[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[September 1, 1992]
[Pages 1460-1461]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Teleconference Remarks to the America 2000 Satellite Town Meeting
September 1, 1992

    The President. Lamar, I'm here.
    Secretary Alexander. Well, terrific.
    The President. Delighted to be here. And I'm delighted you're 
willing to take this phone call from this very interested participant 
from the White House.
    Secretary Alexander. We're honored that you'd take the time to call. 
We know you've had a very busy day.
    The President. Well, let me just make a couple of comments butting 
into this wonderful program. But first a compliment, and then I do want 
to ask one question. But my compliments to the more than 2,500 
communities out there who are working together on these national 
education goals.
    When the Governors and I established the goals at Charlottesville at 
that education summit, we hoped to set a new direction for education in 
our country. But we also knew that the goals would not make much 
difference unless they were adopted community by community. And so I 
guess the way to say it is we had high hopes at Charlottesville. But I 
don't think any one of us envisioned anything quite like this, over 
2,500 different communities working together on the goals at one time by 
satellite. I really just want to say that I hope you will all stick with 
it, join the town meeting every month, and become an America 2000 
community, if you're not in there already.
    There are no quick fixes. The change we're talking about is really 
fundamental. It is really enormous, literally reinventing education. And 
that'll require what we call the break-the-mold schools, higher 
standards and certainly better tests, getting gov-

[[Page 1461]]

ernment off the teachers' backs, and then giving families more choice in 
schools and academic programs. There's nothing more important than 
creating the best schools in the world for our children, and this is the 
way to do it.
    So my compliments to all assembled for what you're doing. My 
compliments also to the U.S. Chamber and all the local chambers of 
commerce out there who are involved in these community efforts, and 
then, of course, to the wonderful Wal-Mart associates who are 
participating. I do know firsthand how important education was to Sam 
Walton. And he would be glad, he would be thrilled that you were 
participating tonight. So, congratulations.
    Now for my question, and I want to place it to Len Sirotzki of 
Bensenville, Illinois. And I suspect that almost all of the 
participating communities have this question in mind because I've 
challenged each one of them to create a break-the-mold school. And now 
Len, if you're there, you've turned your entire community into a break-
the-mold site. And my question is, how did you get started and how is it 
working out?
    Mr. Sirotzki. Mr. President, thank you for asking that question. It 
certainly is wonderful of you to join us this evening. The way we 
started, very simply put, was that we started. I think that the number 
one message to communities everywhere is to start, and don't wait for 
some perfect time that may never come. But we looked for individual 
persons who were willing to go beyond personal agenda for the benefit of 
the community, all of the families in the community, and I mean all of 
them, not only school-aged children. And I think all of us want better 
communities, but they will not come about magically. It's going to take 
a very, very long-term commitment, and there will be a great deal of 
pain, bringing about the kinds of changes that are needed.
    But we have five different taxing bodies representing all the 
wonderful people of Bensenville who are working together. And I know 
that I can speak for all of the people in Bensenville in saying that 
whatever it is that we do that is of interest to others, we would be 
more than happy to share, because that's the kind of place Bensenville 
is.
    The President. Well, thank you, Len, very much. And I know 
everybody's experience can be helpful to the other fellow. And this 
experience in Bensenville, I appreciate your sharing it with us. And let 
me just say here in conclusion, it's been a long day. In fact, it's been 
a very emotional day for me. I've been out surveying the aftermath of 
Hurricane Andrew in Florida and over in Louisiana. And let me just say 
that one of our participants tonight, I believe, is Connie Jones. She's 
the principal of Three Oaks Elementary School at Fort Myers. And she got 
her school turned into a shelter, taking in those who were stricken by 
the hurricane. May I just say at the end of this emotional day that I 
salute Connie and all the others across this great country of ours who 
reach out to help their neighbors. It's a marvelous thing when you see 
the spirit of the people in the areas that have been hit by this storm. 
But we see it every day in communities across the country as they face 
adversity.
    So, congratulations to all, and I am proud, Lamar, that this America 
2000 effort continues to be bipartisan. And look, we all know that we're 
in an unusual political season. But let me just say I am determined to 
do my part, as I know Lamar is and as I know everyone out there is, to 
keep this effort out of partisan politics and just in the arena of 
helping people. All the Governors, Democrats as well as Republicans, are 
a part of all of this, and it's been that way from the very beginning. 
And I just wanted to assure every participant that I'm determined to 
keep it that way.
    So, thanks for what you're doing. God bless you all, and good night. 
And thanks, Lamar.
    Secretary Alexander. Thank you for taking time to call. I know that 
was exciting for everybody that participated.
    The President. Well, keep up the great work, to you and all 
involved. Goodbye.

                    Note: The President spoke at 9:25 p.m. via satellite 
                        from the Oval Office at the White House. In his 
                        remarks, he referred to Len Sirotzki, project 
                        director, Bensenville Community Design Project, 
                        who was with Secretary of Education Lamar 
                        Alexander in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce 
                        television studio in Washington, DC.