Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 105 Part 3.djvu/575

 PROCLAMATION 6226—NOV. 13, 1990 105 STAT. 2459 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of November, in the year of om* Lord nineteen hundred and ninety, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fifteenth. GEORGE BUSH Proclamation 6226 of November 13, 1990 American Education Week, 1990 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation While a sound education is a great and lasting treasure in its own right, it is also vital to the advancement of individuals and nations. Through their educational experiences, young people develop the knowledge and skills needed to become innovative, productive citizens. They also gain an understanding of our Nation's history and an appreciation for our rights and responsibilities as members of a free and democratic society. Thus, if the United States is to remain a free, strong, and prosperous country, one that is competitive in the rapidly changing global marketplace, our educational system must be marked by excellence. Our success in strengthening America's educational system may be measured by our progress toward the six national education goals established last year following my Education Siunmit with the Nation's Governors. First, by the year 2000, all American children must start school ready to learn. High school graduation rates must increase to 90 percent. American students must demonstrate competence in five critical subjects with their progress assessed in grades 4, 8, and 12, and they must rank first in the world in science and mathematics. Every American adult must be literate and possess the skills—^including the technical skills—necessary to compete in the global economy. Finally, every school in the United States must be safe, disciplined, and drugfree. These goals form a binding standard of excellence for our Nation's schools, a standard that both animates and guides our ongoing efforts to revitalize American education. In July, I joined with the Nation's Governors in establishing the National Education Goals Panel, which will measure and report progress toward these crucial objectives. Achieving our national education goals is not, however, a job for panel members and government officials alone. Ensuring a high-quality education for every American will depend on the personal commitment and sustained cooperation of all Americans—^parents, teachers, students, local school administrators, business leaders, and elected officials, as well as the general public. Because education is a lifelong process of learning, growth, and discovery, our ability to achieve excellence in the Nation's schools begins at home. What goes on in the classroom is only part of a child's educational experience, and parents have primary responsibility for what— and how—their children learn. Parents can contribute substantially to the quality of our educational system by taking active interest in their

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