[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 4 (Monday, January 29, 2001)]
[Page 221]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at the Swearing-In Ceremony for Roderick R. Paige as Secretary 
of Education

January 24, 2001

    Thank you very much. Mr. Vice President, thank you very much; Dr. 
Paige, family members. I look out and see so many Members from the 
United States Senate. Mr. Chairman, thank you for coming. Senator 
Kennedy, I appreciate you being here, as well. I don't want to skip 
anybody, but the reason I mention those two, they happen to be the 
chairman and ranking minority of the Education Committee. I see Members 
from the House who are here. Thank you all for coming, as well, of 
course, Senator Hutchison, from the home State of Dr. Paige and the 
President--[laughter]--John Culberson from the district which represents 
Houston. So, thank you for coming. I am honored you are here.
    Ladies and gentlemen, it is an honor to witness the swearing-in of a 
man who will help us see important reforms for education become reality.
    The Vice President and I were so pleased to be invited and are 
pleased to be here in this important building. It is an important 
moment, and we certainly were not going to miss it. I wanted to see the 
beginning of a new era in public education.
    Dr. Paige and I share a basic commitment: We will work to bring 
excellence to all public schools all across America. I picked a really 
good man to run this Department, a man of integrity, a man of common 
sense, a down-to-earth man who knows how to get the job done.
    My administration has no greater priority than education, and Dr. 
Paige and I share that urgency. And there's no greater champion of 
reform than the man I am about to witness be sworn in as the Secretary 
of Education.
    Every problem now facing our Nation's public schools Dr. Paige faced 
as superintendent of the Houston Independent School District: children 
unable to read at basic levels; falling scores in science and math; 
problems with discipline and order. Dr. Paige answered those challenges 
with the spirit we must now bring to all our schools and all our 
districts in every State.
    He did not tolerate indifference or mediocrity. He demanded the 
highest standards of students in schools, and people rose to the 
challenge. He proved that poverty does not need to be a barrier to 
achievement. He stressed reading as the key to all learning, and he 
measured progress, holding schools accountable for results. As Dr. Paige 
takes his new assignment, Houston is now a city proud of its schools and 
a city more hopeful for its children.
    Rod Paige gained his passion for education from his own background. 
His mother was a librarian, and his dad was a school principal. His 
three sisters have dedicated their careers to teaching and education. 
And we welcome them to this ceremony today.
    In his distinguished career, Rod Paige has seen firsthand what 
works. He has not just talked about education reform; he's practiced it. 
And that's why I picked him. He has shown an ability to reach across 
party lines, to cross old divisions for the sake of our children. I 
value all these qualities, and our country needs them.
    We have great and urgent work to do. I'm honored to have this good 
man to be our partner in reform.

Note: The President spoke at 1:24 p.m. in the Barnard Auditorium at the 
Department of Education. In his remarks, he referred to Senator James M. 
Jeffords, chairman, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pension; 
and Representative John Culberson, newly elected to Texas' Seventh 
Congressional District. The transcript released by the Office of the 
Press Secretary also included the remarks of Secretary Paige.