[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
[June 17, 1991]
[Pages 682-684]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks to Community Members in Grand Junction, Colorado
June 17, 1991

    What a day. What a magnificent day. Thank you very, very much, 
Governor Romer, and all of you. Let me just say at the outset, I wish 
all of you--not all at the same time--but all of you could have been 
riding in that limousine from the airport. There is no way that I can 
begin to tell you how emotional Barbara and I felt about that warm 
welcome to this wonderful corner of God's Earth. You really made us feel 
at home. And you talk about patriotism and values--it's right here. 
Thank you very, very much.
    Let me first salute the Governor, about whom I'll have more to say 
in a minute, doing an absolutely sensational job chairing our National 
Education Goals Panel. I want to single out our leaders of the State 
legislature who are partners with the Governor in this effort. My 
friend, longtime friend, Ted Strickland, the president of the Colorado 
Senate; Chuck Berry, the speaker of the Colorado house; and all the 
other distinguished individuals on the steering committee for Colorado 
2000.
    And it's not just the big names. I just met with the leaders in this 
community who are leaders for revolutionary change in education. We had 
a fascinating seminar and I learned a lot from them. I salute your 
Congressman Ben Campbell, who's doing a great job for this district. Dr. 
Rosier, President Kieft, and others who--those are just two of the many 
that joined us for this panel I referred to. And, of course, to our 
outstanding Secretary of Education, Lamar Alexander. He is leading this 
country in a wonderful new direction.
    A word about your geography. On the way in I was struck by the 
majestic views of the Grand Mesa, that great big table that looks like 
just the kind of place where God might have done His homework or put 
down the palette He used to paint the sky. Some beauty. You are very, 
very lucky.
    And I thought, as we drove in, about the vast frontiers that lie out 
here. And some will say that America's frontiers have been fully 
explored, developed; some will even say lost. But one frontier knows no 
limits, needs constant development, and cannot be lost. And that's the 
frontier of the American mind, the unlimited vista of American 
imagination.
    As a people, our love of learning has guided every step of our 
progress. I love it when Barbara Bush, committed to literacy and 
education as she is, comes home and tells me these moving tales of how 
kids are trying to struggle against adversity to learn, how adults 
learning to read create a new dimension in their lives. And I might say, 
with some little husbandly pride, the Silver Fox is doing one heck of a 
job for education.
    The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 declared this: ``Knowledge, being 
necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and 
the means of education shall forever be encouraged.'' Now that same need 
to encourage education brings us together today, 204 years later. You 
can think of education as a competitiveness issue, or an economic 
issue--but above all, education in America is a moral imperative.
    Thomas Jefferson knew, and Eastern Europe recently reminded us, that 
the powers of any society rest ultimately with the people themselves. 
Education provides the grounding in ideas and values crucial to 
maintaining democracy and prosperity. It serves as our greatest source 
of social, economic, and yes, moral power.
    No domestic program has greater influence over our future. None 
attracts more attention or generates more passion on the part of our 
people. And none will have a higher priority with this President than

[[Page 683]]

educational excellence. And that's why, together with all of the 
Nation's Governors and with dedicated citizens across the Nation, we set 
six ambitious national education goals for Americans of all ages. This 
wasn't a White House initiative, wasn't just by the Governors. It was a 
combined partnership in setting these education goals for the first time 
in our country's history.
    We cannot achieve these goals without declaring a revolution in 
American education. This revolution demands far more than revolving-
charge, blank-check spending. It demands that every community raise 
expectations, accelerate accountability through parental choice, and 
reward results. And that's exactly what Grand Junction is doing in 
leadership in this great country of ours.
    Our America 2000 education strategy challenges all Americans to 
raise expectations, to pledge genuine accountability, and to create a 
new generation of American schools. It sets out to transform a nation at 
risk into a nation of students. It calls for cultivating communities 
where learning can and will happen.
    All of you here have been doing just that, and I congratulate you. 
You're part of a national crusade for reform--I should interject, a 
State crusade. And I'm so impressed with the connected television 
program that Governor Romer has just told us about. You're part of this 
national crusade which is a movement that takes different forms in 
different communities all across our nation, depending upon local needs 
and resources.
    Local businesses need a talented labor pool. Schools need guidance 
in developing programs and curricula. Every citizen needs to know that 
the kid standing on the street corner is going somewhere and isn't just 
another lost soul waiting to become a statistic, no one knowing his 
name.
    And we need you. We need every citizen to join this revolution for 
American education, whether it's the business executive who takes time 
out to visit a classroom; the older American who knows so much and has 
so much to share, tutoring kids at the local library; or especially the 
parent who takes a few extra minutes each night to read with a child.
    Every one of our national education goals relies on everyone in 
every community across this nation. And I'm confident that if Grand 
Junction is any example at all, we can achieve each and every one of 
these national goals.
    And that's so impressive--what's so impressive about what your State 
is doing, why I'm so pleased with Colorado 2000. Governor Romer's 
leadership in responding to my call for America 2000 communities has 
been outstanding. He's been way out front in a leadership role. And 
tonight, as you heard him say, virtually all of Colorado's 176 school 
districts will meet, connected by high technology, to adopt goals, set 
strategy, and yes, measure results. And that's just the kind of 
thoughtful, community-based action that we'll need to reinvigorate and 
transform America's schools. You see, we haven't just launched 
Washington, DC, 2000. It's America 2000. And what that means is Colorado 
2000, Grand Junction 2000.
    And I challenge every community in America to do what you are doing: 
to become an America 2000 community, to embrace the national education 
goals and accomplish them. Community involvement and community 
innovation will enable students of the future to set and meet world-
class standards of achievement. But world-class standards begin here in 
the hearts and imaginations of people who care about education, who care 
about their kids, and who care about the future.
    About 150 miles from here, in a little town called Norwood, 
Colorado, a woman named Carolyn Sharp is doing what students of the past 
couldn't have dreamed possible. Seventy-four years old, she's too far 
away to get radio or TV broadcast. But now she gets satellite. She gets 
satellite-delivered programming through the Mind Extension University 
and does her learning long-distance. Seventy-four, and here's what she 
says: ``I'd already been boning up, doing some history research on my 
own, and I wanted to take a class.'' And now, by satellite, she's 
studying French, history, and physics. She's a great role model. And for 
my part, I've been trying to learn how to use a computer, and I'm going 
to keep on trying. I will not challenge any of the 12

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kids in Nintendo, however.
    At its most fundamental, learning involves ambition and imagination. 
We Americans have never been known for a lack of imagination, and we've 
had set goals for education as ambitious as any that we've for the West, 
for space, or for any other American frontier.
    With the active support of people like you, I'm confident that we 
will meet these national goals and help our children toward the future 
that they deserve.
    May I thank you for your leadership and interest in educating not 
just the kids in Grand Junction, not just the kids in Colorado, but by 
example you are demonstrating an interest in helping kids all across the 
country.
    May God bless our young people. May God bless our teachers. And may 
God bless each and every one of you that's willing to take a leadership 
role in making America 2000 a fantastic education success.
    Thank you all, and God bless you.

                    Note: The President spoke at 12:18 p.m. in the Mesa 
                        County Courthouse. In his remarks, he referred 
                        to Gov. Roy Romer of Colorado; Ted Strickland 
                        and Chuck Berry, Colorado State legislators; 
                        Representative Ben Nighthorse Campbell; Paul W. 
                        Rosier, superintendent of the Mesa County Valley 
                        School District; Ray N. Kieft, president of Mesa 
                        State College; and Secretary of Education Lamar 
                        Alexander. Prior to his remarks, the President 
                        attended a meeting of the Mesa County School 
                        Board. Following his remarks, the President 
                        traveled to Milwaukee, WI.