Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 107 Part 3.djvu/643

 PROCLAMATION 6509—NOV. 20, 1992 107 STAT. 2581 I am both confident and grateful that—m the future, as in the past— this Thanksgiving tradition will continue to bind us in appreciation of life's greatest blessings: our families and Mends, our rich heritage of freedom, and, most of all, the unchanging wisdom and presence of Almighty God. NOW. THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 26, 1992, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I urge all Americans to gather in their homes and in places of worship on that day to offer thanks to the Almighty for the many blessings that He has granted us as individuals and as a Nation. May we always strive to remain worthy of them. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereimto set my hand this twentieth day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and seventeenth. GEORGE BUSH Proclamation 6509 of November 20, 1992 National Education First Week, 1992 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Three years ago, beginning with om* historic Education Svunmit with the Nation's Governors, we launched America 2000—an ambitious campaign to achieve excellence in our schools. Today more than 2,000 cities and towns throughout the United States and territories proudly count themselves as America 2000 communities, thanks to the shared commitment of parents, teachers, students, local public officials, and concerned business leaders. Recognizing the importance of education, not only as a treasure in itself, but also as the key to advancement for individuals and nations, these Americans are working to meet high standards in the classroom and to make their homes and neighborhoods places where learning can happen. As a result of this outpouring of support for our America 2000 strategy, we have begun to chart promising gains—7 years before our target date. Since we launched America 2000, concerned individuals from all walks of life have responded enthusiastically to the challenge of building a new generation of American schools. Last year, when private sector leaders formed the New American Schools Development Corporation and annoimced a nationwide competition for the best school designs imaginable, nearly 700 teams submitted proposals. The Administration also pursued, and this July I was pleased to sign, the Higher Education Amendments of 1992, which will promote lifelong learning and achievement by expanding eligibility for student loans, by improving the accountability of student loan programs, and by providing for an alternative certification program through which States can devise ways to enlist the knowledge, experience, and skills of qualified men and women who want to teach yet lack traditional teaching degrees. In keeping with America 2000 and with our calls for increased competition and accountability in our Nation's schools, at least 10 States

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