Remarks at Vandenberg Elementary School in Southfield

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, May 13, 2002

May 6,2002

Thank you all very much for that warm welcome. I'm delighted to be here. Secretary Paige said that he's moving around the country to 25 different cities and school districts to make sure that the No Child Left Behind Initiative is put in place and implemented, and I just wanted to check up on him a little bit. [Laughter] And I'm glad I'm doing so here in Michigan.

I picked Rod to be the Secretary of Education. One, I was comfortable with him as a person. We're both Texans. I saw him in action in Texas. I know how deeply he cares for the children all across our country. But I also wanted somebody that actually knew how to get things done. In Washington, we find all kinds of great theorists, people who talk about theory and philosophy. I was interested in somebody who actually had run a school district, who knows what it means to meet a budget, who knows how to deal with teachers, who insists upon high standards for every child. And Rod did that, and he's a great Secretary of Education. I'm so glad that he's here.

I want to thank Sharalene as well. You know, one of the things you find out when you pay close attention to public education and you try to figure out what works, the good schools are those who have got good principals. Good schools are--[applause]. So I want to thank Sharalene for her hospitality. I know it's not easy to welcome the President. [Laughter] He's got kind of a small entourage--[laughter]--of 25 vehicles. [Laughtar] But you all and your staff have done a great job. And I want to thank all who are responsible for helping put this event on for your hospitality.

I want to thank your teachers as well. I'm real proud to be in the midst of teachers who are doing a great job.

I made a wise choice when I asked a public school teacher to marry me. [Laughter] A lot of people are wondering how wise a choice she made when she said yes. [Laughter] But I'm sorry she's not here with me today. She cares deeply about the teaching profession, and one of her responsibilities that she's assumed is to help recruit young and old alike to become teachers in classrooms.

I want to thank Cecil Rice, who's the superintendent of Southfield Public Schools. You and big Rod speak the same language. Good to have you here. I want to thank Congressman Joe Knollenberg; this is his district. Thank you for being here, Congressman; appreciate your time. I want to thank my friend, the Governor of Michigan, John Engler, for being here as well. Thank you, Governor. We've got Tom Watkins, who's the superintendent of Public Instruction for Michigan. Tom, thanks for coming. We've got the mayor. Thank you, Madam Mayor, for being here; appreciate you coming.

We've got a young lady named Asya Obad here. Now, I want to tell you about Asya. Please stand up for a minute, Asya. [Applause] One of the things I try to do as I travel around the country is to remind people that if you live in America, you have a responsibility to your country and the community in which you live; that out of this evil that had been done to us, I believe can come some incredible good. And part of that good is neighbor caring for neighbor and people listening to the universal admonition to love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself.

And this young lady, who is a University of Michigan student, has done just that. She's a--one-time AmeriCorps volunteer?--two-time AmeriCorps volunteer. She works with a program called ACCESS, Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services, to help new students, new immigrant students to learn to read and write. In other words, she's a child who is getting her own education and, at the same time, working hard to make sure our community is strong. You see, America changes one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. And while one person can't do everything, one person can make a significant difference in people's lives.

I want to thank you for being here, and I want to thank you for the example you've set for people your age and for older people too.

I want to thank the parents who are involved in their children's education. I got to tell you, I was impressed. It just reminded me how great America is when I came--went through the classrooms here, A young girl, just came from Iraq, reads--talks about core democratic values and why they're important. I mean, this is a great country, and it's a great--public schools are so important that we get it right. In order for the future of this country to be bright and hopeful, we've got to make sure every child gets educated, no matter where they're from or their background.

You know, this little girl came, and she spoke--knew the alphabet, but that was it. And she was able, in front of the President of the United States and a press corps, to read about values that matter. But it's the same values that mattered to my little girls. I mean, it's the greatness of our country to share values and to be diverse and to welcome people from all backgrounds into America.

And one of the unifying things about our country is the education system. It's an education system that can be incredibly hopeful. And it's one where, as a result of schools making right decisions, people from all backgrounds do get educated.