Remarks at a Leadership Forum in Wilmington, Delaware

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, April 9, 2001

I don't believe we ought to fund religion, but I do think we ought to fund a person, and that person should be able to choose whether or not to find help at a faith-based program or a secular program.

I view the Boys and Girls Clubs as faith-based programs, by the way, programs based upon the universal concept of loving a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. And for that, I'm grateful. I want to congratulate the board of directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Delaware for having such a profound impact. One in seven children in this State are members of the Boys and Girls Clubs, for which I know you all are most proud.

Rather than falling into the legislative tradition of filibustering, I will now end my remarks by thanking you all for your hospitality, and I look forward to hearing from you.

[The forum began.]

The President. How old is your charter school?

John Taylor. Our charter school is in its first year.

The President. Great. How's it going?

Mr. Taylor. It is going well. It is going very well.

The President. Did you have many applicants for your charter school?

Mr. Taylor. Yes, we did have quite a few applicants.

The President. And what grades?

Mr. Taylor. We are currently servicing children between kindergarten and fifth grade.

The President. Oh, great. Big jump.

Thanks for teaching.

[The forum continued.]

The President. Thank you for encouraging mentoring. You know, the great strength of the country takes place when somebody walks across the street or raises their hand and says, "What can I do to help? What can I do to help somebody in need?" And it's the cumulative kindness of America that really makes our country so different from everyplace else. And it's really important for all of us to understand the power of mentoring and what it means, because really what it means is recognizing that America will be changed one soul at a time.

And I want to thank you for encouraging the Kiwanis to become mentors. And pass the word that the President and the Senators and the Congressmen really do recognize the limitation of Government and recognize the power of love and faith and hope.

[The forum continued.]

The President. One of the things we've all got to do in our society is to encourage and herald the education entrepreneurs all across the country. And the idea of change and recognizing each student--an accountability system recognizing the talents and needs of each student is an incredible part of reform. And that's what the legislation we're working on in the Senate and the House is going to foster.

And what triggered my thinking is, there's a lot of times where public schools don't change; their systems are inert; they just won't move. And yet, we've got three schools that are new--four--four new ideas, which shows that the State of Delaware has got a system that encourages change when change is needed. And that's the message we're trying to get to Members of the Senate and Congress who don't want change.

One thing--we're going to spend more money, and that's important, but as well, there needs to be a systemic change to not only encourage parental involvement but to recognize that the systems have got to be geared on a child-by-child basis. And good accountability measures do that.