[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.