pd08ap02 The President's Radio Address...

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 (2)         North Korea is complying with all provisions of the Agreed 
            Framework; and

[[Page 550]]

 (3)         The United States is continuing to make significant 
            progress on eliminating the North Korean ballistic missile 
            threat, including further missile tests and its ballistic 
            missile exports.
    You are hereby authorized and directed to report this determination 
and the accompanying Memorandum of Justification to the Congress, and to 
arrange for publication of this determination in the Federal Register.
                                                George W. Bush

Note: This memorandum was released by the Office of the Press Secretary 
on April 2.


<DOC>
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[Page 550]
 
Pages 541-569
 
Week Ending Friday, April 5, 2002
 
Remarks Honoring the 2002 Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots

April 2, 2002

    The President. I'm honored to welcome the Super Bowl champ Patriots 
to the Rose Garden. I want to thank their owner, Bob Kraft, for his 
leadership. And of course, I want to thank their coach. Coach Bill has 
brought a lot of organization and clarity of purpose to this 
organization. I can remember when they were down on you a little bit--I 
know how you feel. [Laughter]
    As a matter of fact, the Patriots learned an interesting lesson. I 
remember watching all the experts talk about the Super Bowl. No one 
thought they'd win. They learned what I learned, that in politics and 
sports, the experts are often wrong.
    I was really impressed by the character of this team. Most of all--I 
obviously watched the game--I was amazed at the play and how they won. 
For a guy growing up in Texas, that snow game looked pretty rough. 
[Laughter] But I know all the Patriot fans were thrilled with that game 
and the Super Bowl. I know you've got some great fans here.
    Obviously, Members of the Congress are great fans. It's good to see 
Senator Kennedy, Senator Jeffords, who are here. I don't know if any 
Members of the Congress are here as well, but I want to thank you both 
for coming.
    I was impressed by a lot, but let me tell you what impressed me most 
was when the team took the field prior to the Super Bowl. It wasn't one 
of these things where the spotlight was on any individual; everybody 
went out at the same time. I thought that was a pretty good signal to 
America that teamwork is important, that the individual matters to the 
team, but the team is bigger than the individual. That's one of the 
things I try to explain to people in Washington, that we're here to 
serve something greater than ourself. And I appreciated so very much 
that signal to the country.
    I remember watching the early Patriots there in Houston, when they 
came down to the AFL. And I remember Gino Cappelletti. And Gino 
Cappelletti said this about this team--I think you probably remember 
Gino Cappelletti, don't you, Senator Kennedy? You were around in those 
days--[laughter]--barely, but around. ``I think every guy that ever 
played for the Patriots would be proud of this bunch. They are not only 
a team with great heart and toughness; they're also a good group of 
guys. They were champs on the field and, more importantly, champs off 
the field''--by sending not only a clear message about the importance of 
teamwork but about the importance of serving something greater than 
yourself in life, whether it be the Salvation Army in the Boston area or 
after-school programs so some child realizes somebody cares about them 
or how they conduct their own home life--is just as important to me and 
America, for that matter, than winning on the football field. So it's an 
honor to welcome true football champs but as well really fine Americans 
to the Rose Garden.
    Congratulations.

[At this point, Robert Kraft, chairman and owner, and Bill Belichick, 
head coach, made brief remarks and presented the President with a team 
jersey and an autographed football.]

    The President. I appreciate that. Thank you, sir. That is short. 
[Laughter] Congratulations. Congratulations to you all.

Note: The President spoke at 11:25 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Gino Cappelletti, retired Patriots 
wide receiver. The transcript released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary also included the remarks of Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick.

[[Page 551]]


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[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
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[Page 551]
 
Pages 541-569
 
Week Ending Friday, April 5, 2002
 
Remarks Following a Roundtable Discussion With Early Childhood Education 
Experts in Media, Pennsylvania

April 2, 2002

    I just finished a discussion about early childhood development. I 
want to thank the experts and the teachers and the soon-to-be teachers 
and those who are running Head Start programs for sharing their 
knowledge with Secretary Paige and me.
    One thing is for certain: In order for all Americans to realize the 
American Dream, we've got to make sure every child has the necessary 
foundation to be good readers, good writers, good comprehenders, which 
means that this Nation must do a better job of focusing our education 
strategy on early childhood development programs.
    We've got to encourage parents to be good readers, good nurturers 
for their children. We've got to work with Head Start centers to make 
sure that they've got the curriculum necessary to teach every child the 
building blocks for reading. We've got to work with States, to encourage 
States to develop a strategy that will help focus time and attention and 
resources on the programs that will not only give children the basics 
for reading but give children the essential nourishment so that they can 
become ready to compete in the public school system in America.
    I assured our panelists here that while I'm spending a lot of time 
on making sure America is safe and secure, that this initiative is a 
crucial initiative. It's an essential part of completing the education 
reforms that Senator Kennedy and Congressman Boehner and both 
Republicans and Democrats worked on last year and I had the honor of 
signing.
    So this is a great initiative and a wonderful group of Americans 
that are here to discuss this. I'm real proud of your work. I want to 
thank you for your care and compassion for our fellow citizens.
    Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 2:33 p.m. in the Commons/Athletic Center at 
Pennsylvania State University, Delaware County.


<DOC>
[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
 [frwais.access.gpo.gov]
                         

[Page 551-555]
 
Pages 541-569
 
Week Ending Friday, April 5, 2002
 
 Remarks at Pennsylvania State University, Delaware County, in Media

April 2, 2002

    Gosh, thanks for that warm welcome. It's an honor for me to be here 
today to talk about a subject that's dear to my heart and a subject very 
important to the country, which is the education of every child in 
America.
    I just had the honor of meeting with a panel of experts from not 
only the State of Pennsylvania but from around the country: teachers, 
soon-to-be teachers, people who deeply care about the education of every 
single person. I want to thank them for their input. I want to thank 
them so very much for their idealism. And I want to thank you for your 
commitment to our country.
    Three months ago I had the honor of signing what is called the No 
Child Left Behind Act. It's a piece of education reform, and I believe 
we'll have--it was the beginning of a new era of education in America. 
Through high standards and accountability, we're going to make sure that 
every school in America is ready to teach.
    Now we must take another essential step. We must make sure that 
every child enters school ready to learn--every child--not just one, not 
just a few, but every single child. On this issue we know what works, 
and we know our responsibilities. As parents, teachers, and caregivers, 
we must give our children the lifelong gift of early learning. And today 
I'm here to outline specific measures to help meet that goal.
    Before I do so, I want to say how sorry I am that my wife, Laura, 
isn't with me. The reason why is because early childhood education has 
been a lifelong mission of hers. In Texas and in Washington, she is a 
strong advocate for reading to our Nation's youngest children. She will 
work to bridge the gaps between scientists, policymakers, and caregivers 
on this issue. I'm grateful for her leadership. America is beginning to 
understand why I asked her to marry me. [Laughter] A lot of people are 
still wondering why she said yes. [Laughter]
    I'm also honored to be traveling today with Rod Paige, who's the 
Secretary of Education.

[[Page 552]]

You know, when I came to--I was trying to figure out who best to serve 
in that important position. I wanted somebody who had worked in the 
trenches. Rod was the superintendent of schools in the Houston 
Independent School District. He believed in setting high standards for 
every child and believed strongly in accountability. And his record was 
a good one, because more and more children were learning. And so I'm 
honored that Rod took time out of his life to come up to Washington, DC, 
to serve our Nation, and he's doing a fine, fine job.
    I want to thank Dr. Spanier, Graham Spanier, for his hospitality. 
It's good to see you again, sir, and thank you for being the president 
of Penn State. I want to thank Ed Tomezsko, Dr. Tomezsko, for his 
hospitality on this beautiful campus. Thanks for letting us come.
    I appreciate my friend the Senator from Pennsylvania, Arlen Specter, 
for being here as well. Thank you. The Governor of Pennsylvania, Mark 
Schweiker, is here. Thank you, Governor, appreciate you being here. And 
I want to thank the attorney general, Mike Fisher, for being here as 
well. And I want to thank my friend the Congressman from this part of 
the country, Curt Weldon. I appreciate you being here, sir.
    I have constantly reminded America that one way to fight evil is to 
do some good. If you're interested in helping our country, love a 
neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. Today, out at the 
airport, I got the honor of meeting a fellow named Stan Braxton. Stan 
used to work for IBM. And he's retired, but he hasn't quit working, 
because what he decided to do was to help make people's lives better. He 
works in an after-school program. He provides technical assistance to 
nonprofit organizations in the Philadelphia area. I appreciate you 
coming, Stan. Do you mind standing up for a second? [Applause] Thank you 
for coming.
    Out of this incredible evil done to our country is going to come 
some good. I truly believe it. And part of the good is that the armies 
and the soldiers--the soldiers in the armies of compassion are going to 
increase all around America. More Stans will say, ``What can I do to 
help America?'' Stan is a living example of somebody who puts service to 
mankind ahead of his retirement, for example. And so, Stan, thank you 
for serving as a great example for our country.
    You need to know that even though the subject of today's talk is 
early childhood development, I am going to be relentless and tireless in 
our pursuit of justice and to make sure the homeland is secure. We fight 
for not only the security of our country; we fight for freedom. We love 
freedom in America, and we will defend freedom at all costs. And we long 
for peace. We want peace all around the world. In order to make sure the 
world is peaceful, we must stand strong against terror and rout out 
terror wherever it exists. And as the war continues, though, it is 
important for our Nation to remember we have other important 
responsibilities. As we fight to defend our ideals, we must also work to 
realize those ideals.
    We stand for equal opportunity. It's one of the ideals we believe 
in, in America. And equal opportunity demands schools that are effective 
and excellent. We must give all our children, every single child in 
America, the basics of knowledge and character, and we must leave no 
child behind. My administration will not be distracted from these goals. 
As we fight for freedom, I also understand that freedom means no child 
in America will be left behind. The new civil right in America is 
reading.
    We made a tremendous start in our country when it comes to education 
reform, because of the hard work of both Republicans and Democrats. I 
signed a significant piece of legislation that sets high standards, 
requires assessment in grades three-through-eight, accountability to 
determine whether or not our children are actually learning. And if they 
are, we will have the basis to praise the teachers who are working 
tirelessly to see so. But if not, we'll have the capacity to correct 
problems early, before it's too late.
    This bill offers new resources to schools, a lot of new resources to 
encourage success and options for parents in the case of failure. 
Accountability is now at the center of American education, because we 
believe every child can learn in America. We don't accept excuses, and 
we want to make sure no child is left behind.

[[Page 553]]

    Yet, for accountability and annual assessments to mean something, 
all children must start school with the basic skills necessary for 
learning. In order for this piece of reform to really work, we've got to 
make sure that every child starts at the same point. If we expect 
achievement from every child, all our children need to begin school with 
an equal chance at achievement, is what I'm saying. Every child must 
have an equal place at the starting line--not some children, not just 
those who live in rural Pennsylvania, and not those who live in urban 
Pennsylvania or vice versa. Every child--that is the national goal.
    From years of research--and as I say, this campus has today hosted 
some of the great researchers in America--we know what an equal chance 
at achievement means. It certainly means encouraging a child's social 
and emotional development. No question about that. But it also means 
that children, before entering school, know letters of the alphabet and 
begin to know the sounds these letters make.
    They must learn what the written word looks like and must build a 
strong vocabulary. And they must be excited about reading, because 
they've seen others do it. The way to make a child excited about reading 
is for them to watch others read, like their parents. Reading is the 
foundation for all of learning, and that foundation is built early by 
exposing young children to the wonders of books and the uses of 
language. Reading to a child early and often can change a child's life.
    Like many parents, Laura and I saw this firsthand. Ever since our 
twins, our twin daughters, were toddlers, we would read to them at every 
possible opportunity. Sometimes, when I sleep at night, I think of ``Hop 
on Pop.'' [Laughter] We found it to be fun, and it's important for 
parents to understand that it's a part of the responsibility for being a 
good mom or a dad to read to your children.
    But it's more than just fun. It is a vital preschool learning 
experience. Consider this amazing finding: 10th grade reading scores can 
be predicted with surprising accuracy from a child's knowledge of the 
alphabet in kindergarten. Think about that. We can pretty well predict 
how well a child will read in the 10th grade if that child has been 
given a--whether or not the child has been given a good education early 
in his or her life.
    A child who cannot identify the letters of the alphabet in his or 
her first year of school runs a real risk of staying behind in school 
throughout her or his career. We cannot accept this in America. To close 
the achievement gap in our schools, we must close the early childhood 

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