Remarks at Concord Middle School in Concord, North Carolina

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, April 16, 2001

April 11, 2001

Thank you all very much. Okay. "Dr. O," thank you for your hospitality. It's an honor to be here. I want to thank you all for coming. Before I talk about a subject dear to my heart, which is education, and before I recognize all the distinguished guests, I do want to say that right after my visit here, I am going to meet with the family of Petty Officer Third Class Steven Blocher.

As you know, Steven is one of our 24 service men and women in China. I'm really looking forward to letting Steven's family know that we're in the process of bringing their son home. Steven grew up in Charlotte, and I know this entire Charlotte area and I know this entire community joins in looking forward to welcoming him home.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to tell the Blochers how much America appreciates their son's patriotism and service to his country and how much we appreciate the service of our men and women in uniform throughout the world.

Situations such as this remind us how much our military personnel and their families sacrifice for our freedom. It also reminds me, it's such an honor to be the Commander in Chief of such wonderful people.

It's also an honor to be here in the great State of North Carolina. I've got a lot of friends here, and I'm grateful. It's also good to get out of Washington, DC, on a regular basis. It kind of reminds us that there is-- it helps us stay in touch with reality. It's important to listen to people who are on the frontlines of making their communities a much better place. And there's no better place to listen and to say thanks than our schools all across America, where people are working their heart out to make a difference in the lives of our children. So first, I want to thank all the teachers who are here.

I don't know if you know this--and I'm sorry the First Lady is not with us; she's heading down to Texas for the Easter break; I'm following shortly thereafter, I want you to know. [Laughter] One of her missions, besides making sure every child can read, is to remind folks about how important it is and what an important profession teaching is, that teaching is a noble profession, and that for the youngsters who are looking for something to do after college: Become a teacher. Or, for those who have just gotten out of the military: Become a teacher.

We need good teachers in America. We need people to understand what an important job it is. So for those of you who are thinking about something to do when you get out of junior high, then high school, then college, give teaching a shot. It will not only change some child's life; it will change your life for the better, as well.

It's good to see Phil Kirk. Phil, thank you very much. I was honored to be escorted around the school by a man I proudly called "Mr. President," Graham Boone. I appreciate Senator Edwards being here. Senator, it's good to see you, sir. I appreciate Congressman Hayes. I can assure you, on the ride in from the airport, he gave me a full briefing--[laughter]--about every single aspect of this community. He pointed out every NASCAR garage, and every four-lane highway that needed to be expanded. [Laughter]

Congressmen Coble, Ballenger, and Taylor are also here. I want to thank you all for coming, and I appreciate your loyal support. I guess when the President shows up, all kinds of elected officials come, and I appreciate your coming. The mayors, the mayor of Charlotte and the mayor of Concord, I want to thank you both for being here, as well.

It's good to see Mike Ward again. I saw Mike just the other day. Thank you, Mike. And it's good to have members of the statehouse, the speaker and the leader of the Senate, on both sides of the aisle. It reminds me, seeing both Republicans and Democrats from the statehouse here, that when it comes to education, there really isn't--there isn't a need for partisan bickering. When it comes to the education of the children, it is right for people of both parties to come together and figure out how to get the job done. And that's what's happened here.

I know that's what's happened here in North Carolina. It also happened in the State of Texas when I was the Governor--that we said we'll have our time for political bickering, but when it comes to important issues like education, we'll set aside political bickering and focus on the children. And as a result of people from both parties being able to work together in our respective States, North Carolina and Texas have made great progress.

I know that some other States don't like to hear this, but at one point in time, the National Education Goals Panel analyzed which of the States in the United States were making the greatest gains on student achievement. And it turned out our States were, North Carolina and Texas. And I attribute that to the fact that people from both political parties were willing to work together-- something Washington, DC, needs more of, by the way. We need less name-calling and finger-pointing and more focus on what's right for America. And a good place to start is when it comes to the education of our children.