    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 37 (Monday, September 17, 2001)]
    [Pages 1291-1292]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    The President's Radio Address

    September 8, 2001

        Good morning. This weekend in Washington my wife, Laura, is hosting
    the first National Book Festival, continuing a tradition she began as
    First Lady of Texas. With visiting authors and special events, the Book
    Festival will highlight the importance of reading and libraries in our
    national life. A few days later, she and I will host the White

    [[Page 1292]]

    House Assembly on Reading at the Library of Congress. We will bring
    together scholars and educators committed to the cause of teaching every
    child to read.
        As a former teacher, herself, the First Lady is a passionate
    advocate for reading. She and I and my entire administration believe
    that teaching every child to read is critical to making sure every child
    has the opportunity to realize the American Dream.
        Reading is, after all, the most basic educational skill, and the
    most basic obligation of any school is to teach reading. Yet earlier
    this year, tests showed the almost two-thirds of African-American
    children in the fourth grade cannot read at a basic level and reading
    performance overall is basically unimproved over the past 10 years.
        The ability to read is what turns a child into a student. When this
    skill is not taught, a child has not failed the system; the system has
    failed the child. And that child is often put on a path to frustration
    and broken confidence.
        The methods we use to teach reading are critically important. First,
    we will have diagnostic tests to identify early reading problems in
    grades K-through-three. Second, we will correct those problems with
    intervention to give children the best possible help. Third, we will
    support reading instruction based on sound research, with a central role
    for phonics. And we'll make sure that every teacher is well-trained in
    these proven methods.
        All of this can serve an important goal I have set for our country:
    to ensure that every child is able to read by the end of third grade.
    Meeting this goal requires not only encouragement to our schools but
    resources, and my budget provides them. Altogether I have asked Congress
    to triple the amount of Federal money available for reading programs
    across America.
        We must also bring accountability and high standards to every public
    school. At the heart of my education reforms is a confident belief that
    every child can learn if given the chance. When our expectations are
    high, America's children will rise to meet them.
        I have agreed with the Congress that we must increase education
    spending. But some, for whom the increases this year may not be enough,
    are threatening to stall these much needed reforms. That is a tactic of
    the past in Washington that has neither worked for our country, nor,
    more sadly, for our children. After many years of debate, the American
    people are counting on us to deliver on our promise of reform for the
    public schools.
        Both the House and the Senate have passed good bills that hold
    schools accountable and expect results. The hardest work is behind us.
    We have a chance now to pass education reform based on good principles.
    When the Congress sends me that bill I will sign it, and I urge the
    Congress to send it quickly.
        Thanks for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 3:19 p.m. on September 7 in the
    Cabinet Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on September
    8. The transcript was made available by the Office of the Press
    Secretary on September 7 but was embargoed for release until the
    broadcast. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish
    language transcript of this address.