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2/16/76 - Remarks at a Meeting of the National Association of Secondary School Principals
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1252697
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document
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2/16/76 - Remarks at a Meeting of the National Association of Secondary School Principals
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President's Speeches and Statements Reading Copies (Ford Administration)
Reading Copies of Presidential Speeches and Statements
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Education
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16
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1976-02-16
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1976
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16
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1976-02-16
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2
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1976
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THE
PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
REMARKS TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1976
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL
PRINCIPALS
THANK YOU, MR. WALKER.
(President, NASSP)
MR. FALSTROM
(President Elect, NASSP)
MR. KIERNAN
(Executive Secretary, NASSP)
REVEREND HARPER
(St. John's)
MEMBERS AND GUESTS OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS
NOTE:
In the front row of the audience facing you will be:
Willard Wirtz, Former Secretary of Labor
George and Norma Kiesel, former Michigan quarterback-
1948 Rose Bowl Game
Vincent Reed, Acting Superintendent of D.C. Schools
John Stebbins, Delta High School in Muncie. You dedicated
this school as Vice President
-1-
IT IS AN HONOR FOR ME TO BE RE-INDUCTED
&
INTO THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, WHICH I WAS PRIVILEGED
1
TO JOIN IN 1930
ON THIS PLAQUE, I SEE THE
HONOR SOCIETY'S REQUIREMENTS:
SERVICE, SERVICE.\SCHOLARSHIP.\
LEADERSHIP CHARACTER
-2-
AS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, I WAS PROUD TO BE THOUGHT
WORTHY OF THOSE WORDS
I AM JUST AS PROUD TO BE
THOUGHT WORTHY OF THEM TODAY
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
-3-
LET ME ALSO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVITATION
TO BE A PART OF THIS PROGRAM.
THE AGENDA FOR THIS
CONVENTION SHOWS THAT YOUR PROFESSION IS IN A TIME OF
GREAT CHANGE, AND THAT YOU ARE ADDRESSING YOURSELF
TO THAT CHANGE.
-4-
YET IN SOME WAYS YOUR JOB HAS NOT CHANGED
AT ALL SINCE THE EARLY DAYS OF OUR NATION'S EDUCATIONAL
SYSTEM.
YOU STILL GIVE GUIDANCE TO THE SCHOOLS
WHICH GUIDE OUR CHILDREN
YOU ARE STILL THE
EXECUTORS OF OUR PAST, AND THE TRUSTEES OF OUR FUTURE
-5-
IN THIS BICENTENNIAL YEAR IT IS FITTING THAT WE SHOULD
CONSIDER WHERE WE HAVE BEEN, AND WHERE WE ARE GOING.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU MY VISION OF EDUCATION,
AND OF ITS ROLE IN OUR NATION'S PROGRESS.
-6-
IN OUR FIRST CENTURY AS A NATION,
AMERICA DEVELOPED POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS RESPONSIVE
TO THE PEOPLE
UNITY GREW FROM DIVERSITY.
AND EDUCATION FOR THE PEOPLE WAS A CRUCIAL PART OF
THE FOUNDING FATHER'S VISION.
THEY KNEW THAT
IGNORANCE AND FREEDOM COULD NOT COEXIST.
-7-
A SYSTEM OF GENERAL INSTRUCTION FOR ALL
CITIZENS / BOTH RICH AND POOR WAS THE EARLIEST OF
THOMAS JEFFERSON'S PUBLIC CONCERNS
HE LED AN
UNSUCCESSFUL EFFORT TO HAVE THE VIRGINIA ASSEMBLY
SUPPORT A SYSTEM OF FREE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
-8-
BY THE TIME THE CONSTITUTION WAS DRAFTED,
HOWEVER, % OUR FOUNDING FATHERS CLEARLY SAW EDUCATION
AS A STATE RESPONSIBILITY.
LITTLE MORE THAN A
CENTURY LATER, EVERY STATE HAD A TAX-SUPPORTED PUBLIC
SCHOOL SYSTEM, / FREE AND ACCESSIBLE TO EVERY CHILD.
-9-
IN OUR SECOND CENTURY AMERICA'S SCHOOLS
AND COLLEGES FACED GREAT CHALLENGES AND
WITHSTOOD ENORMOUS PRESSURES
THEY EDUCATED
MILLIONS OF IMMIGRANT CHILDREN WHO SPOKE NO ENGLISH
WHEN THEY CAME TO OUR SHORES
-10-
THEY MET THE CHANGING ACADEMIC AND
CAREER NEEDS OF STUDENTS AS THE NATION GREW MORE
URBANIZED AND INDUSTRIALIZED.
AMERICAN SCHOOLS
CONTRIBUTED GREATLY TO OUR UNPRECEDENTED ECONOMIC
GROWTH, AND TO THE WIDESPREAD SHARING OF OUR
ECONOMIC GAINS
-11-
NOW WE ARE ENTERING OUR THIRD CENTURY.
I SEE THIS AS A CENTURY DEVOTED TO THE FULFILLMENT
OF THE INDIVIDUAL CITIZEN
-12-
IN THIS CENTURY EDUCATION WILL NOT ONLY
PREPARE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TO EARN A LIVING
/
IT WILL ALSO PREPARE THEM TO LIVE A RICHER LIFE.
IT WILL EQUIP THEM TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS,
RATHER THAN PERMIT THEIR FUTURES TO BE DECIDED FOR
THEM.
-13-
IT WILL ENRICH OUR CHILDREN'S LIVES,
AND IT WILL ALSO ENRICH OUR LIFE AS A NATION
-14-
THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
HAS RECOGNIZED THE VALUE OF EDUCATION, AND HAS HELPED
OUR SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES.
-15-
SINCE ABRAHAM LINCOLN SIGNED THE ACT CREATING
LAND-GRANT COLLEGES,
/
FEDERAL ENCOURAGEMENT AND ASSISTANCE
TO EDUCATION HAS BEEN AN ESSENTIAL PART
OF THE AMERICAN SYSTEM.
-16-
TO ABANDON IT NOW WOULD BE TO IGNORE THE PAST,
AND TO THREATEN THE FUTURE
BUT WE MUST MAKE FEDERAL AID MORE
EFFECTIVE THAN IT HAS BEEN
-17-
IN THE PAST DECADE, AS EDUCATIONAL
PROBLEMS OF NATIONAL SCOPE HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED,
WE HAVE RESPONDED WITH A VARIETY OF NEW FEDERAL
PROGRAMS TO MEET THOSE NEEDS THROUGH ASSISTANCE
TO STATE AND LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES.
-18-
EACH OF THESE PROGRAMS WAS INITIATED TO MEET THE GOAL
OF IMPROVED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR A
PARTICULAR SEGMENT OF OUR POPULATION.
-19-
BUT THE RESULT OF ADDING PROGRAM ON TOP
OF PROGRAM HAS BEEN A MAZE OF COMPLEX AND OFTEN
CONFUSING FEDERAL GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS.
AT FEDERAL STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS / WE HAVE
UNWITTINGLY CREATED A HEAVY BURDEN OF VARYING
REGULATIONS DIFFERING STANDARDS, AND OVERLAPPING
RESPONSIBILITIES.
-20-
TOO OFTEN WE ASK WHETHER FEDERAL FORMS HAVE BEEN
PROPERLY FILLED OUT AND NOT WHETHER CHILDREN HAVE
BEEN PROPERLY EDUCATED
-21-
AS PRESIDENT, THE FIRST MAJOR PIECE
OF LEGISLATION I SIGNED / 18 MONTHS AGO,
/
WAS AN OMNIBUS EDUCATION BILL.
IT IMPROVED
THE DISTRIBUTION OF FEDERAL EDUCATION FUNDS
AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF FEDERAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
-22-
SOON I WILL BE SENDING TO THE CONGRESS
MY PROPOSALS TO CONTINUE THIS IMPROVEMENT.
THE THRUST OF THESE PROPOSALS WILL BE TO CONSOLIDATE
FEDERAL AID AND TO GIVE STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES
GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN ITS USE.
-23-
I MAKE THIS PROPOSAL TO UNTIE THE RED
TAPE THAT BINDS YOU
I WANT TO FREE YOU TO MEET
THE CHALLENGES OF OUR THIRD CENTURY, OUR CENTURY
OF INDIVIDUAL FULFILLMENT
-24-
OUR LAW AND CUSTOM PLACE THE MAJOR
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY PUBLIC
EDUCATION ON OUR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
AND THE RECORD CONVINCES ME THAT DECISIONS ABOUT EDUCATION
MADE ON THOSE LEVELS ARE WISER AND MORE RESPONSIVE TO
COMMUNITY NEEDS THAN THE EDICTS OF THE FEDERAL
BUREAUCRACY.
-25-
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT -- WHILE PROVIDING
SEVEN PERCENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION FUNDING --
SHOULD NOT USURP THE STATE AND LOCAL ROLE.
BUT BY CONSOLIDATING INTO BLOCK GRANTS MORE THAN A SCORE
OF EXISTING PROGRAMS WE CAN DO A LOT BETTER JOB
WITH OUR FEDERAL DOLLARS.
-26-
AT THE SAME TIME, MY PROPOSAL WOULD PRESERVE THE
APPROPRIATE NATIONAL CONCERN FOR QUALITY EDUCATION,
AND CONCENTRATE AVAILABLE FUNDS ON THE NEEDS OF THE
HANDICAPPED AND THE EDUCATIONALLY DEPRIVED
-27-
LET ME ADD THAT IF WE CAN ACHIEVE THE KIND OF
CONSOLIDATION WHICH WILL LEAD TO A MORE PRODUCTIVE USE
OF FEDERAL DOLLARS,
/
THEN EVEN WITHIN THE TIGHT BUDGET
CONSTRAINTS WE FACE WE CAN PLAN TO INCREASE ALLOCATIONS
TO ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
-28-
THE BUDGET PROJECTIONS WE WILL SUBMIT WITH OUR
CONSOLIDATION PROPOSALS WILL REFLECT INCREASES
FOR EACH OF THE NEXT THREE FISCAL YEARS.
-29-
AS WE LOOK AHEAD, WE CAN SEE OUR EDUCATIONAL
SYSTEM ADAPTING TO MEET CHANGING NEEDS
THIS HAS
ALREADY PROVED TO BE ONE OF ITS GREAT VIRTUES
IN THE 1950s, FOR EXAMPLE, AMERICA AWAKENED TO THE URGENT
NEED FOR IMPROVED SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS INSTRUCTION
IN OUR NATION'S SCHOOLS
OUR ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY
OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES SHOW THAT WE MET THIS CHALLENGE.
-30-
TODAY WE ARE FACED WITH ANOTHER URGENT PROBLEM
IN OUR NATION'S DEVELOPMENT
IT IS APPARENT THAT
MANY CITIZENS ARE UNINFORMED / OR WORSE / UNCONCERNED
ABOUT THE WORKINGS OF THEIR GOVERNMENT AND THE
EXECUTION OF THEIR LAWS
-31-
YOUNG PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR APPEAR CYNICAL
AND ALIENATED FROM OUR GOVERNMENT AND LEGAL SYSTEM.
TOO MANY AMERICANS SEE THE LAW AS A THREAT,
RATHER THAN AS A PROTECTION
TOO FEW HAVE BEEN TAUGHT
TO UNDERSTAND THE WAY LAWS ARE CREATED AND
ADMINISTERED -- AND PEACEFULLY CHANGED
-32-
IN ONE POLL OF FEDERAL WORKERS, MORE THAN
TWO-THIRDS REFUSED TO SIGN AN EXCERPT FROM THE
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
ALMOST HALF DID NOT
RECOGNIZE THE PHRASE, "WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE
SELF-EVIDENT."
-33-
THESE ARE ALARMING TRENDS FOR ANY NATION TO
FACE
THEY ARE ESPECIALLY DISTURBING TO US NOW,
AS WE SPEAK OF REDEDICATING OURSELVES TO THE ENLIGHTENED
SPIRIT OF OUR COUNTRY'S FOUNDERS.
THIS IS A NEW CHALLENGE TO EDUCATION
THIS IS A NEW CHALLENGE TO YOU
-34-
IF WE FIND THIS TREND DISTRESSING,
CAN WE IN ALL HONESTY SAY WE FIND IT SURPRISING?
OUR NATION HAS UNDERGONE SEVERE SHOCKS IN THE LAST
QUARTER-CENTURY.
OUR CHILDREN FACE A WORLD AT
ONCE RICHER AND MORE THREATENING THAN HAD EVER BEEN
IMAGINED
-35-
OUR CHILDREN ARE LESS NAIVE, I THINK,
THAN PREVIOUS GENERATIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE.
I KNOW
MY CHILDREN HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS
THAN I DID AT THEIR AGE.
YET OUR CLASSES IN GOVERNMENT AND IN SO-CALLED
"CIVICS" TEND TO CONTINUE ALONG OUTMODED LINES.
-36-
IN 1971 THE AMERICAN POLITICAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION
REPORTED THAT THESE COURSES PRESENTED A "NAIVE,
ROMANTICIZED APPROACH."
THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION
FOUND CIVICS STUDENTS TO BE WIDELY ALIENATED BY
PLATITUDES AND CHAUVINISM, / AND THE METHODS OF LEARNING
BY ROTE.
-37-
AS EMERSON SAID, THE SECRET OF EDUCATION
LIES IN RESPECTING THE PUPIL.
THIS IS JUST AS TRUE
FOR TEACHING THEM SOCIAL VALUES AS FOR TEACHING THEM
ANYTHING ELSE.
-38-
WE CANNOT PERPETUATE OUR VALUE SYSTEM MERELY
BY TELLING OUR CHILDREN IT IS GOOD
WE CAN ONLY ASSURE
ITS FUTURE BY EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN TO ADMIRE ITS STRENGTHS
CORRECT ITS FAULTS,
/
AND TO PARTICIPATE EFFECTIVELY AS CITIZENS
ONLY THEN WILL THEY UNDERSTAND WHY OUR SOCIAL VALUES
ARE WORTH PRESERVING,
/
EVEN THOUGH MUCH IN OUR SOCIETY
HAS CHANGED
-39-
ONLY THEN WILL THEY UNDERSTAND WHY WE STILL
"HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT
-40-
THE GROWING MOVEMENT TO SUPPLY SUCH EDUCATION
GIVES US REASON TO BE ENCOURAGED.
YET MOST OF THE WORK
IN THIS FIELD CLEARLY REMAINS BEFORE US
WE MUST FIND
NEW WAYS TO TEACH STUDENTS ABOUT THE INSTITUTIONS OF LAW
AND GOVERNMENT WHICH WILL AFFECT THEIR LIVES so MUCH and
so long.
-41-
WE CAN PERFORM NO FINER SERVICE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL STUDENT,
AND FOR AMERICAN SOCIETY, THAN TO PROVIDE THEM WITH
THIS UNDERSTANDING.
-42-
ONE PROBLEM IS THAT IN THIS FIELD, \ AS IN OTHERS \
WE DO NOT YET REALLY KNOW HOW TO MEASURE THE QUALITY
OF EDUCATION
MANY OF THE STANDARDS WE HAD RELIED
ON HAVE FAILED US
-43-
WE THOUGHT WE COULD MEASURE QUALITY
BY THE STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO.
YET SOME STUDIES SUGGEST
THAT CLASS SIZE/WITHIN A WIDE RANGE MAY HAVE NO EFFECT
ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.
-44-
WE THOUGHT WE COULD BUY QUICK MIRACLES IN EDUCATION
BY SPENDING MORE MONEY.
BUT THE COLEMAN REPORT
ON EQUALITY OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY, AND SUBSEQUENT
RESEARCH,
/
HAVE CAST SERIOUS DOUBT ON THAT IDEA.
IT WOULD BE EASIER IF WE COULD MEASURE EDUCATIONAL
QUALITY IN DOLLARS AND CENTS / BUT WE CANNOT
-45-
EDUCATION RELIES ON PEOPLE:
ON THE TEACHERS
WHO WORK IN THE SCHOOLS, AND ON THE ADMINISTRATORS
WHO DIRECT THEM.
THE CLEAR AND CONSTANT MEASURE
OF EDUCATIONAL QUALITY IS THE DEGREE OF YOUR COMMITMENT
AND THE LEADERSHIP YOU PROVIDE.
YOU DESERVE THE THANKS
AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, THE SUPPORT OF ALL PARENTS
AND ALL AMERICANS.
-46-
I UNDERSTAND THE THEME OF THIS CONVENTION
IS THE "CORNERSTONE FOR TOMORROW."
FOR MILLIONS
OF YOUNG AMERICANS THE CORNERSTONE OF THEIR TOMORROW
WILL BE YOU.
-47-
I HAVE FAITH THAT YOU WILL DO THE JOB FOR THEM,
AND FOR THOSE WHO FOLLOW
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
END OF TEXT