SCHOLARSHIPS
ONE
MY GI Bill For Kids would give X thousand dollars to middle-
and low-income families that they can use to I spend or any school
AT
of their choice -- public, private, or religious.
Here in Norristown, almost 4,000 kids -- over half the
school population -- would be eligible for this new GI Bill. If
teachers are worried about what choice might do to public
schools, consider this. In this town alone, you would receive
almost $4 million extra in federal funds. But this money
wouldn't be controlled by federal bureaucrats, it would be
controlled by parents, who could reward your creativity, your
ingenuity, your commitment to results.
so these are the four/American also education revolutions. Their
influences of can be profound. They mean that when these today's kids fifth
graders come back to visit their (insert teachers name) class in
eight years, they will marvel at how small the desks are, at how
they have to stoop to use the water cooler. But as they look and
listen to the school around them, they will say -- everything
else has changed. 11
Now, as some of you may have heard, there is an election in
about 55 days. so, before I leave you this morning, I would like
to take just a moment, and contrast my education record -- with
my opponents
:NT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 9- 8-92 ; 16:25 ;
The White House-
202 456 7739:# 9
Bil⁸
As a
played a role in the
To
his
credit,
Governor
Clinton has been leader in the
national education reform movement -- and he deserves credit for
that.
But I will be judged by my record, and he should be judged
the same. for his. Before he was creaming for Persident he thaylit public school and
were printe five
ideas.
Arkansas enjoyed an increase in the number of high school
Here's
What w
graduates in the 1980's -- but it was half the percentage
what to
increase in the 70's -- before Governor Clinton was elected.
POKY Williams:
[saste
Arkansas spending on students has always lagged below the
utta]
then fall
national average. In the 70's, that spending increased, but in
Naw, to
get The
the
endore-
the Clinton years, it dipped again.
mont for
me
In the 70's, Arkansas teachers salaries grew faster than the
rest of the nation. Again in the 80's, that process reversed
If
itself.
Contrast
These are the facts. But it is not the Governor's record
that worries me BO much, as the impact of the liberal leaders
in
this seque
doesn't
the Democratic Congress, and the Education Establishment in
work.
to which be now knowtows.
why not
Washington,
skewn
These are people who fear change -- who want to preserve
the
canton
or
status quo. on school choice for example, they tay "let's change
1
+
just -- just a little bit." They want parents to choose their
POLY
schools, as long as they are all public. I say, let's change
alot. Let parents choose religious schools if they want to.
This fall, the voters will have to decide who's approach
THEY you support. But I believe one thing is clear. In this
campaign, Governor Clinton has made a habit of telling the
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 9- 8-92 ; 16:26 ;
The White House-
202 456 7739;#10
9
education establishment in Washington what they want to hear.
I
will continue to tell them -- what they need to hear. 11
IN
We've heard a lot of talk of change is this election, and
that's appropriate, because the American revolution is never
ending.
But the change we've seen around the world the past few
years is really reventioning. unusual, shange is usually much more incremental,
much more diffuse
x want for Amenca's education
system.
That's the kind of change that is underway in American
education today.
Visiting schools, talking to parents, meeting with business
leaders I am reminded of the words of Robert Kennedy -- spoken
in another time, on another topic.
Kennedy said, "few will have the greatness to bend history
this is
agout alway & as
itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of
events, and in the total of these acts will be written the
Jonathan
history of this generation."
16307.
Robert Kennedy was balking about the battle for rácial
equality. Today, the struggie is for a new equality -- to give
these kids an equal change in the new world economy.
But while the topic has changed, but I the message is the
same, To the parents, teachers and community leaders
participating in Norristown 2000, I say -- "thank you. You are
changing a portion of events, and in your action, you are writing
a better chapter, in the history of America's next generation.
ENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 9- 8-92 ; 16:26 ;
The White House-
202 456 7739:#11
10
Thanks for listening. God Bless Pennsylvania. God Bless
The United States of America.
# # 4
Document No. 348991ss
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
92 SEP 9
DATE:
9/8/92
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT A9 DUE BY: TODAY, 9/8 ASAP!!!
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: NORRISTOWN, PA.
SUBJECT:
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 9, 1992
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MCBRIDE
BAKER
MOORE
SCOWCROFT
MULLINS
DARMAN
>
PETERSMEYER
BATES
PORTER
BRADY
PROVOST
BROMLEY
ROSS
CALIO
SMITH
DEMAREST
TUTWILER
1
FITZWATER
ZOELLICK
GRAY
KAUFMAN
HOLIDAY
MCGROARTY
HORNER
REMARKS:
Please forward your comments directly to Dan McGroarty, Rm. 122, x2930,
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE , with a copy to this office. Thank you.
RESPONSE:
PHILLIP D. BRADY
Assistant to the President
and Staff Secretary
Ext. 2702
Provost/Aarhus
Presidential Remarks
Norristown, PA
02 SEP 8 P3: 50
September 9, 1992
Draft: 3:00 p.m.
Thank you (
), and good morning everyone, it's great to
be back in Pennsylvania.
I wanted to start this morning by saying welcome back -- but
I know that the start of school can provoke mixed emotions.
I'm sure many of you had a lot of fun this summer. Now you
have to get used to new teachers and new classes, new routines.
But if this ever gets you down, just remember, you could be
getting beat over the head every day, you could be having your
character assassinated on television, -- you could be running
for President. //
Our world has been through enormous change the past few
years. Today, I can stand before you and say something no
President could ever say before. The Cold War is over -- freedom
finished first.
Now, the challenge before our nation -- is to win the peace.
To guarantee that America in the 21st century is not just a
military superpower, but also an export superpower, and an
economic superpower.
That's the central question -- at this time of wrenching
global change. I have made one promise to America -- not to
scare people in this campaign, but to talk about real issues --
real answers -- to the important questions before our nation.
2
That's why I am here this morning, to talk about how we can
build for our children what they need and deserve -- the very
best schools in the entire world.//
Now I admit, education is not usually found on the front
page of the newspaper, or at the top of the evening news -- but
it is the solution for most of what you do see there.
As President and as a parent, my loyalty lies with the young
people. Kids like the fifth graders -- who did such a fantastic
job laying out our national education goals this morning.
In the year 2,000, these fifth graders will graduate from
high school. They will look much different. The schools from
will
which they graduate -- h be much different as well.
Four years ago, I said I wanted to lead a revolution in
American education. Today, I come before you to report -- the
revolution is underway.
The credit is certainly not mine alone. The federal
government has merely been a catalyst -- as it should be. The
goals those students read are the first education goals in our
nation's history. They are being embraced by governors --
Republican and Democrat alike, by parents, by teachers, by
business and community leaders, and most important, by young
people like you -- in town after town, city after city, all
across America.
I have come to Norristown -- because you are in the lead --
but you are not alone. Today 1,700 communities -- in 44 states
-- have adopted the vision of what we call "America 2000."
3
Seventeen hundred communities -- representing (
) young people
-- have agreed to the first national education goals in American
history. Seventeen hundred communities agreed to lines in the
sand of the future that read -- "our children must be number
one.
The federal government should offer more than offer
congratulations for these efforts, and we are matching our words
with action.
You heard about our first goal -- making sure every student
arrives at school ready to learn. Today -- for the first time -
every eligible four-year-old who wants a Head Start on
kindergarten -- can get one.//
We have reorganized federal spending for math and science -
- giving special emphasis to teacher training. That is
consistent with goal number four -- math and science excellence.
I was proud to watch the Olympics, and watch Charles Barkely slam
dunk the entire Angolan basketball team. By the year 2,000, I
want our young people to be slam dunking the rest of the world in
math and science.
Goal number five is to guarantee a skilled, literate work
force. And I am proud to say that in our colleges today --one
out of every two students has a federal grant or loan -- that's a
higher ratio than ever before in our history.
Education is my number one priority, and my budgets have
reflected it. During my four years, federal investments in
4
education have increased at a more rapid rate than State and
local funding.
But if you think that money alone will reinvent our schools
-- think again. As a nation, only Switzerland spends more per
student on elementary and secondary education. This doesn't mean
we should not make new investments, it means we cannot spend our
money on the old way of doing things.
Our schools were invented for the age of the Model T. (young
humor)
We don't drive Model T's anymore, we don't live in log
cabins, so why are our schools the same?
After all, America has changed. Today, the guy on the
assembly line in a car plant must know far more about math than
his father ever did. Our families look different, in most
only
families, both parents work, and in many families, only mom or
panent dad comes home at night. Our schools have not kept up with the
new world around them.
Talk to teachers, school board members, parents -- and
they'll give you thousands of ideas of what new schools might
look like. That is the point of our education revolution. Not
to devise one solution in Washington and force it on you -- but
to encourage the true genius of America -- grassroots creativity
and problem solving.
Right now, as we gather today, America is responding to this
charge. Really, four revolutions are underway.
5
First, we are in the process of creating hundreds of what we
call "Break-The-Mold" schools. These might be schools where
students attend all year round. or where one school concentrates
on one subject area -- like arts or English. These break-the-
mold schools may come in every size and substance -- but all
share one characteristic -- they reject the status quo.
Revolution number two has to do with what we teach in our
schools. We must demand higher standards of young people. Math
teachers are setting higher standards today, and we need the same
for science, history, English, geography, civics and the arts.
And I support the idea of a national examination system -- I
call it an American achievement test, to let parents and
communities know what our children know.
Something else I'm supporting, that's to help someone very
special, someone very important to your future -- your teacher.
(By the way, since this is the first day of school, I assume
that none of you have received any tests back yet. So lets take
advantage of this good feeling, to say thanks to all the teachers
in the room. They are making a difference in your life, and we
should salute them.)
(Now when you go home tonight, you can tell your parents you
saw two things that were out of the ordinary. The President, and
a crowd of kids applauding their teachers.)
When the professionals in this audience decided on the
noble profession of teaching, they did it because they love
learning, and helping you live up to your potential.
6
My guess is none of our teachers -- chose their job because
they have a secret passion for paperwork, a or an incurable
romance with the copying machine.
But that's what too many of our teachers spend their time
doing, and I want the government to get off teacher's backs.
I don't want our teachers slaving over paperwork, I want them to
be working to free our young people from the slavery of ignorance
and apathy. //
There's one final revolution underway -- very important, and
it mimics what we've around the world in recent years.
Freedom works. Freedom wins. Yet in our nation, only the
privileged, have the freedom to choose where their kid goes to
school.
Let me tell give you an example of what I mean.
Today in Chicago, there are 66 public high schools, and only
19 graduate more than half their students and, very frankly, even
many of those graduates cannot read and write. Where do teachers
in Chicago send their kids? Well, almost half send them to
private schools.
Listen to Starr Parker, a small business owner in Chicago.
He says when it comes to education, "the rich have choice now.
When I was on welfare, there was no way I could put my child in a
good school. It's time we stop condemning the poor to a monopoly
education system.
Well, I agree with Starr Parker. Choice in education
shouldn't be limited to just the prosperous and the privileged.
7
Every parent should be able to choose the school they want for
their kids.
My GI Bill For Kids would give a thousand dollars to middle-
and low-income families that they can use to spend on any school
of their choice -- public, private, or religious.
Here in Norristown, almost 4,000 kids -- over half the
school population -- would be eligible for this new GI Bill. If
teachers are worried about what choice might do to public
schools, consider this. In this town alone, you would receive
almost $4 million extra in federal funds. But this money
wouldn't be controlled by federal bureaucrats, it would be
controlled by parents, who could reward your creativity, your
ingenuity, your commitment to results.
So these are the four American education revolutions. Their
influences can be profound. They mean that when these kids fifth
graders come back to visit their (insert teachers name) class in
eight years, they will marvel at how small the desks are, at how
they have to stoop to use the water cooler. But as they look and
listen to the school around them, they will say -- everything
else has changed. //
Now, as some of you may have heard, there is an election in
about 55 days. So, before I leave you this morning, I would like
to take just a moment, and contrast my education record -- with
my opponents
8
To his credit, Governor Clinton has been a leader in the
national education reform movement -- and he deserves credit for
that.
But I will be judged by my record, and he should be judged
the same.
Arkansas enjoyed an increase in the number of high school
graduates in the 1980's -- but it was half the percentage
increase in the 70's -- before Governor Clinton was elected.
Arkansas spending on students has always lagged below the
national average. In the 70's, that spending increased, but in
the Clinton years, it dipped again.
In the 70's, Arkansas teachers salaries grew faster than the
rest of the nation. Again in the 80's, that process reversed
itself.
These are the facts. But it is not the Governor's record
that worries me so much, as the impact of the liberal leaders in
the Democratic Congress, and the Education Establishment in
Washington.
These are people who fear change -- who want to preserve the
status quo. On school choice for example, they say "let's change
just -- just a little bit." They want parents to choose their
schools, as long as they are all public. I say, let's change
a
Let parents choose religious schools if they want to.
This fall, the voters, will have to decide who's approach
you support. But I believe one thing is clear. In this
campaign, Governor Clinton has made a habit of telling the
9
education establishment in Washington what they want to hear.
I
will continue to tell them -- what they need to hear. //
We've heard a lot of talk of change is this election, and
that's appropriate, because the American revolution is never
ending.
But the change we've seen around the world the past few
years is really unusual, change is usually much more incremental,
much more diffuse.
That's the kind of change that is underway in American
education today.
Visiting schools, talking to parents, meeting with business
leaders -- I am reminded of the words of Robert Kennedy -- spoken
in another time, on another topic.
Kennedy said, "few will have the greatness to bend history
itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of
events, and in the total of these acts will be written the
history of this generation."
Robert Kennedy was talking about the battle for racial
equality. Today, the struggle is for a new equality -- to give
these kids an equal chance in the new world economy.
But while the topic has changed, but the message is the
same. To the parents, teachers and community leaders
participating in Norristown 2000, I say -- "thank you. You are
changing a portion of events, and in your action, you are writing
a better chapter, in the history of America's next generation.
10
Thanks for listening. God Bless Pennsylvania. God Bless
The United States of America.
# # #
6218
September 4, 1992 (10:00 a.m.)
THE CHILDREN
You know it's Labor Day Weekend -- the last weekend before
kids go back to school.
I cherish our kids. They're truly our future. They represent
our hopes and dreams.
At its heart, this election is for the children: Who can lead
America to a better, freer, more fulfilling future, not just
for us adults but for the next generation -- the children.
When I came into office almost four years ago, I saw an
opportunity and I seized it: to put the nuclear genie back
in the bottle. I didn't want my grandkids ever to have to
practice hiding under their desks in case of a nuclear attack.
That's a responsibility the Constitution gives to the
Commander-in-Chief. It's a lonely responsibility. But I took
it by the horns and now we live in a far, safer world -- a
world where freedom has finished first.
Now, with the nuclear shadow removed, we can target America:
to revitalize our businesses, empower working men and women,
and educate our children -- not about the dangers of communism
but about the opportunities of freedom's victory.
I've got a blueprint for American renewal -- a blueprint so
our children can make the 21st Century theirs, just like we
made this Century ours.
The essence of my blueprint is this:
Opportunity.
Empowerment. And choice. That's the way to renew America -
- to make America a military superpower, an economic
superpower, and an export superpower into the 21st Century.
I
Renewal by cutting taxes, opening markets, and catalyzing
small business, the engines of growth.
--
Renewal by promoting research and development and keeping
American first in high technology.
--
Renewal by transforming health care, keeping quality and
ensuring access but cutting cost.
--
Renewal by empowering Americans to break the cycle of
dependency in welfare through job training and education.
:
Renewal, above all, by breaking the mold for our schools,
making sure kids are ready for school, setting new
standards, and leading the world in science and math.
Document No. 348991ss
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
DATE:
9/8/92
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: TODAY, 9/8 ASAP!!!
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: NORRISTOWN, PA.
SUBJECT:
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 9, 1992
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MCBRIDE
BAKER
X
MOORE
SCOWCROFT
X
MULLINS
DARMAN
PETERSMEYER
BATES
PORTER
BRADY
X
PROVOST
BROMLEY
ROSS
CALIO
SMITH
DEMAREST
TUTWILER
FITZWATER
X
ZOELLICK
GRAY
KAUFMAN
HOLIDAY N/C
MCGROARTY
HORNER
REMARKS:
Please forward your comments directly to Dan McGroarty, Rm. 122, x2930,
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE , with a copy to this office. Thank you.
RESPONSE:
called 4:40
PHILLIP D. BRADY
5:40 - hut half
Assistant to the President
and Staff Secretary
Ext. 2702
Provost/Aarhus
Presidential Remarks
Norristown, PA
C2 SEP 8 P3: 50
September 9, 1992
Draft: 3:00 p.m.
Thank you ( ), and good morning everyone, it's great to
be back in Pennsylvania.
I wanted to start this morning by saying welcome back -- but
I know that the start of school can provoke mixed emotions.
I'm sure many of you had a lot of fun this summer. Now you
have to get used to new teachers and new classes, new routines.
But if this ever gets you down, just remember, you could be
getting beat over the head every day, you could be having your
character assassinated on television, -- you could be running
for President. 11
Our world has been through enormous change the past few
years. Today, I can stand before you and say something no
President could ever say before. The Cold War is over -- freedom
finished first.
Now, the challenge before our nation -- is to win the peace.
To guarantee that America in the 21st century is not just a
)
military superpower, but also an export superpower, and an
economic superpower.
That's the central question -- at this time of wrenching
global change. I have made one promise to America -- not to
scare people in this campaign, but to talk about real issues --
real answers -- to the important questions before our nation.
2
That's why I am here this morning, to talk about how we can
build for our children what they need and deserve -- the very
best schools in the entire world.//
Now I admit, education is not usually found on the front
page of the newspaper, or at the top of the evening news -- but
it is the solution for most of what you do see there.
As President and as a parent, my loyalty lies with the young
people. Kids like the fifth graders -- who did such a fantastic
job laying out our national education goals this morning.
In the year 2,000, these fifth graders will graduate from
high school. They will look much different. The schools from
which they graduate -- be much different as well.
Four years ago, I said I wanted to lead a revolution in
American education. Today, I come before you to report -- the
revolution is underway.
The credit is certainly not mine alone. The federal
government has merely been a catalyst -- as it should be. The
goals those students read are the first education goals in our
nation's history. They are being embraced by governors --
Republican and Democrat alike, by parents, by teachers, by
business and community leaders, and most important, by young
people like you -- in town after town, city after city, all
across America.
I have come to Norristown -- because you are in the lead --
but you are not alone. Today 1,700 communities -- in 44 states
-- have adopted the vision of what we call "America 2000."
3
Seventeen hundred communities -- representing (
) young people
-- have agreed to the first national education goals in American
history. Seventeen hundred communities agreed to lines in the
sand of the future that read -- "our children must be number
one.
The federal government should offer more than offer
congratulations for these efforts, and we are matching our words
with action.
You heard about our first goal -- making sure every student
arrives at school ready to learn. Today -- for the first time -
every eligible four-year-old who wants a Head Start on
kindergarten -- can get one.//
We have reorganized federal spending for math and science -
- giving special emphasis to teacher training. That is
consistent with goal number four -- math and science excellence.
I was proud to watch the Olympics, and watch Charles Barkely slam
dunk the entire Angolan basketball team. By the year 2,000, I
want our young people to be slam dunking the rest of the world in
math and science.
Goal number five is to guarantee a skilled, literate work
force. And I am proud to say that in our colleges today --one
out of every two students has a federal grant or loan -- that's a
higher ratio than ever before in our history.
Education is my number one priority, and my budgets have
reflected it. During my four years, federal investments in
4
education have increased at a more rapid rate than State and
local funding.
But if you think that money alone will reinvent our schools
-- think again. As a nation, only Switzerland spends more per
student on elementary and secondary education. This doesn't mean
we should not make new investments, it means we cannot spend our
money on the old way of doing things.
Our schools were invented for the age of the Model T. (young
humor)
We don't drive Model T's anymore, we don't live in log
cabins, so why are our schools the same?
After all, America has changed. Today, the guy on the
assembly line in a car plant must know far more about math than
his father ever did. Our families look different, in most
families, both parents work, and in many families, only mom or
dad comes home at night. Our schools have not kept up with the
new world around them.
Talk to teachers, school board members, parents -- and
they'll give you thousands of ideas of what new schools might
look like. That is the point of our education revolution. Not
to devise one solution in Washington and force it on you -- but
to encourage the true genius of America -- grassroots creativity
and problem solving.
Right now, as we gather today, America is responding to this
charge. Really, four revolutions are underway.
5
First, we are in the process of creating hundreds of what we
call "Break-The-Mold" schools. These might be schools where
students attend all year round. or where one school concentrates
on one subject area -- like arts or English. These break-the-
mold schools may come in every size and substance -- but all
share one characteristic -- they reject the status quo.
Revolution number two has to do with what we teach in our
schools. We must demand higher standards of young people. Math
teachers are setting higher standards today, and we need the same
for science, history, English, geography, civics and the arts.
And I support the idea of a national examination system -- I
call it an American achievement test, to let parents and
communities know what our children know.
Something else I'm supporting, that's to help someone very
special, someone very important to your future -- your teacher.
(By the way, since this is the first day of school, I assume
that none of you have received any tests back yet. So lets take
advantage of this good feeling, to say thanks to all the teachers
in the room. They are making a difference in your life, and we
should salute them.)
(Now when you go home tonight, you can tell your parents you
saw two things that were out of the ordinary. The President, and
a crowd of kids applauding their teachers.)
When the professionals in this audience decided on the
noble profession of teaching, they did it because they love
learning, and helping you live up to your potential.
6
My guess is none of our teachers -- chose their job because
they have a secret passion for paperwork, a or an incurable
romance with the copying machine.
But that's what too many of our teachers spend their time
doing, and I want the government to get off teacher's backs.
I don't want our teachers slaving over paperwork, I want them to
be working to free our young people from the slavery of ignorance
and apathy. /
There's one final revolution underway -- very important, and
it mimics what we've around the world in recent years.
Freedom works. Freedom wins. Yet in our nation, only the
privileged, have the freedom to choose where their kid goes to
school.
Let me tell give you an example of what I mean.
Today in Chicago, there are 66 public high schools, and only
19 graduate more than half their students and, very frankly, even
many of those graduates cannot read and write. Where do teachers
in Chicago send their kids? Well, almost half send them to
private schools.
Listen to Starr Parker, a small business owner in Chicago.
He says when it comes to education, "the rich have choice now.
When I was on welfare, there was no way I could put my child in a
good school. It's time we stop condemning the poor to a monopoly
education system.'
Well, I agree with Starr Parker. Choice in education
shouldn't be limited to just the prosperous and the privileged.
7
Every parent should be able to choose the school they want for
their kids.
My GI Bill For Kids would give a thousand dollars to middle-
and low-income families that they can use to spend on any school
of their choice -- public, private, or religious.
Here in Norristown, almost 4,000 kids -- over half the
school population -- would be eligible for this new GI Bill. If
teachers are worried about what choice might do to public
schools, consider this. In this town alone, you would receive
almost $4 million extra in federal funds. But this money
wouldn't be controlled by federal bureaucrats, it would be
controlled by parents, who could reward your creativity, your
ingenuity, your commitment to results.
So these are the four American education revolutions. Their
influences can be profound. They mean that when these kids fifth
graders come back to visit their (insert teachers name) class in
eight years, they will marvel at how small the desks are, at how
they have to stoop to use the water cooler. But as they look and
listen to the school around them, they will say -- everything
else has changed. //
Now, as some of you may have heard, there is an election in
about 55 days. So, before I leave you this morning, I would like
to take just a moment, and contrast my education record -- with
my opponents.
8
To his credit, Governor Clinton has been a leader in the
national education reform movement -- and he deserves credit for
that.
But I will be judged by my record, and he should be judged
the same.
Arkansas enjoyed an increase in the number of high school
graduates in the 1980's -- but it was half the percentage
increase in the 70's -- before Governor Clinton was elected.
Arkansas spending on students has always lagged below the
national average. In the 70's, that spending increased, but in
the Clinton years, it dipped again.
In the 70's, Arkansas teachers salaries grew faster than the
rest of the nation. Again in the 80's, that process reversed
itself.
These are the facts. But it is not the Governor's record
that worries me so much, as the impact of the liberal leaders in
the Democratic Congress, and the Education Establishment in
Washington.
These are people who fear change -- who want to preserve the
status quo. On school choice for example, they say "let's change
just -- just a little bit." They want parents to choose their
schools, as long as they are all public. I say, let's change
alot. Let parents choose religious schools if they want to.
This fall, the voters, will have to decide who's approach
you support. But I believe one thing is clear. In this
campaign, Governor Clinton has made a habit of telling the
9
education establishment in Washington what they want to hear.
I
will continue to tell them -- what they need to hear. //
We've heard a lot of talk of change is this election, and
that's appropriate, because the American revolution is never
ending.
But the change we've seen around the world the past few
years is really unusual, change is usually much more incremental,
much more diffuse.
That's the kind of change that is underway in American
education today.
Visiting schools, talking to parents, meeting with business
leaders -- I am reminded of the words of Robert Kennedy -- spoken
in another time, on another topic.
Kennedy said, "few will have the greatness to bend history
itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of
events, and in the total of these acts will be written the
history of this generation."
Robert Kennedy was talking about the battle for racial
equality. Today, the struggle is for a new equality -- to give
these kids an equal chance in the new world economy.
But while the topic has changed, but the message is the
same. To the parents, teachers and community leaders
participating in Norristown 2000, I say -- "thank you.' You are
changing a portion of events, and in your action, you are writing
a better chapter, in the history of America's next generation.
10
Thanks for listening. God Bless Pennsylvania. God Bless
The United States of America.
# # #
(
Document No. 348991ss
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
92 SEP 8 P7:07
DATE:
9/8/92
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: TODAY, 9/8 ASAP!!!
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: NORRISTOWN, PA.
SUBJECT:
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 9, 1992
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MCBRIDE
BAKER
MOORE
SCOWCROFT
MULLINS
DARMAN
PETERSMEYER
BATES
PORTER
BRADY
PROVOST
BROMLEY
ROSS
CALIO
SMITH
DEMAREST
TUTWILER
FITZWATER
ZOELLICK
GRAY
KAUFMAN
HOLIDAY
MCGROARTY
HORNER
REMARKS:
Please forward your comments directly to Dan McGroarty, Rm. 122, x2930,
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE , with a copy to this office. Thank you.
RESPONSE:
numor comment p3
PHILLIP D. BRADY
Assistant to the President
and Staff Secretary
Ext. 2702
Provost/Aarhus
Presidential Remarks
Norristown, PA
2 SEP 8
P3:
50
September 9, 1992
Draft: 3:00 p.m.
Thank you ( ), and good morning everyone, it's great to
be back in Pennsylvania.
I wanted to start this morning by saying welcome back -- but
I know that the start of school can provoke mixed emotions.
I'm sure many of you had a lot of fun this summer. Now you
have to get used to new teachers and new classes, new routines.
But if this ever gets you down, just remember, you could be
getting beat over the head every day, you could be having your
character assassinated on television, -- you could be running
for President./
Our world has been through enormous change the past few
years. Today, I can stand before you and say something no
President could ever say before. The Cold War is over -- freedom
finished first.
Now, the challenge before our nation -- is to win the peace.
To guarantee that America in the 21st century is not just a
military superpower, but also an export superpower, and an
economic superpower.
That's the central question -- at this time of wrenching
global change. I have made one promise to America -- not to
scare people in this campaign, but to talk about real issues --
real answers -- to the important questions before our nation.
2
That's why I am here this morning, to talk about how we can
build for our children what they need and deserve -- the very
best schools in the entire world. //
Now I admit, education is not usually found on the front
page of the newspaper, or at the top of the evening news -- but
it is the solution for most of what you do see there.
As President and as a parent, my loyalty lies with the young
people. Kids like the fifth graders -- who did such a fantastic
job laying out our national education goals this morning.
In the year 2,000, these fifth graders will graduate from
high school. They will look much different. The schools from
which they graduate -- be much different as well.
Four years ago, I said I wanted to lead a revolution in
American education. Today, I come before you to report -- the
revolution is underway.
The credit is certainly not mine alone. The federal
government has merely been a catalyst -- as it should be. The
goals those students read are the first education goals in our
nation's history. They are being embraced by governors --
Republican and Democrat alike, by parents, by teachers, by
business and community leaders, and most important, by young
people like you -- in town after town, city after city, all
across America.
I have come to Norristown -- because you are in the lead --
but you are not alone. Today 1,700 communities -- in 44 states
-- have adopted the vision of what we call "America 2000."
3
Seventeen hundred communities -- representing (
) young people
-- have agreed to the first national education goals in American
history. Seventeen hundred communities agreed to lines in the
sand of the future that read -- "our children must be number
one.
The federal government should offer more than offer
congratulations for these efforts, and we are matching our words
with action.
You heard about our first goal -- making sure every student
arrives at school ready to learn. Today -- for the first time -
every eligible four-year-old who wants a Head Start.
kindergarten -- can get one.//
He for was on taking roundly a The P. cheap critius anyth sho
We have reorganized federal spending for math and science
-
- giving special emphasis to teacher training. That is
not
saydone
consistent with goal number four -- math and science excellence.
I was proud to watch the Olympics, and watch Charles Barkely slam this. behavi
to
dunk the entire Angolan basketball team. By the year 2,000, I
want our young people to be slam dunking the rest of the world in
math and science.
Goal number five is to guarantee a skilled, literate work
force. And I am proud to say that in our colleges today --one
out of every two students has a federal grant or loan -- that's a
higher ratio than ever before in our history.
Education is my number one priority, and my budgets have
reflected it. During my four years, federal investments in
4
education have increased at a more rapid rate than State and
local funding.
But if you think that money alone will reinvent our schools
-- think again. As a nation, only Switzerland spends more per
student on elementary and secondary education. This doesn't mean
we should not make new investments, it means we cannot spend our
money on the old way of doing things.
Our schools were invented for the age of the Model T. (young
humor)
We don't drive Model T's anymore, we don't live in log
cabins, so why are our schools the same?
After all, America has changed. Today, the guy on the
assembly line in a car plant must know far more about math than
his father ever did. Our families look different, in most
families, both parents work, and in many families, only mom or
dad comes home at night. Our schools have not kept up with the
new world around them.
Talk to teachers, school board members, parents -- and
they'll give you thousands of ideas of what new schools might
look like. That is the point of our education revolution. Not
to devise one solution in Washington and force it on you -- but
to encourage the true genius of America -- grassroots creativity
and problem solving.
Right now, as we gather today, America is responding to this
charge. Really, four revolutions are underway.
5
First, we are in the process of creating hundreds of what we
call "Break-The-Mold" schools. These might be schools where
students attend all year round. or where one school concentrates
on one subject area -- like arts or English. These break-the-
mold schools may come in every size and substance -- but all
share one characteristic -- they reject the status quo.
Revolution number two has to do with what we teach in our
schools. We must demand higher standards of young people. Math
teachers are setting higher standards today, and we need the same
for science, history, English, geography, civics and the arts.
And I support the idea of a national examination system -- I
call it an American achievement test, to let parents and
communities know what our children know.
Something else I'm supporting, that's to help someone very
special, someone very important to your future -- your teacher.
(By the way, since this is the first day of school, I assume
that none of you have received any tests back yet. So lets take
advantage of this good feeling, to say thanks to all the teachers
in the room. They are making a difference in your life, and we
should salute them.)
(Now when you go home tonight, you can tell your parents you
saw two things that were out of the ordinary. The President, and
a crowd of kids applauding their teachers.)
When the professionals in this audience decided on the
noble profession of teaching, they did it because they love
learning, and helping you live up to your potential.
6
My guess is none of our teachers -- chose their job because
they have a secret passion for paperwork, a or an incurable
romance with the copying machine.
But that's what too many of our teachers spend their time
doing, and I want the government to get off teacher's backs.
I don't want our teachers slaving over paperwork, I want them to
be working to free our young people from the slavery of ignorance
and apathy. 11
There's one final revolution underway -- very important, and
it mimics what we've around the world in recent years.
Freedom works. Freedom wins. Yet in our nation, only the
privileged, have the freedom to choose where their kid goes to
school.
Let me tell give you an example of what I mean.
Today in Chicago, there are 66 public high schools, and only
19 graduate more than half their students and, very frankly, even
many of those graduates cannot read and write. Where do teachers
in Chicago send their kids? Well, almost half send them to
private schools.
Listen to Starr Parker, a small business owner in Chicago.
He says when it comes to education, "the rich have choice now.
When I was on welfare, there was no way I could put my child in a
good school. It's time we stop condemning the poor to a monopoly
education system."
Well, I agree with Starr Parker. Choice in education
shouldn't be limited to just the prosperous and the privileged.
7
Every parent should be able to choose the school they want for
their kids.
My GI Bill For Kids would give a thousand dollars to middle-
and low-income families that they can use to spend on any school
of their choice -- public, private, or religious.
Here in Norristown, almost 4,000 kids -- over half the
school population -- would be eligible for this new GI Bill. If
teachers are worried about what choice might do to public
schools, consider this. In this town alone, you would receive
almost $4 million extra in federal funds. But this money
wouldn't be controlled by federal bureaucrats, it would be
controlled by parents, who could reward your creativity, your
ingenuity, your commitment to results.
So these are the four American education revolutions. Their
influences can be profound. They mean that when these kids fifth
graders come back to visit their (insert teachers name) class in
eight years, they will marvel at how small the desks are, at how
they have to stoop to use the water cooler. But as they look and
listen to the school around them, they will say -- everything
else has changed. 11
Now, as some of you may have heard, there is an election in
about 55 days. So, before I leave you this morning, I would like
to take just a moment, and contrast my education record -- with
my opponents.
8
To his credit, Governor Clinton has been a leader in the
national education reform movement -- and he deserves credit for
that.
But I will be judged by my record, and he should be judged
the same.
Arkansas enjoyed an increase in the number of high school
graduates in the 1980's -- but it was-half the percentage
increase in the 70's -- before Governor Clinton was elected.
Arkansas spending on students has always lagged below the
national average. In the 70's, that spending increased, but in
the Clinton years, it dipped again.
In the 70's, Arkansas teachers salaries grew faster than the
rest of the nation. Again in the 80's, that process reversed
itself.
These are the facts. But it is not the Governor's record
that worries me so much, as the impact of the liberal leaders in
the Democratic Congress, and the Education Establishment in
Washington.
These are people who fear change -- who want to preserve the
status quo. On school choice for example, they say "let's change
just -- just a little bit." They want parents to choose their
schools, as long as they are all public. I say, let's change
alot. Let parents choose religious schools if they want to.
This fall, the voters, will have to decide who's approach
you support. But I believe one thing is clear. In this
campaign, Governor Clinton has made a habit of telling the
9
education establishment in Washington what they want to hear. I
will continue to tell them -- what they need to hear./
We've heard a lot of talk of change is this election, and
that's appropriate, because the American revolution is never
ending.
But the change we've seen around the world the past few
years is really unusual, change is usually much more incremental,
much more diffuse.
That's the kind of change that is underway in American
education today.
Visiting schools, talking to parents, meeting with business
leaders -- I am reminded of the words of Robert Kennedy -- spoken
in another time, on another topic.
Kennedy said, "few will have the greatness to bend history
itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of
events, and in the total of these acts will be written the
history of this generation."
Robert Kennedy was talking about the battle for racial
equality. Today, the struggle is for a new equality -- to give
these kids an equal chance in the new world economy.
But while the topic has changed, but the message is the
same. To the parents, teachers and community leaders
participating in Norristown 2000, I say -- "thank you.' You are
changing a portion of events, and in your action, you are writing
a better chapter, in the history of America's next generation.
10
Thanks for listening. God Bless Pennsylvania. God Bless
The United States of America.
# # #
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503
9-88-97
P6: 59
NOTICE:
Enclosed are comments from staff members of the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB). Such comments do not necessarily
represent the official position of the Director of OMB or of the
Office of Management and Budget. If you wish to have the
Director's personal comments, please let me know -- and contact
me if you have any questions.
James acm C. Mufr
Associate Director for
Legislative Reference
and Administration
Document No. 348991ss
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
DATE:
9/8/92
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: TODAY, 9/8 ASAP!!!
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: NORRISTOWN, PA.
SUBJECT:
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 9, 1992
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MCBRIDE
BAKER
MOORE
SCOWCROFT
MULLINS
DARMAN
PETERSMEYER
BATES
PORTER
BRADY
PROVOST
BROMLEY
ROSS
CALIO
SMITH
DEMAREST
TUTWILER
FITZWATER
ZOELLICK
GRAY
KAUFMAN
HOLIDAY
MCGROARTY
HORNER
REMARKS:
Please forward your comments directly to Dan McGroarty, Rm. 122, x2930,
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE , with a copy to this office. Thank you.
RESPONSE:
See comments
PHILLIP D. BRADY
(T. Seally may comment at a
Assistant to the President
and Staff Secretary
Ext. 2702
later time
Provost/Aarhus
Presidential Remarks
Norristown, PA
2 SEP 8 P3: 50
September 9, 1992
Draft: 3:00 p.m.
Thank you (
), and good morning everyone, it's great to
be back in Pennsylvania.
I wanted to start this morning by saying welcome back -- but
I know that the start of school can provoke mixed emotions.
I'm sure many of you had a lot of fun this summer. Now you
have to get used to new teachers and new classes, new routines.
But if this ever gets you down, just remember, you could be
getting beat over the head every day, you could be having your
character assassinated on television, -- you could be running
for President. //
Our world has been through enormous change the past few
years. Today, I can stand before you and say something no
President could ever say before. The Cold War is over -- freedom
finished first.
Now, the challenge before our nation -- is to win the peace.
C
To guarantee that America in the 21st century is not just a
military superpower, but also an export superpower, and an
economic superpower.
fantastic
That's the central question -- at this time of wrenching
global change. I have made one promise to America -- not to
scare people in this campaign, but to talk about real issues --
real answers -- to the important questions before our nation.
2
That's why I am here this morning, to talk about how we can
build for our children what they need and deserve -- the very
best schools in the entire world./
Now I admit, education is not usually found on the front
page of the newspaper, or at the top of the evening news -- but
it is the solution for much/ most of what you do see there.
As President and as a parent, my loyalty lies with the young
people. Kids like the fifth graders -- who did such a fantastic
job laying out our national education goals this morning.
In the year 2,000, these fifth graders will graduate from
CRADY
high school. They will look much different. The schools from
4742
must be
which they graduate be much different as well.
Four years ago, I said I wanted to lead a revolution in
American education. Today, I come before you to report -- the
revolution is underway.
The credit is certainly not mine alone. The federal
government has merely been a catalyst -- as it should be. The
goals those students read are the first education goals in our
nation's history. They are being embraced by governors --
Republican and Democrat alike, by parents, by teachers, by
business and community leaders, and most important, by young
people like you -- in town after town, city after city, all
across America.
I have come to Norristown -- because you are in the lead --
but you are not alone. Today 1,700 communities -- in 44 states
-- have adopted the vision of what we call "America 2000."
(GRADY 4742)
that didn't happen by vistake.
It hypendhecause weineted
3
-Head start just like we
said we world. In fact we've
Seventeen hundred communities -- representing
(
young people
more
-- have agreed to the first national education goals in American
then
history. Seventeen hundred communities agreed to lines in the
Doubled
sand of the future that read -- "our children must be number
Head
start
one
since
The federal government should offer more than offer
1989-
congratulations for these efforts, and we are matching our words why?
For a
with action.
single reason:
You heard about our first goal -- making sure every student
Huobe
arrives at school ready to learn. Today -- for the first time -
every eligible four-year-old who wants a Head Start on
kindergarten can get one
investment
BRADY 4742
education
Increased Sharph
We have reorganized federal spending for math and science
also
- giving special emphasis to teacher training. That is
Bravlays)
consistent with goal number four -- math and science excellence.
Math
I was proud to watch the Olympics, and watch Charles Barkely slam
sciende education
dunk the entire Angolan basketball team. By the year 2,000, I
want our young people to be slam dunking the rest of the world in
is us 69%
math and science.
since
Goal number five is to guarantee a skilled, literate work
force. And I am proud to say that in our colleges today --one
out of every two students has a federal grant or loan -- that's a
New &
office
higher ratio than ever before in our history.
Education is my number one priority, and my budgets have
reflected it. During my four years, federal investments in
(GRADY 4742)
Now, you don hear this from my opponent He claimed we've
reduced four investment education. He is Plat at wrong- fond I
must 59 it world be nice to see an impartial not inal press
print that at
education have increased at a more rapid rate than State and
for
local funding.
once.
But if you think that money alone will reinvent our schools
-- think again. As a nation, only Switzerland spends more per
student on elementary and secondary education. This doesn't mean
we should not make new investments, it means we cannot spend our
4742
money on the old way of doing things.
Our schools were invented for the age of the Model T. (young
humor)
We don't drive Model T's anymore, we don't live in log
cabins, so why are our schools the same?
After all, America has changed. Today, the guy on the
assembly line in a car plant must know far more about math than
his father ever did. Our families look different, in most
families, both parents work, and in many families, only mom or
dad comes home at night. Our schools have not kept up with the
new world around them.
Talk to teachers, school board members, parents -- and
they'll give you thousands of ideas of what new schools might
look like. That is the point of our education revolution. Not
to devise one solution in Washington and force it on you -- but
to encourage the true genius of America -- grassroots creativity
and problem solving.
Right now, as we gather today, America is responding to this
charge. Really, four revolutions are underway.
5
First, we are in the process of creating hundreds of what we
call "Break-The-Mold" schools. These might be schools where
students attend all year round. or where one school concentrates
on one subject area -- like arts or English. These break-the-
mold schools may come in every size and substance -- but all
share one characteristic -- they reject the status quo.
Revolution number two has to do with what we teach in our
schools. We must demand higher standards of young people. Math
teachers are setting higher standards today, and we need the same
for science, history, English, geography, civics and the arts.
And I support the idea of a national examination system -- I
call it an American achievement test, to let parents and
communities know what our children know.
Something else I'm supporting, that's to help someone very
special, someone very important to your future -- your teacher.
(By the way, since this is the first day of school, I assume
that none of you have received any tests back yet. So lets take
advantage of this good feeling, to say thanks to all the teachers
in the room. They are making a difference in your life, and we
should salute them.)
(Now when you go home tonight, you can tell your parents you
saw two things that were out of the ordinary. The President, and
a crowd of kids applauding their teachers.)
When the professionals in this audience decided on the
noble profession of teaching, they did it because they love
learning, and helping you live up to your potential.
6
My guess is none of our teachers -- chose their job because
they have a secret passion for paperwork, or an incurable
romance with the copying machine.
But that's what too many of our teachers spend their time
doing, and I want the government to get off teacher's backs.
I don't want our teachers slaving over paperwork, I want them to
be working to free our young people from the slavery of ignorance
and apathy. //
There's one final revolution underway -- very important, and
seen
it mimics what we'veAlaround the world in recent years.
Freedom works. Freedom wins. Yet in our nation, only the
privileged, have the freedom to choose where their kid goes to
school.
Let me tell give you an example of what I mean.
Today in Chicago, there are 66 public high schools, and only
19 graduate more than half their students and, very frankly, even
many of those graduates cannot read and write. Where do teachers
in Chicago send their kids? Well, almost half send them to
private schools.
Listen to Starr Parker, a small business owner in Chicago.
He says when it comes to education, "the rich have choice now.
When I was on welfare, there was no way I could put my child in a
good school. It's time we stop condemning the poor to a monopoly
education system.'
Well, I agree with Starr Parker. Choice in education
shouldn't be limited to just the prosperous and the privileged.
7
Every parent should be able to choose the school they want for
their kids.
My GI Bill For Kids would give a thousand dollars to middle-
and low-income families that they can use to spend on any school
of their choice -- public, private, or religious.
Here in Norristown, almost 4,000 kids -- over half the
school population -- would be eligible for this new GI Bill. If
teachers are worried about what choice might do to public
schools, consider this. In this town alone, you would receive
almost $4 million extra in federal funds. But this money
wouldn't be controlled by federal bureaucrats, it would be
controlled by parents, who could reward your creativity, your
ingenuity, your commitment to results.
So these are the four American education revolutions. Their
influences can be profound. They mean that when these kids fifth
graders come back to visit their (insert teachers name) class in
eight years, they will marvel at how small the desks are, at how
they have to stoop to use the water cooler. But as they look and
listen to the school around them, they will say -- everything
else has changed. / /
Now, as some of you may have heard, there is an election in
about 55 days. So, before I leave you this morning, I would like
to take just a moment, and contrast my education record -- with
my opponents. GRADY
8
To his credit, Governor Clinton has been a leader in the
national education reform movement -- and he deserves credit for
that.
But I will be judged by my record, and he should be judged
the same.
Arkansas enjoyed an increase in the number of high school
graduates in the 1980's -- but it was half the percentage
increase in the 70's -- before Governor Clinton was elected.
Arkansas spending on students has always lagged below the
national average. In the 70's, that spending increased, but in
the Clinton years, it dipped again.
In the 70's, Arkansas teachers salaries grew faster than the
rest of the nation. Again in the 80's, that process reversed
itself.
These are the facts. But it is not the Governor's record
that worries me so much, as the impact of the liberal leaders in
the Democratic Congress, and the Education Establishment in
Washington.
These are people who fear change -- who want to preserve the
4742
status quo. On school choice for example, they say "let's change
just a just a little bit." They want parents to choose their
schools, as long as they are all public. I say, let's change
alot. Let parents choose religious schools if they want to.
This fall, the voters, will have to decide who's approach
you support. But I believe one thing is clear. In this
campaign, Governor Clinton has made a habit of telling the
9
education establishment in Washington what they want to hear.
I
11600d
Line.
will continue to tell them -- what they need to hear./ //
We've heard a lot of talk of change is this election, and
that's appropriate, because the American revolution is never
ending.
But the change we've seen around the world the past few
years is really unusual, change is usually much more incremental,
much more diffuse.
That's the kind of change that is underway in American
education today.
Visiting schools, talking to parents, meeting with business
leaders -- I am reminded of the words of Robert Kennedy -- spoken
in another time, on another topic.
Kennedy said, "few will have the greatness to bend history
itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of
events, and in the total of these acts will be written the
history of this generation."
Robert Kennedy was talking about the battle for racial
equality. Today, the struggle is for a new equality -- to give
these kids an equal chance in the new world economy.
But while the topic has changed but the message is the
same. To the parents, teachers and community leaders
participating in Norristown 2000, I say -- "thank you. You are
changing a portion of events, and in your action, you are writing
a better chapter, in the history of America's next generation.
10
Thanks for listening. God Bless Pennsylvania. God Bless
The United States of America.
# # #
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 9- 8-92 ; 17:07 ;
The White House->
2024566218:# 1
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
THE
PACSIMILE TRANSMITTAL SHEET
DATE
TO DAN MCBROATY
FAX NUMBER 6218
OFFICE NUMBER
NUMBER OF PAGES INCLUDING COVER
FROM AMDRENT CARPENDALE
COMMENTS
OFFICE NUMBER
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 9- 8-92 ; 17:08 ;
The White House+
2024566218;# 3
Document No. 348991ss
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
DATE:
9/8/92
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY:
TODAY, 9/8 ASAP!!!
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: NORRISTOWN, PA.
SUBJECT:
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 9, 1992
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MCBRIDE
BAKER
MOORE
SCOWCROFT
MULLINS
DARMAN
PETERSMEYER
BATES
PORTER
BRADY
PROVOST
BROMLEY
ROSS
CALIO
SMITH
DEMAREST
TUTWILER
FITZWATER
ZOELLICK
GRAY
KAUFMAN
HOLIDAY
MCGROARTY
HORNER
REMARKS:
Please forward your comments directly to Dan McGroarty, Rm. 122, x2930,
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE , with a copy to this office. Thank you.
RESPONSE:
PHILLIP D. BRADY
Assistant to the President
and Staff Secretary
Ext. 2702
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 9- 8-92 ; 17:08 ;
The White House-
2024566218:# 4
Provost/Aarhus
Presidential Remarks
Norristown, PA
12 SEP 8 P3: 50
September 9, 1992
Draft: 3:00 p.m.
Thank you ( ", and good morning everyone, it's great to
be back in Pennsylvania.
I wanted to start this morning by saying welcome back -- but
I know that the start of school can provoke mixed emotions.
I'm sure many of you had a lot of fun this summer. Now you
have to get used to new teachers and new classes, new routines.
But if this ever gets you down, just remember, you could be
getting beat over the head every day, you could be having your
character assassinated on television, -- you could be running
for President. 11
our world has been through enormous change the past few
years. Today, I can stand before you and say something no
President could ever say before. The Cold War is over -- freedom
finished first.
Now, the challenge before our nation -- is to win the peace.
TO guarantee that America in the 21st century is not just a
military superpower, but also an export superpower, and an
economic superpower.
That's the central question -- at this time of wrenching
global change. I have made one promise to America -- not to
scare people in this campaign, but to talk about real issues --
real answers -- to the important questions before our nation.
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 9- 8-92 ; 17:09 ;
The White House->
2024566218:# 5
2
That's why I am here this morning, to talk about how we can
build for our children what they need and deserve -- the very
best schools in the entire world.//
Now I admit, education is not usually found on the front
page of the newspaper, or at the top of the evening news -- but
it is the solution for most of what you do see there.
As President and as a parent, my loyalty lies with the young
people. Kids like the fifth graders -- who did such a fantastic
job laying out our national education goals this morning.
In the year 2,000, these fifth graders will graduate from
high school. They will look much different. The schools from
will
which they graduate -- be much different as well.
Four years ago, I said I wanted to lead a revolution in
American education. Today, I come before you to report -- the
revolution is underway.
The credit is certainly not mine alone. The federal
government has merely been a catalyst -- as it should be. The
goals those students read are the first education goals in our
nation's history. They are being embraced by governors --
Republican and Democrat alike, by parents, by teachers, by
business and community leaders, and most important, by young
people like you -- in town after town, city after city, all
across America.
I have come to Norristown -- because you are in the lead --
but you are not alone. Today 1,700 communities -- in 44 states
-- have adopted the vision of what we call "America 2000."
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 9- 8-92 ; 17:09 ;
The White House->
2024566218:# 6
3
Seventeen hundred communities -- representing (
) young people
-- have agreed to the first national education goals in American
history. Seventeen hundred communities agreed to lines in the
sand of the future that read -- "our children must be number
one.'
The federal government should offer more than offer
congratulations for these efforts, and we are matching our words
with action.
You heard about our first goal -- making sure every student
arrives at school ready to learn. Today -- for the first time -
every eligible four-year-old who wants a Head Start on
kindergarten -- can get one.//
We have reorganized federal spending for math and science -
- giving special emphasis to teacher training. That is
consistent with goal number four - math and science excellence.
I was proud to watch the olympics, and watch Charles Barkely slam
dunk the entire Angolan basketball team. By the year 2,000, I
want our young people to be slam dunking the rest of the world in
math and science.
Goal number five is to guarantee a skilled, literate work
force. And I am proud to say that in our colleges today - --one
out of every two students has a federal grant or loan -- that's a
higher ratio than ever before in our history.
Education is my number one priority, and my budgets have
reflected it. During my four years, federal investments in
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 9- 8-92 ; 17:10 ;
The White House+
2024566218:# 7
4
education have increased at a more rapid rate than State and
local funding.
But if you think that money alone will reinvent our schools
-- think again. As a nation, only Switzerland spends more per
student on elementary and secondary education. This doesn't mean
we should not make new investments, it means we cannot spend our
money on the old way of doing things.
our schools were invented for the age of the Model T. (young
humor)
We don't drive Model T's anymore, we don't live in log
cabins, so why are our schools the same?
After all, America has changed. Today, the guy on the
assembly line in a car plant must know far more about math than
his father ever did. Our families look different, in most
families, both parents work, and in many families, only OF
comes at night. Our schools have not kept up with the
new world around them.
Talk to teachers, school board members, parents -- and
they'll give you thousands of ideas of what new schools might
look like. That is the point of our education revolution. Not
to devise one solution in Washington and force it on you -- but
to encourage the true genius of America -- grassroots creativity
and problem solving.
Right now, as we gather today, America is responding to this
charge. Really, four revolutions are underway.
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 9- 8-92 ; 17:10 ;
The White House->
2024566218:# 8
5
First, we are in the process of creating hundreds of what we
call "Break-The-Mold" schools. These might be schools where
students attend all year round. or where one school concentrates
on one subject area -- like arts or English. These break-the-
mold schools may come in every size and substance - but all
share one characteristic -- they reject the status quo.
Revolution number two has to do with what we teach in our
schools. We must demand higher standards of young people. Math
teachers are setting higher standards today, and we need the same
for science, history, English, geography, civics and the arts.
And I support the idea of a national examination_ system -- I
call it an American achievement test, to let parents and
communities know what our children know.
Something else I'm supporting, that's to help someone very
special, someone very important to your future -- your teacher.
(By the way, since this is the first day of school, I assume
that none of you have received any tests back yet. So lets take
advantage of this good feeling, to say thanks to all the teachers
in the room. They are making a difference in your life, and we
should salute them.)
(Now when you go home tonight, you can tell your parents you
saw two things that were out of the ordinary. The President, and
a crowd of kids applauding their teachers.)
When the professionals in this audience decided on the
noble profession of teaching, they did it because they love
learning, and helping you live up to your potential.
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 9- 8-92 ; 17:11 ;
The White House->
2024566218:# 9
6
My guess is none of our teachers -- chose their job because
they have a secret passion for paperwork, a or an incurable
romance with the copying machine.
But that's what too many of our teachers spend their time
doing, and I want the government to get off teacher's backs.
I don't want our teachers slaving over paperwork, I want them to
be working to free our young people from the slavery of ignorance
and apathy.//
There's one final revolution underway -- very important, and
it mimics what we've around the world in recent years.
Freedom works. Freedom wins. Yet in our nation, only the
privileged, have the freedom to choose where their kid goes to
school.
Let me tell give you an example of what I mean.
Today in Chicago, there are 66 public high schools, and only
19 graduate more than half their students and, very frankly, even
many of those graduates cannot read and write. Where do teachers
in Chicago send their kids? Well, almost half send them to
private schools.
Listen to Starr Parker, a small business owner in Chicago.
He says when it comes to education, "the rich have choice now.
When I was on welfare, there was no way I could put my child in a
good school. It's time we stop condemning the poor to a monopoly
education system."
Well, I agree with Starr Parker. Choice in education
shouldn't be limited to just the prosperous and the privileged.
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 9- 8-92 ; 17:11 ;
The White House->
20245662181#10
7
Every parent should be able to choose the school they want for
their kids.
My GI Bill For Kids would give a thousand dollars to middle-
and low-income families that they can use to spend on any school
of their choice -- public, private, or religious.
Here in Norristown, almost 4,000 kids -- over half the
school population -- would be eligible for this new GI Bill. If
teachers are worried about what choice might do to public
schools, consider this. In this town alone, you would receive
almost $4 million extra in federal funds. But this money
wouldn't be controlled by federal bureaucrats, it would be
controlled by parents, who could reward your creativity, your
ingenuity, your commitment to results.
So these are the four American education revolutions. Their
influences can be profound. They mean that when these kids fifth
graders come back to visit their (insert teachers name) class in
eight years, they will marvel at how small the desks are, at how
they have to stoop to use the water cooler. But as they look and
listen to the school around them, they will say -- everything
else has changed.//
Now, as some of you may have heard, there is an election in
about 55 days. So, before I leave you this morning, I would like
to take just a moment, and contrast my education record -- with
my opponents
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 9- 8-92 ; 17:12 ;
The White House->
2024566218:#11
8
To his credit, Governor Clinton has been a leader in the
national education reform movement -- and he deserves credit for
that.
But I will be judged by my record, and he should be judged
the same.
Arkansas enjoyed an increase in the number of high school
graduates in the 1980's -- but it was half the percentage
increase in the 70's -- before Governor Clinton was elected.
Arkansas spending on students has always lagged below the
national average. In the 70's, that spending increased, but in
the Clinton years, it dipped again.
In the 70's, Arkansas teachers salaries grew faster than the
rest of the nation. Again in the 80's, that process reversed
itself.
These are the facts. But it is not the Governor's record
that worries me so much, as the impact of the liberal leaders in
the Democratic Congress, and the Education Establishment in
Washington.
These are people who fear change -- who want to preserve the
status quo. on school choice for example, they say "let's change
just -- just a little bit." They want parents to choose their
scheels, as long as they are all public. I say, let's change
Let parents choose religious schools if they want to.
This fall, the voters, will have to decide who's approach
you support. But I believe one thing is clear. In this
campaign, Governor Clinton has made a habit of telling the
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 9- 8-92 ; 17:12 ;
The White House+
2024566218:#12
9
education establishment in Washington what they want to hear. I
will continue to tell them -- what they need to hear.//
We've heard a lot of talk of change is this election, and
that's appropriate, because the American revolution is never
ending.
But the change we've seen around the world the past few
years is really unusual, change is usually much more incremental,
much more diffuse.
That's the kind of change that is underway in American
education today.
Visiting schools, talking to parents, meeting with business
leaders -- I am reminded of the words of Robert Kennedy -- spoken
in another time, on another topic.
Kennedy said, "few will have the greatness to bend history
itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of
events, and in the total of these acts will be written the
history of this generation."
Robert Kennedy was talking about the battle for racial
equality. Today, the struggle is for a new equality -- to give
these kids an equal chance in the new world economy.
But while the topic has changed, but the message is the
same. To the parents, teachers and community leaders
participating in Norristown 2000, I say -- "thank you.' You are
changing a portion of events, and in your action, you are writing
a better chapter, in the history of America's next generation.
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 9- 8-92 ; 17:13 ;
The White House->
2024566218:#13
10
Thanks for listening. God Bless Pennsylvania. God Bless
The United States of America.
# # #
Document No. 348991ss
6749
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
92 SEP 8 P6.
DATE:
9/8/92
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: TODAY, 9/8 ASAP!!!
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: NORRISTOWN, PA.
SUBJECT:
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 9, 1992
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MCBRIDE
BAKER
MOORE
SCOWCROFT
MULLINS
DARMAN
PETERSMEYER
BATES
PORTER
BRADY
PROVOST
BROMLEY
ROSS
CALIO
SMITH
DEMAREST
TUTWILER
FITZWATER
ZOELLICK
GRAY
KAUFMAN
HOLIDAY
MCGROARTY
HORNER
REMARKS:
Please forward your comments directly to Dan McGroarty, Rm. 122, x2930,
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE , with a copy to this office. Thank you.
September 8, 1992
RESPONSE:
TO:
DAN MCGROARTY
PHILLIP D. BRADY
The NSC staff concurs as amended with the
Assistant to the President
draft presidential remarks.
fr
Jone Brent Scowcroft
and Staff Secretary
Ext. 2702
CC: Phillip D. Brady
need 20ml smoothing act.
Provost/Aarhus
Presidential Remarks
Norristown, PA
02 SEP 8 P3: 50
September 9, 1992
Draft: 3:00 p.m.
Thank you (
), and good morning everyone, it's great to
be back in Pennsylvania.
I wanted to start this morning by saying welcome back -- but
I know that the start of school can provoke mixed emotions.
I'm sure many of you had a lot of fun this summer. Now you
have to get used to new teachers and new classes, new routines.
But if this ever gets you down, just remember, you could be
getting beat over the head every day, you could be having your
character assassinated on television, -- you could be running
for President. //
Our world has been through enormous change the past few
years. Today, I can stand before you and say something no
President could ever say before. The Cold War is over -- freedom
finished first.
Now, the challenge before our nation -- is to win the peace.
To guarantee that America in the 21st century is not just a
military superpower, but also an export superpower, and an
economic superpower.
That's the central question -- at this time of wrenching
global change. I have made one promise to America -- not to
scare people in this campaign, but to talk about real issues --
real answers -- to the important questions before our nation.
2
That's why I am here this morning, to talk about how we can
build for our children what they need and deserve -- the very
best schools in the entire world.//
Now I admit, education is not usually found on the front
page of the newspaper, or at the top of the evening news -- but
it is the solution for most of what you do see there.
As President and as a parent, my loyalty lies with the young
people. Kids like the fifth graders -- who did such a fantastic
job laying out our national education goals this morning.
In the year 2,000, these fifth graders will graduate from
high school. They will look much different. The schools from
must
which they graduate -- 1 be much different as well.
Four years ago, I said I wanted to lead a revolution in
American education. Today, I come before you to report -- the
revolution is underway.
The credit is certainly not mine alone. The federal
government has merely been a catalyst -- as it should be. The
goals those students read are the first education goals in our
nation's history. They are being embraced by governors --
Republican and Democrat alike, by parents, by teachers, by
business and community leaders, and most important, by young
people like you -- in town after town, city after city, all
across America.
I have come to Norristown -- because you are in the lead --
but you are not alone. Today 1,700 communities -- in 44 states
-- have adopted the vision of what we call "America 2000."
3
Seventeen hundred communities -- representing (
) young people
-- have agreed to the first national education goals in American
history. Seventeen hundred communities agreed to lines in the
sand of the future that read -- "our children must be number
one.
The federal government should offer more than offer
congratulations for these efforts, and we are matching our words
with action.
You heard about our first goal -- making sure every student
arrives at school ready to learn. Today -- for the first time -
every eligible four-year-old who wants a Head Start on
kindergarten -- can get one.//
We have reorganized federal spending for math and science -
- giving special emphasis to teacher training. That is
consistent with goal number four -- math and science excellence
The performances of aur great Overcian
I was proud to watch the Olympics, and watch Charles Barkely slam
attlets
dunk the entire Angolan basketball team. By the year 2,000, I
the gold medals
want our young people to be slam dunking the rest of the world in
math and science.
Goal number five is to guarantee a skilled, literate work
do mese
force. And I am proud to say that in our colleges today --one
equate
out of every two students has a federal grant or loan -- that's
a
higher ratio than ever before in our history.
Education is my number one priority, and my budgets have
reflected it. During my four years, federal investments in
4
education have increased at a more rapid rate than State and
(peaverage
)
local funding.
But if you think that money alone will reinvent our schools
-- think again. As a nation, only Switzerland spends more per
student on elementary and secondary education. This doesn't mean
we should not make new investments, it means we cannot spend our
money on the old way of doing things.
Our schools were invented for the age of the Model T. (young
humor)
We don't drive Model T's anymore, we don't live in log
cabins, so why are our schools the same?
After all, America has changed. Today, the guy on the
assembly line in a car plant must know far more about math than
his father ever did. Our families look different, in most
families, both parents work, and in many families, only mom or
dad comes home at night. Our schools have not kept up with the
new world around them.
Talk to teachers, school board members, parents -- and
they'll give you thousands of ideas of what new schools might
look like. That is the point of our education revolution. Not
to devise one solution in Washington and force it on you -- but
to encourage the true genius of America -- grassroots creativity
and problem solving.
Right now, as we gather today, America is responding to this
charge. Really, four revolutions are underway.
5
First, we are in the process of creating hundreds of what we
call "Break-The-Mold" schools. These might be schools where
students attend all year round. or where one school concentrates
on one subject area -- like arts or English. These break-the-
mold schools may come in every size and substance -- but all
share one characteristic -- they reject the status quo.
Revolution number two has to do with what we teach in our
schools. We must demand higher standards of young people. Math
teachers are setting higher standards today, and we need the same
for science, history, English, geography, civics and the arts.
And I support the idea of a national examination system -- I
call it an American achievement test, to let parents and
communities know what our children know.
Something else I'm supporting, that's to help someone very
special, someone very important to your future -- your teacher.
(By the way, since this is the first day of school, I assume
that none of you have received any tests back yet. So lets take
advantage of this good feeling, to say thanks to all the teachers
in the room. They are making a difference in your life, and we
should salute them.)
(Now when you go home tonight, you can tell your parents you
saw two things that were out of the ordinary. The President, and
a crowd of kids applauding their teachers.)
When the professionals in this audience decided on the
noble profession of teaching, they did it because they love
learning, and helping you live up to your potential.
6
My guess is none of our teachers -- chose their job because
they have a secret passion for paperwork, a or an incurable
romance with the copying machine.
But that's what too many of our teachers spend their time
doing, and I want the government to get off teacher's backs.
I don't want our teachers slaving over paperwork, I want them to
be working to free our young people from the slavery of ignorance
and apathy. / /
There's one final revolution underway -- very important, and
done
it mimics what we've around the world in recent years.
Freedom works. Freedom wins. Yet in our nation, child only the
privileged, have the freedom to choose where their kid goes to
school.
Let me tell give you an example of what I mean.
Today in Chicago, there are 66 public high schools, and only
19 graduate more than half their students and, very frankly, AM
many of those graduates cannot read and write. Where do teachers
in Chicago send their kids? Well, almost half send them to
To on
private schools.
adequate
level?
Listen to Starr Parker, a small business owner in Chicago
He says when it comes to education, "the rich have choice now.
When I was on welfare, there was no way I could put my child in a
good school. It's time we stop condemning the poor to a monopoly
education system." "
Well, I agree with Starr Parker. Choice in education
shouldn't be limited to just the prosperous and the privileged.
7
Every parent should be able to choose the school they want for
their kids.
My GI Bill For Kids would give a thousand dollars to middle-
and low-income families that they can use to spend on any school
of their choice -- public, private, or religious.
Here in Norristown, almost 4,000 kids -- over half the
school population -- would be eligible for this new GI Bill. If
teachers are worried about what choice might do to public
schools, consider this. In this town alone, you would receive
almost $4 million extra in federal funds. But this money
wouldn't be controlled by federal bureaucrats, it would be
controlled by parents, who could reward your creativity, your
Sixthems
ingenuity, your commitment to results.
So these are the four American education revolutions. Their
influences can be profound. They mean that when these kids fifth
graders come back to visit their (insert teachers name) class in
eight years, they will marvel at how small the desks are, at how
they have to stoop to use the water cooler. But as they look and
listen to the school around them, they will say -- everything
else has changed. //
Now, as some of you may have heard, there is an election in
about 55 days. So, before I leave you this morning, I would like
to take just a moment, and contrast my education record -- with
my opponents.
8
To his credit, Governor Clinton has been a leader in the
national education reform movement and he deserves credit for
that.
But I will be judged by my record, and he should be judged
the same.
Arkansas enjoyed an increase in the number of high school
graduates in the 1980's -- but it was half the percentage
This
really
increase in the 70's -- before Governor Clinton was elected.
mean
Arkansas spending on students has always lagged below the
national average. In the 70's, that spending increased, but in
the Clinton years, it dipped again.
In the 70's, Arkansas teachers salaries grew faster than the
rest of the nation. Again in the 80's, that process reversed
itself.
These are the facts. But it is not the Governor's record
that worries me so much, as the impact of the liberal leaders in
the Democratic Congress, and the Education Establishment in
Washington.
These are people who fear change -- who want to preserve the
status quo. On school choice for example, they say "let's change
just -- just a little bit." They want parents to choose their
schools, as long as they are all public. I say, let's change
alot. Let parents choose religious schools if they want to.
This fall, the voters, will have to decide who's approach
To
you support. But I believe one thing is clear. In this
campaign, Governor Clinton has made a habit of telling the
9
education establishment in Washington what they want to hear.
I
will continue to tell them -- what they need to hear. //
We've heard a lot of talk of change is this election, and
that's appropriate, because the American revolution is never
ending.
But the change we've seen around the world the past few
years is really unusual, change is usually much more incremental,
much more diffuse.
That's the kind of change that is underway in American
education today.
Visiting schools, talking to parents, meeting with business
leaders -- I am reminded of the words of Robert Kennedy -- spoken
in another time, on another topic.
Kennedy said, "few will have the greatness to bend history
itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of
events, and in the total of these acts will be written the
history of this generation."
Robert Kennedy was talking about the battle for racial
equality. Today, the struggle is for a new equality -- to give
these kids an equal chance in the new world economy.
But while the topic has changed, but the message is the
same. To the parents, teachers and community leaders
participating in Norristown 2000, I say -- "thank you.' You are
changing a portion of events, and in your action, you are writing
a better chapter, in the history of America's next generation.
10
Thanks for listening. God Bless Pennsylvania. God Bless
The United States of America.
# # #
Document No. 348991ss
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
92 SEP 8 PS
DATE:
9/8/92
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY: TODAY, 9/8 ASAP!!!
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: NORRISTOWN, PA.
SUBJECT:
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 9, 1992
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MCBRIDE
BAKER
MOORE
SCOWCROFT
MULLINS
DARMAN
PETERSMEYER
BATES
PORTER
BRADY
PROVOST
BROMLEY
ROSS
CALIO
SMITH
DEMAREST
TUTWILER
FITZWATER
>
ZOELLICK
>
GRAY
KAUFMAN
HOLIDAY
MCGROARTY
HORNER
REMARKS:
Please forward your comments directly to Dan McGroarty, Rm. 122, x2930,
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE , with a copy to this office. Thank you.
RESPONSE:
Please sements. see
PHILLIP D. BRADY
Assistant to the President
Thank you
and Staff Secretary
Ext. 2702
Provost/Aarhus
Presidential Remarks
Norristown, PA
02 SEP 8 P3: 50
September 9, 1992
Draft: 3:00 p.m.
Thank you (
), and good morning everyone, it's great to
be back in Pennsylvania.
I wanted to start this morning by saying welcome back -- but
I know that the start of school can provoke mixed emotions.
I'm sure many of you had a lot of fun this summer. Now you
have to get used to new teachers and new classes, new routines.
But if this ever gets you down, just remember, you could be
getting beat over the head every day, you could be having your
like his Sounds
complain -how about the media ?
character assassinated on television, you could be running
for President //
Our world has been through enormous change the past few
years. Today, I can stand before you and say something no
President could ever say before. The Cold War is over -- freedom
finished first.
Now, the challenge before our nation -- is to win the peace.
To guarantee that America in the 21st century is not just a
military superpower, but also an export superpower, and an
economic superpower.
That's the central question -- at this time of wrenching
global change. I have made one promise to America -- not to
scare people in this campaign, but to talk about real issues --
real answers -- to the important questions before our nation.
2
That's why I am here this morning, to talk about how we can
build for our children what they need and deserve -- the very
best schools in the entire world.//
Now I admit, education is not usually found on the front
page of the newspaper, or at the top of the evening news -- but
it is the solution for most of what you do see there.
As President and as a parent, my loyalty lies with the young
people. Kids like the fifth graders -- who did such a fantastic
job laying out our national education goals this morning.
In the year 2,000, these fifth graders will graduate from
high school. They will look much different. The schools from
which they graduate -- be much different as well.
Four years ago, I said I wanted to lead a revolution in
American education. Today, I come before you to report -- the
revolution is underway.
The credit is certainly not mine alone. The federal
government has merely been a catalyst -- as it should be. The
goals those students read are the first education goals in our
nation's history. They are being embraced by governors --
Republican and Democrat alike, by parents, by teachers, by
business and community leaders, and most important, by young
people like you -- in town after town, city after city, all
across America.
I have come to Norristown -- because you are in the lead --
but you are not alone. Today 1,700 communities -- in 44 states
-- have adopted the vision of what we call "America 2000."
3
Seventeen hundred communities -- representing (
) young people
-- have agreed to the first national education goals in American
history. Seventeen hundred communities agreed to lines in the
sand of the future that read -- "our children must be number
one.
The federal government should offer more than offer
congratulations for these efforts, and we are matching our words
with action.
You heard about our first goal -- making sure every student
arrives at school ready to learn. Today -- for the first time -
every eligible four-year-old who wants a Head Start on
kindergarten -- can get one.//
We have reorganized federal spending for math and science -
- giving special emphasis to teacher training. That is
tas.
consistent with goal number four -- math and science excellence
I was proud to watch the Olympics, and watch Charles Barkely slam
dunk the entire Angolan basketball team. By the year 2,000, I
want our young people to be slam dunking the rest of the world in
math and science.
Goal number five is to guarantee a skilled, literate work
force. And I am proud to say that in our colleges today --one
out of every two students has a federal grant or loan -- that's a
higher ratio than ever before in our history.
Education is my number one priority, and my budgets have
reflected it. During my four years, federal investments in
4
education have increased at a more rapid rate than State and
local funding.
But if you think that money alone will reinvent our schools
think again. As a nation, only Switzerland spends more per
student on elementary and secondary education. This doesn't mean
we should not make new investments, it means we cannot spend our
money on the old way of doing things.
Our schools were invented for the age of the Model T. (young
humor)
We don't drive Model T's anymore, we don't live in log
cabins, so why are our schools the same?
After all, America has changed. Today, the guy on the
assembly line in a car plant must know far more about math than
his father ever did. Our families look different, in most
families, both parents work, and in many families, only mom or
dad comes home at night. Our schools have not kept up with the
new world around them.
Talk to teachers, school board members, parents -- and
they'll give you thousands of ideas of what new schools might
look like. That is the point of our education revolution. Not
to devise one solution in Washington and force it on you -- but
to encourage the true genius of America -- grassroots creativity
and problem solving.
Right now, as we gather today, America is responding to this
charge. Really, four revolutions are underway.
Om schools will be The best in The world when everyone in every
of worship and other must mobilize Their members TO serve as Tutors, the
community finds a way TO help. Businesses, labor unions, places
and groups teachers aide - realizing that all of us have a stake 1.
5
First, we are in the process of creating hundreds of what we
call "Break-The-Mold" schools. These might be schools where
students attend all year round. or where one school concentrates
on one subject area -- like arts or English. These break-the-
mold schools may come in every size and substance -- but all
share one characteristic -- they reject the status quo.
Revolution number two has to do with what we teach in our
schools. We must demand higher standards of young people. Math
teachers are setting higher standards today, and we need the same
for science, history, English, geography, civics and the arts.
And I support the idea of a national examination-system -- I
call it an American achievement test, to let parents and
communities know what our children know.
Something else I'm supporting, that's to help someone very
special, someone very important to your future -- your teacher.
(By the way, since this is the first day of school, I assume
that none of you have received any tests back yet. So lets take
advantage of this good feeling, to say thanks to all the teachers
in the room. They are making a difference in your life, and we
should salute them.)
(Now when you go home tonight, you can tell your parents you
saw two things that were out of the ordinary. The President, and
a crowd of kids applauding their teachers.)
When the professionals in this audience decided on the
noble profession of teaching, they did it because they love
learning, and helping you live up to your potential.
6
My guess is none of our teachers -- chose their job because
they have a secret passion for paperwork, a or an incurable
romance with the copying machine.
But that's what too many of our teachers spend their time
doing, and I want the government to get off teacher's backs.
I don't want our teachers slaving over paperwork, I want them to
be working to free our young people from the slavery of ignorance
and apathy./
There's one final revolution underway -- very important, and
it mimics what we've around the world in recent years.
Freedom works. Freedom wins. Yet in our nation, only the
privileged, have the freedom to choose where their kid goes to
school.
Let me tell give you an example of what I mean.
Today in Chicago, there are 66 public high schools, and only
19 graduate more than half their students and, very frankly, even
many of those graduates cannot read and write. Where do teachers
in Chicago send their kids? Well, almost half send them to
private schools.
Listen to Starr Parker, a small business owner in Chicago.
He says when it comes to education, "the rich have choice now.
When I was on welfare, there was no way I could put my child in a
good school. It's time we stop condemning the poor to a monopoly
education system."
Well, I agree with Starr Parker. Choice in education
shouldn't be limited to just the prosperous and the privileged.
7
Every parent should be able to choose the school they want for
their kids.
My GI Bill For Kids would give a thousand dollars to middle-
and low-income families that they can use to spend on any school
of their choice -- public, private, or religious.
Here in Norristown, almost 4,000 kids -- over half the
school population -- would be eligible for this new GI Bill. If
teachers are worried about what choice might do to public
schools, consider this. In this town alone, you would receive
almost $4 million extra in federal funds. But this money
wouldn't be controlled by federal bureaucrats, it would be
controlled by parents, who could reward your creativity, your
ingenuity, your commitment to results.
So these are the four American education revolutions. Their
influences can be profound. They mean that when these kids fifth
graders come back to visit their (insert teachers name) class in
eight years, they will marvel at how small the desks are, at how
they have to stoop to use the water cooler. But as they look and
listen to the school around them, they will say -- everything
else has changed. //
Now, as some of you may have heard, there is an election in
about 55 days. So, before I leave you this morning, I would like
to take just a moment, and contrast my education record -- with
my opponents.
8
To his credit, Governor Clinton has been a leader in the
national education reform movement -- and he deserves credit for
that.
more spentor mixed message
But I will be judged by my record, and he should be judged
the same.
Arkansas enjoyed an increase in the number of high school
The S a has eith
graduates in the 1980's -- but it was half the percentage
increase in the 70's -- before Governor Clinton was elected.
Arkansas spending on students has always lagged below the
national average. In the 70's, that spending increased, but in
the Clinton years, it dipped again.
In the 70's, Arkansas teachers salaries grew faster than the
rest of the nation. Again in the 80's, that process reversed
itself.
These are the facts. But it is not the Governor's record
that worries me so much, as the impact of the liberal leaders in
the Democratic Congress, and the Education Establishment in
Washington.
These are people who fear change -- who want to preserve the
status quo. On school choice for example, they say "let's change
just -- just a little bit." They want parents to choose their
run by the government.
schools, as long as they are all public. I say, let's change
alot. Let parents choose religious schools if they want to.
independent
This fall, the voters, will have to decide who's approach
or
you support. But I believe one thing is clear. In this
campaign, Governor Clinton has made a habit of telling the
9
education establishment in Washington what they want to hear.
I
will continue to tell them -- what they need to hear. 11
We've heard a lot of talk of change is this election, and
that's appropriate, because the American revolution is never
ending.
But the change we've seen around the world the past few
years is really unusual, change is usually much more incremental,
much more diffuse.
That's the kind of change that is underway in American
education today.
Visiting schools, talking to parents, meeting with business
leaders -- I am reminded of the words of Robert Kennedy -- spoken
in another time, on another topic.
Kennedy said, "few will have the greatness to bend history
itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of
events, and in the total of these acts will be written the
history of this generation."
Robert Kennedy was talking about the battle for racial
equality. Today, the struggle is for a new equality -- to give
these kids an equal chance in the new world economy.
But while the topic has changed, but the message is the
same. To the parents, teachers and community leaders
participating in Norristown 2000, I say -- "thank you.' You are
changing a portion of events, and in your action, you are writing
a better chapter, in the history of America's next generation.
10
Thanks for listening. God Bless Pennsylvania. God Bless
The United States of America.
# # #
Smith 92 SEP 8 P5: 37
P.3
Barkely - he was
roundly criticized
for taking a cheap
shot. The Pres. should
not say anything to
cordone this behavior.
Provost/Aarhus
Presidential Remarks
Norristown, PA
12SEP 8 P3: 50
September 9, 1992
Draft: 3:00 p.m.
Thank you (
), and good morning everyone, it's great to
be back in Pennsylvania.
I wanted to start this morning by saying welcome back -- but
I know that the start of school can provoke mixed emotions.
I'm sure many of you had a lot of fun this summer. Now you
have to get used to new teachers and new classes, new routines.
But if this ever gets you down, just remember, you could be
getting beat over the head every day, you could be having your
character assassinated on television, -- you could be running
for President. 11
Our world has been through enormous change the past few
years. Today, I can stand before you and say something no
President could ever say before. The Cold War is over -- freedom
finished first.
Now, the challenge before our nation -- is to win the peace.
To guarantee that America in the 21st century is not just a
military superpower, but also an export superpower, and an
economic superpower.
That's the central question -- at this time of wrenching
global change. I have made one promise to America -- not to
scare people in this campaign, but to talk about real issues --
real answers -- to the important questions before our nation.
2
That's why I am here this morning, to talk about how we can
build for our children what they need and deserve -- the very
best schools in the entire world. 11
Now I admit, education is not usually found on the front
page of the newspaper, or at the top of the evening news -- but
it is the solution for most of what you do see there.
As President and as a parent, my loyalty lies with the young
people. Kids like the fifth graders -- who did such a fantastic
job laying out our national education goals this morning.
In the year 2,000, these fifth graders will graduate from
high school. They will look much different. The schools from
which they graduate -- be much different as well.
Four years ago, I said I wanted to lead a revolution in
American education. Today, I come before you to report -- the
revolution is underway.
The credit is certainly not mine alone. The federal
government has merely been a catalyst -- as it should be. The
goals those students read are the first education goals in our
nation's history. They are being embraced by governors --
Republican and Democrat alike, by parents, by teachers, by
business and community leaders, and most important, by young
people like you -- in town after town, city after city, all
across America.
I have come to Norristown -- because you are in the lead --
but you are not alone. Today 1,700 communities -- in 44 states
-- have adopted the vision of what we call "America 2000."
3
Seventeen hundred communities -- representing (
) young people
-- have agreed to the first national education goals in American
history. Seventeen hundred communities agreed to lines in the
sand of the future that read -- "our children must be number
one.
The federal government should offer more than offer
congratulations for these efforts, and we are matching our words
with action.
You heard about our first goal -- making sure every student
arrives at school ready to learn. Today -- for the first time -
every eligible four-year-old who wants a Head Start on
kindergarten -- can get one.//
We have reorganized federal spending for math and science -
- giving special emphasis to teacher training. That is
consistent with goal number four -- math and science excellence.
I was proud to watch the Olympics, and watch Charles Barkely slam
dunk the entire Angolan basketball team. By the year 2,000, I
want our young people to be slam dunking the rest of the world in
math and science.
Goal number five is to guarantee a skilled, literate work
force. And I am proud to say that in our colleges today --one
out of every two students has a federal grant or loan -- that's a
higher ratio than ever before in our history.
Education is my number one priority, and my budgets have
reflected it. During my four years, federal investments in
4
education have increased at a more rapid rate than State and
local funding.
But if you think that money alone will reinvent our schools
-- think again. As a nation, only Switzerland spends more per
student on elementary and secondary education. This doesn't mean
we should not make new investments, it means we cannot spend our
money on the old way of doing things.
Our schools were invented for the age of the Model T. (young
humor)
We don't drive Model T's anymore, we don't live in log
cabins, so why are our schools the same?
After all, America has changed. Today, the guy on the
assembly line in a car plant must know far more about math than
his father ever did. Our families look different, in most
families, both parents work, and in many families, only mom or
dad comes home at night. Our schools have not kept up with the
new world around them.
Talk to teachers, school board members, parents -- and
they'll give you thousands of ideas of what new schools might
look like. That is the point of our education revolution. Not
to devise one solution in Washington and force it on you -- but
to encourage the true genius of America -- grassroots creativity
and problem solving.
Right now, as we gather today, America is responding to this
charge. Really, four revolutions are underway.
5
First, we are in the process of creating hundreds of what we
call "Break-The-Mold" schools. These might be schools where
students attend all year round. Or where one school concentrates
on one subject area -- like arts or English. These break-the-
mold schools may come in every size and substance -- but all
share one characteristic -- they reject the status quo.
Revolution number two has to do with what we teach in our
schools. We must demand higher standards of young people. Math
teachers are setting higher standards today, and we need the same
for science, history, English, geography, civics and the arts.
And I support the idea of a national examination system -- I
call it an American achievement test, to let parents and
communities know what our children know.
Something else I'm supporting, that's to help someone very
special, someone very important to your future -- your teacher.
(By the way, since this is the first day of school, I assume
that none of you have received any tests back yet. So lets take
advantage of this good feeling, to say thanks to all the teachers
in the room. They are making a difference in your life, and we
should salute them.)
(Now when you go home tonight, you can tell your parents you
saw two things that were out of the ordinary. The President, and
a crowd of kids applauding their teachers.)
When the professionals in this audience decided on the
noble profession of teaching, they did it because they love
learning, and helping you live up to your potential.
6
My guess is none of our teachers -- chose their job because
they have a secret passion for paperwork, a or an incurable
rozance with the copying machine.
But that's what too many of our teachers spend their time
doing, and I want the government to get off teacher's backs.
I don't want our teachers slaving over paperwork, I want them to
be working to free our young people from the slavery of ignorance
and apathy. 11
There's one final revolution underway -- very important, and
it mimics what we've around the world in recent years.
Freedom works. Freedom wins. Yet in our nation, only the
privileged, have the freedom to choose where their kid goes to
school.
Let me tell give you an example of what I mean.
Today in Chicago, there are 66 public high schools, and only
19 graduate more than half their students and, very frankly, even
many of those graduates cannot read and write. Where do teachers
in Chicago send their kids? Well, almost half send them to
private schools.
Listen to Starr Parker, a small business owner in Chicago.
He says when it comes to education, "the rich have choice now.
When I was on welfare, there was no way I could put my child in a
good school. It's time we stop condemning the poor to a monopoly
education system.'
Well, I agree with Starr Parker. Choice in education
shouldn't be limited to just the prosperous and the privileged.
7
Every parent should be able to choose the school they want for
their kids.
My GI Bill For Kids would give a thousand dollars to middle-
and low-income families that they can use to spend on any school
of their choice -- public, private, or religious.
Here in Norristown, almost 4,000 kids -- over half the
school population -- would be eligible for this new GI Bill. If
teachers are worried about what choice might do to public
schools, consider this. In this town alone, you would receive
almost $4 million extra in federal funds. But this money
wouldn't be controlled by federal bureaucrats, it would be
controlled by parents, who could reward your creativity, your
ingenuity, your commitment to results.
So these are the four American education revolutions. Their
influences can be profound. They mean that when these kids fifth
graders come back to visit their (insert teachers name) class in
eight years, they will marvel at how small the desks are, at how
they have to stoop to use the water cooler. But as they look and
listen to the school around them, they will say -- everything
else has changed. 11
Now, as some of you may have heard, there is an election in
about 55 days. So, before I leave you this morning, I would like
to take just a moment, and contrast my education record -- with
my opponents.
8
To his credit, Governor Clinton has been a leader in the
national education reform movement -- and he deserves credit for
that.
But I will be judged by my record, and he should be judged
the same.
Arkansas enjoyed an increase in the number of high school
graduates in the 1980's -- but it was half the percentage
increase in the 70's -- before Governor Clinton was elected.
Arkansas spending on students has always lagged below the
national average. In the 70's, that spending increased, but in
the Clinton years, it dipped again.
In the 70's, Arkansas teachers salaries grew faster than the
rest of the nation. Again in the 80's, that process reversed
itself.
These are the facts. But it is not the Governor's record
that worries me so much, as the impact of the liberal leaders in
the Democratic Congress, and the Education Establishment in
Washington.
These are people who fear change -- who want to preserve the
status quo. On school choice for example, they say "let's change
just -- just a little bit." They want parents to choose their
schools, as long as they are all public. I say, let's change
alot. Let parents choose religious schools if they want to.
This fall, the voters, will have to decide who's approach
you support. But I believe one thing is clear. In this
campaign, Governor Clinton has made a habit of telling the
9
education establishment in Washington what they want to hear. I
will continue to tell them -- what they need to hear. 11
We've heard a lot of talk of change is this election, and
that's appropriate, because the American revolution is never
ending.
But the change we've seen around the world the past few
years is really unusual, change is usually much more incremental,
much more diffuse.
That's the kind of change that is underway in American
education today.
Visiting schools, talking to parents, meeting with business
leaders -- I am reminded of the words of Robert Kennedy -- spoken
in another time, on another topic.
Kennedy said, "few will have the greatness to bend history
itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of
events, and in the total of these acts will be written the
history of this generation."
Robert Kennedy was talking about the battle for racial
equality. Today, the struggle is for a new equality -- to give
these kids an equal chance in the new world economy.
But while the topic has changed, but the message is the
same. To the parents, teachers and community leaders
participating in Norristown 2000, I say -- "thank you. You are
changing a portion of events, and in your action, you are writing
a better chapter, in the history of America's next generation.
10
Thanks for listening. God Bless Pennsylvania. God Bless
The United States of America.
# # #
THE WHITE HOUSE
office of the Press Secretary
(Collegeville, Pennsylvania)
For Immediate Release
September 9, 1992
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT IN
ADDRESS TO THE NORRISTOWN AREA HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY
Norristown High School
Norristown, Pennsylvania
12:00 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much. Thank you, Dr.
Holton. And may I congratulate our superintendent for his leadership
on America 2000 and on the job he's doing for the whole school system
in this area. Good morning to everybody; it's great to be back in
Pennsylvania on this first day of school. Any excuse to get out of
class -- I know. And here you all are. Thanks for greeting me.
And may I salute the man you heard from a minute ago -- Secretary
Alexander, Lamar Alexander. He's come to washington after great
experience in education and in government, and leading us all with
this marvelous America 2000 program. We owe him a great vote of
thanks, and I'm very pleased to have him with us. (Applause.)
And another old friend is with us today, the Congressman
from this district, Larry Coughlin, who is leaving the Congress after
marvelous service. But he came in with us.
Larry, do you want to stand up there? (Applause.)
And may I thank all involved with this; particularly
Principal Barry Spencer, who has done a great job on all the
arrangements and are making these facilities available. Josh Lippy,
the President of the Student Council -- I salute him as a student
leader. And I should add, welcome back to school. I hope you had a
great summer. And out here in the audience are not just students,
but members of the Chamber of Commerce, Payson Burt and others that
are taking a leadership role. The Class of 2000 -- I salute them --
all of you, these participants who got up and read those education
goals. I thought they did a first-class job. Not a nervous one in
the bunch. (Applause.) And I salute all the volunteers -- the
volunteers that make it happen as we try to reform education. I'll
get to the teachers in a minute.
I'm told that many you were nervous this week. Tensions
rising about the big event. Wondering how you'll handle all the
attention. Well, I'm here to put your fears at rest. I know you'll
do great against North Penn Friday night. (Applause.)
You know, I want to just give a serious talk this
morning. You know, our world has been through a lot of change in the
past few years. when my kids were the age of the kids in this room
today, they used to practice nuclear disaster drills. The alarms
would go off, and they would all crawl under the desks and wait.
This happened all across the country, all across many countries.
That doesn't happen anymore. As a parent and as a
grandparent, I am glad that American kids can grow up in the sunshine
of peace. And we ought to be grateful for that as a nation.
(Applause.)
But now that the Cold War is over, the challenge before
our nation is to win the peace. TO guarantee that America in the
MORE
- 2 -
21st century will be not just a military superpower, but also an
export superpower, an economic superpower.
That's just a fancy way of saying that when you grow up,
you deserve the chance to have a good job, and live a better life
than your parents and grandparents. And you should live the American
Dream.
That's why I'm here this morning, to talk about how we
can build what you need and deserve -- the very best schools in the
entire world.
Now, I admit, education is not usually found on the
front page of the newspaper, or at the top of the evening news -- but
it is the solution for most of what you do see there. As a President
and as a grandparent, my loyalty lies with young people. Kids like
these fifth graders -- who did such a fantastic job laying out these
national education goals this morning.
In the year 2000, these fifth graders will graduate from
high school. And they will have changed so much, we will barely be
able to recognize them. I want the schools from which they graduate
to have changed so much, that we won't be able to recognize them,
either.
Four years ago, I said I wanted to lead a revolution in
American education. And today, I come before you to report -- the
revolution is underway.
As President, my job is to set the agenda, and mobilize
the nation. And I'm proud that the goals the students read this
morning are the very first education goals in our nation's history.
They were created by all the governors -- Republicans and Democrats
alike -- and are being embraced by parents, by teachers, by business
and community leaders -- in town after town, city after city, all
across America. Politics is being laid aside, a revolution in
education is taking place. And if he were here today, I'd shake his
hand and salute the Governor of this state, who is holding out his
hand to all who want to see America 2000 succeed. He's been a real
leader, and we are grateful to him for that -- Governor Casey.
(Applause.)
I have come to Norristown because you accepted my
challenge to reinvent American schools. And again, I salute the
Principal and the Superintendent. Norristown is in the lead -- but
you're not alone. Today, 1,700 communities -- in every single state
-- have adopted the vision of what we call "America 2000." Seventeen
hundred communities have drawn lines in the sand of the future that
reads -- "Our children must be number one."
The federal government should do more than offer
congratulations, and we are matching our words with action -- as we
promised.
You've heard about our first goal -- making sure every
student arrives at school ready to learn. For the first time, every
eligible four-year-old who wants a Head start on kindergarten can get
one. We have asked for record increases in investment for math and
science education -- to help train teachers. That is consistent with
goal number four that was read here - math and science excellence.
And I bet you were proud to watch the Olympics, and see Jordan and
Ewing and Malone slam dunk the opposition. By the year 2000, I want
you -- our young people -- to be able to slam dunk the rest of the
world in math and science. And we can do it. (Applause.)
Goal number five is to guarantee a skilled, literate
work force. My opponent accuses me of cutting education spending.
That's just flat wrong. I have proposed record increases in
education funding -- and during my four years, federal investments in
MORE
- 3 -
education have increased at a more rapid rate than state and local
funding.
But if you think that money alone will reinvent our
schools -- think again. AS a nation, only switzerland -- only
Switzerland spends more per student on elementary and secondary
education. This doesn't mean we should not make new investments, it
means we cannot spend our money on the old way of doing things.
Our schools were basically designed for another age -- a
hundred years ago. A world of Model T cars, in which toasters and
flashlights were a big deal. A world in which most clothes were made
at home -- imagine -- a world without the King of Prussia Mall!
(Laughter.) Hard to believe.
But today, if you apply for a summer job in a car
factory, they'll ask you if you can handle mathematics, estimation
and spatial relations, things your mom and dad just didn't have to
know. And other things have changed. It's tougher being a parent,
tougher being a teacher, and my grandkids tell me -- it's pretty
tough being a kid these days.
The world has changed, and so must our schools.
You don't have to look far for new ideas. Teachers,
school board members, parents, business leaders -- all are fountains
of innovation. They represent the true genius of America -- and we
must encourage them. Right now, as we gather today, America is
responding to this charge. Really, four revolutions are underway
First, we are in the process of creating hundreds of
what we call "Break-The-Mold" schools -- schools that reject the
status quo. For example, a school where students attend all year
round. NOW, I challenged America to come up with ideas for these
schools, and Norristown was one of 700 communities that responded. I
applaud you for your energy. I applaud you for your creativity.
Revolution number two has to do with what we teach in
our schools. We must demand more of you, so that you can compete in
the world economy. Your math teachers are already relying on new,
world-class standards, and you are learning more than your older
brothers and sisters. BY the time today's fifth graders enter high
school, we will have new standards in science, history, English,
geography, civics and the arts.
And to support these standards, we will have a national
examination system -- and I call it the American achievement tests,
so that parents can know how our kids and our schools are doing.
The third revolution involves a very important person --
your teacher. If I can ask a favor, since this is the first day of
school, I assume none of you have received any tests back yet. so
let's take advantage of the good feeling, and say thanks to all the
teachers in this room. They are making a difference in your life --
and we should applaud them. And I'd like to ask them to stand up --
all the teachers here. (Applause.) Thank you all very much.
When your teachers -- let me make this point to the
students -- when your teachers chose their career, they did it
because they love learning, and they love helping you to live up to
your potential. They certainly didn't do it for self-gain; they did
it to help someone else.
Not long ago, as part of my America 2000 effort, I met
with some teachers up in Lehigh Valley, and I asked them what was
their biggest problem. I thought they might talk about a lack of
money, or discipline, or the drug problem. But they instead talked
about all the paperwork and regulations -- about getting state
government off their back.
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I cannot do much about Harrisburg, but this week
Congress will consider my legislation to give teachers more
flexibility in using federal funds, as long as they achieve results.
Congress wants to give flexibility to just 300 schools, I want to
give it to all 110,000 schools. We've got to relieve these teachers
of federally-mandated paperwork requirements. (Applause.) I trust
the teachers, not the government, to do what's right for our
students.
There's one final revolution underway -- I think every
parent should have the right to choose the school they want for their
children.
Not long ago, I was talking with a Milwaukee parent --
she and her kid came to the Roosevelt Room right outside of the oval
Office in the White House. Her name -- Janette williams. She told
me her son Javon went to a crowded school, teachers couldn't pay
attention to him. He was so bored, he'd just go home halfway through
the day. And then Milwaukee gave some parents the right to choose
new schools for their kids. And today, this kid Javon is doing his
homework, attending all his classes, even helping clean up around the
classroom.
I want to hear more stories like that. My G.I. Bill For
Kids would give $1,000 scholarships to children of middle-and
low-income families that they can use to spend on any school of their
choice. Most parents would choose public schools, but every parent
should be able to choose any school -- public, private, or religious.
(Applause.)
Right here in Norristown, almost 6,000 kids -- about
two-thirds of the school population -- would be eligible for this
$1,000 scholarship. Norristown would receive another $6 million in
new federal funds -- not controlled by bureaucrats, but parents and
teachers. And when it comes to choosing schools I trust parents
-- not the government -- to do the right thing. (Applause.)
So these are the four revolutions in American education.
"Break-The Mold" Schools. New standards. Getting government off the
teacher's backs. And giving parents real choice.
Together, these revolutions will change our schools.
When these fifth graders come back to visit Miss Ritter and Mrs.
Bieler in eight years, they will marvel at how small the desks are,
and how they have to stoop way over to use the water fountain. But
as they look and listen to the school around them, they will say --
everything else has changed.
Now, as some of you may have heard, there's an election
in about 55 days. so, before I leave you this morning, I want to
take just a moment, and contrast my education vision with the
opponent's. I want to be fair. When I convened the national
education summit -- I mentioned it earlier in this speech about
-- with the governors present, most of the governors attended.
Governor Clinton's role was constructive; he helped to set these
national education goals. And I commend him for that.
However, the facts tell the story about his own record.
In 1980, Arkansas ranked 47th in the percentage of adults with high
school diplomas, now 48th. Today, they're dead last -- in the
percentage of adults with college degrees.
But that's not the real issue -- the real issue is what
kind of education president would my opponent be.
And in this campaign -- Governor Clinton has spent a lot
of time courting the education establishment, teachers unions
leaders, and the liberal Congress. These people fear change. Look
at the education before Congress today. They really don't want to
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spend more money on education, they want to spend it on the same old
system. I wish fixing our schools was that easy, it is not.
A President's job is to set a path -- and insist that
the nation sticks to it. But Governor Clinton is in with the crowd
who say "no" to break-the-mold schools, "no" to higher standards,
"по" to less regulation, and "no" to my G.I. Bill for Kids. Here's
the difference between me and my opponent. He has told the
education establishment what they want to hear -- and I will continue
to tell them -- what America needs to hear. (Applause.)
You hear a lot of talk about change in this election.
But ultimately, change isn't what you say, it is what you do. With
your help and the help of millions of other Americans, we have set
the forces in motion, to literally revolutionize the way we prepare
our young people. And I hope you will give me the opportunity to
finish the revolution.
To the parents, teachers, community leaders, and
students participating in Norristown 2000, I say "thank you." You
are writing a better chapter in the history of America's next
generation.
Thanks for listening. And may God Bless each and every
one of you, the State of Pennsylvania and The United states of
America. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
END
12:20 P.M. EDT