[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 178 (Thursday, September 12, 1996)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 48063-48064]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-23548]


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                         Presidential Documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 178 / Thursday, September 12, 1996 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 48063]]

                Proclamation 6915 of September 9, 1996

                
America Goes Back to School, 1996

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Education is the foundation of our economy and society 
                as we stand at the dawn of the 21st century. Education 
                provides every American with the tools to make the most 
                of their own lives and to seize the tremendous 
                opportunities of economic growth and change. Education 
                also passes along to our young people the most 
                fundamental American values: family, responsibility, 
                and community. To make the next century another 
                American century--and to help all of our communities to 
                become prosperous and strong--more parents and 
                community members must become involved in improving our 
                local schools and colleges. Better education is 
                everybody's business. When families, educators, and 
                communities work together, we can truly build a bridge 
                to a better, stronger 21st century.

                The American people want the best for their children. 
                Our schools should be safe, disciplined, and drug-free 
                environments where parents are involved and children 
                can learn. Our educators and administrators should 
                continue to aim for the highest standards of academic 
                excellence and professional accountability. Together we 
                must rebuild the Nation's schools for the 21st century. 
                We must make the investments needed to allow our 
                children to learn about the computers and technology 
                that are the building blocks of the future. We must 
                make college more accessible. We must expand public 
                school choice and competition. And we must make it 
                easier to move from school to work.

                Children are our greatest natural resource: Although 
                they are only 20 percent of our population, they are 
                100 percent of our future. From safe schools to better 
                training for our teachers, from raising standards in 
                our schools to increasing financial aid for college for 
                middle-income and working families, from literacy for 
                children to retraining for adults, we must ensure that 
                all of our children get a chance to fulfill the 
                American Dream.

                I urge all Americans to be meaningfully involved in 
                their local schools and colleges and to make a 
                commitment to support educational improvement 
                throughout the year. I applaud the Partnership for 
                Family Involvement in Education, a joint effort 
                involving the Department of Education and more than 700 
                schools, family organizations, community groups, 
                religious communities, family-oriented businesses, and 
                the men and women of our Armed Forces, for sponsoring 
                ``America Goes Back to School: Get Involved!'' I hope 
                that this observance will foster grass-roots support 
                for better education by engaging parents, educators, 
                and community groups as active partners in 
                strengthening schools and strengthening families. When 
                Americans come together as a community, we can make 
                real progress. By taking a more active role, we as a 
                Nation will raise our expectations for both our 
                children and ourselves.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim September 8 through 
                September 14, 1996, as a time when America Goes Back to 
                School. I invite parents, schools, community and State 
                leaders, businesses, civic and religious organizations, 
                and the people of the United States to observe this 
                week

[[Page 48064]]

                with appropriate ceremonies and activities expressing 
                support for high academic standards and family and 
                community involvement in schools and colleges, and to 
                continue their active involvement on behalf of 
                America's children throughout the year.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord 
                nineteen hundred and ninety-six, and of the 
                Independence of the United States of America the two 
                hundred and twenty-first.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 96-23548
Filed 9-11-96; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P