Jan. 9 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2001 the money that we’re piling up on Social Secu- about balancing the economy and the environ- rity, we can save 54 years on Social Security. ment. So we didn’t solve global warming, but we And if we think about the future with those made a good dent in it. We haven’t solved all sorts of basic values and never forgetting our the economic problems in the inner cities, the mutual need for one another and that America Indian reservations, the rural communities that wins when we treat every single endeavor like have been left behind, but we left America with a team sport, the best days of this country are the tools to do it. still ahead. And what I want to ask all of you to do Thank you, and God bless you. is to think about where we are now and where NOTE: The President spoke at 1:40 p.m. in the we were 8 years ago. And then, imagine in your Jack Breslin Student Events Center. In his re- own mind—do what I did 8 years ago, especially marks, he referred to Peter McPherson, president, the young people—imagine where you would Michigan State University; Ed Foy, assistant di- like America to be 10 years from now; where rector, United Auto Workers Region I-C, who in- would you like Michigan to be 10 years from troduced the President; Michigan Attorney Gen- now? What do you think it would take to get eral Jennifer M. Granholm; State Representative you there? I can tell you that no matter what Kwame M. Kilpatrick; Mayor Dennis W. Archer strategy you adopt, you will have to continue of Detroit; Mayor David C. Hollister of Lansing; to invest in people, to put education first, to and Tom Izzo, basketball coach, Michigan State care about balancing work and family, to care Spartans. A portion of these remarks could not about balancing business and labor, to care be verified because the tape was incomplete. Remarks at James Ward Elementary School in Chicago, Illinois January 9, 2001 Thank you very, very much. I want to say, Holder, all the way from Washington. He had first of all, I realize now that I’m in an elemen- never been on one of these trips with me, and tary school that I should get a tardy slip today. he’s been working like a dog for years, so I [Laughter] But even in these closing days of asked him to come. To continue our school anal- my Presidency, I can’t stop doing my job, and ogy, this is recess for him today. I was unavoidably detained. I’m sorry. I want to thank Senator Dick Durbin for his One thing I have learned in over 20 years friendship and his leadership over all these of visiting schools is that you almost never have years. Congressman Bobby Rush, who worked a good school without a great principal. And in my campaign for President in 1992, I’m I want to thank Sharon Wilcher for her intro- proud of what you have done, sir. Thank you. duction and for her leadership. Treasurer Dan Hynes; the president of the Chi- I want to thank Secretary Riley, who has been cago Teachers’ Union, Tom Reese; Gery Chico; my friend since the 1970’s, and we go back Paul Vallas. a long way. Our families have been friends; And let me say a special word of thanks to we’ve shared the joys of our children and the your mayor for the partnership that we have stories of our respective governorships. And I enjoyed for education, for economic develop- knew he would be a good Secretary of Edu- ment and housing and so many other areas. cation, but I think after 8 years, the record I have constantly looked to Chicago for leader- will reflect that he is clearly the finest Secretary ship. I tell people all the time, it’s probably of Education this country ever had. And I’m one of the best organized big cities in the entire very grateful to him. world. And the work that has been done by I want to thank Secretary Alexis Herman, our all of you in education, in reviving the system Secretary of Labor, for joining us today. I here over the last 6 years, is exhibit A. Thank brought the Deputy Attorney General, Eric you, Mayor Daley. 2866 VerDate 11-MAY-2000 12:36 Dec 05, 2002 Jkt 188968 PO 00000 Frm 00702 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\HR\OC\188968.013 pfrm12 PsN: 188968 Administration of William J. Clinton, 2001 / Jan. 9 I came to Chicago today in the closing days and a very substantial white ethnic population. of my Presidency for two reasons. First of all, It is a picture of America’s future. We have as I’ll say more about in a few moments in to make education work here if we want Amer- another setting, it’s doubtful that I could have ica’s future to work. become President without the support I re- Using almost every proven educational strat- ceived from the people of Chicago and the State egy, this school is demonstrating dramatically of Illinois. It began over 9 years ago, way back what we could accomplish in every school in in 1991, when only my mother thought I could America if every school would work together be elected President. [Laughter] And through the way your people work together, based on the elections of 1992 and 1996, starting with a common conviction that all children can learn the Democratic primary and then the election and a common devotion to the proven best prac- of 2000, you’ve been very good to Hillary and tices in education. Bill Clinton and to Al and Tipper Gore. And Now, for the past 8 years, our administration I thank you very much for that. has worked hard to make education our number I also wanted to come because one of the one domestic priority. We started out early, primary reasons I ran for President is to do doing more to help early childhood education, what I could in the White House to make a doing a lot to expand and improve the quality positive difference in the schools of America. of Head Start. And I’m very proud that in our I wanted to come to James Ward Elementary very last education budget, achieved after the because I want people all across this country election this year, we had the largest increase to know that there are schools like this, where in Head Start in the entire history of the pro- teachers and parents and administrators and gram. I think that’s a very good sign. community leaders are succeeding, sometimes But we have then focused on a proven strat- against great odds, in bringing educational excel- egy in schools: higher standards, more account- lence to our children. It is important that people ability, greater investment, equal opportunity. know it can be done. Simple ideas: higher standards, more account- I came because I have so often told anyone ability, greater investment, equal opportunity. who would listen about Chicago and the accom- plishments of your school reform effort. Indeed, In 1992, believe it or not, only 14 States in you have been very, very good to me today. this entire country had academic standards for I asked Paul Vallas when I came in, I said, core subjects. And not surprisingly, test scores ‘‘How many times since you’ve been in office were dropping as a result. As more and more have I been in your school system, in your kids came into the school, the student bodies school?’’ He said, ‘‘Six—six.’’ So the way I figure were more and more diverse, more and more it, I’m either entitled to a diploma or to a prop- schools had children whose first language was erty tax bill. I can’t figure out which. [Laughter] not English, more and more kids whose parents You have raised standards and accountability could not speak English. and ended social promotion in the right way, And as more and more kids came into the by giving students in schools the tools they need schools, ironically, a smaller percentage of the to meet high standards and succeed—higher pay kids had parents who themselves were property and better training for teachers and principals, tax payers, who were property owners, so that after-school and summer school programs, better the tax base of many of our districts were se- quality facilities. The results are clear. In this verely stressed. entire, huge, increasingly diverse school district, And so, we came in with a commitment to the test scores of third through eighth graders higher standards, and we passed legislation to have risen in every single year since 1994. And encourage and support States in setting those you heard the results about James Ward. standards. In 1992 there were 14 States with What I want the members of the traveling core academic standards. Today, there are 49 press corps to know, who are here with me, States with statewide core academic standards. is, every year this school gets students coming We also wanted to increase accountability. We from China, Croatia, Central America. This asked the States—indeed, we required the school has a large Asian-American population States—to identify schools that were failing and and a very substantial African-American popu- then develop strategies to turn them around.