Remarks of Secretary Paige, Aliquippa Elementary School, Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
FOR RELEASE:
May 20, 2002
Thank you, Congresswoman Hart.
It's great to be here at Aliquippa Elementary School for the 8th stop in our No Child Left Behind Tour of America.
I brought along a familiar face—Gene Hickock. We talked him into coming to Washington and he's doing a great job.
I see a lot of happy faces—and that's good. That means you're excited about being here. You're excited about learning. Maybe I'm looking at a future Secretary of Education—or even President. I hope so.
Our President hopes so, too. That's why he is working so hard to make every school in America the best it can be. So every child in America—every child—can learn and soar as high as their dreams will take them.
When he took office, the President promised to fundamentally change the structure of our education system, so every child in our public schools learns and no child is left behind. Thanks to the bipartisan work of Congress and our President—who keeps his promises—our schools have a new tool—the historic education reforms of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.
Our nation has been called to commit itself to a bold goal of creating a system that insists on accountability and results, teacher quality, and reading programs that work.
This is a mission of the President's and mine. We are passionate about implementing these reforms because we know what a huge difference they will make. These reforms are improving the quality of education every boy and girl receives in our public schools.
And we will help states and districts. We cannot claim victory until every child learns to read and succeed. No exceptions. No excuses.
If a school is failing its mission, then these reforms give parents a choice. They now have options—like one-on-one tutoring, after-school help, or they can transfer their child to a higher-performing school.
We don't want any child trapped in a failing school. And these reforms provide flexibility and expanded options to help ensure that does not happen.
These reforms also provide resources.
What does that mean to Pennsylvania?
It means increases in federal education funding to more than $1.6 billion—more than $178 million more than last year, and a 27.8 percent increase over 2000 levels.
It means increases in Title I funding for high-need schools to more than $459.2 million—more than $75 million over last year, and a 25.7 percent increase over 2000 levels.
It means more than $28 million in funding for the President's Reading First program to ensure that every Pennsylvania child learns to read.
It means more than $113 million to train and keep highly qualified teachers in Pennsylvania's classrooms.
It means an estimated $17.2 million to help ensure safe and drug-free schools in Pennsylvania.
It means an estimated $11.5 million in funding for after-school programs.
It means more than $11.6 million to test and find out if children are learning and schools are teaching.
Reforms plus resources is what it takes to get the job done. We've got the reforms. We've got the resources. And now, taxpayers will know what they're getting for their money—and moms and dads will know if their children are learning.
We're doing our part. Now it's up to you to do yours. (to the children)
I saw the Old Shoe Hall of Fame, and you've got some good role models—former students here who have gone on to be great athletes and musicians and leaders.
And I think if you asked them how they got where they are, they'd tell you that they did it by setting high goals and working very hard to achieve them.
I think they'd also tell you to read. I'm challenging you today to: Read more than you watch TV... Aim high... Work hard... And never give up.
You know who Walt Disney is? Right—he created Disneyland and Mickey Mouse and lots of our favorite cartoon characters.
But did you know that Walt Disney once got fired from a newspaper job because they thought he didn't have any good ideas?
Anyone here know Dr. Seuss? Right—he wrote The Cat in the Hat, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and a lot of other books.
Dr. Seuss couldn't get anyone to buy his first children's book—27 publishers turned him down. But he kept trying and finally the 28th publisher said, "Yes! We'll print your book." And they did. And Dr. Seuss's book sold six million copies.
How about Michael Jordan? Know him? The great Michael Jordan—got cut from his high school basketball team.
You know what he said about that after he'd grown up and become a basketball star? He said: "Failure always made me try harder the next time... If it turns out my best isn't good enough, then at least I'll never be able to look back and say I was too afraid to try."
So that's my message to you today. Read more than you watch TV... Aim high... Work hard... And never give up.
I know you can do it.
To the parents here today, I urge you to read with your children every single night. You read to them. Then let them read to you.
Now I know it takes a lot of time—and when we get home at night, we're all tired. There are so many demands on our time. But I cannot overstate how important it is that you take the time—every night—to read with your child.
Talk with them about what you're reading. Listen to them. Encourage their curiosity—and they will never fail to surprise you with their brilliance.
Thank you for letting me spend this time with you. God bless you all. And God bless America.
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