Proclamations Proc. 7534 Proclamation 7534 of March 21, 2002 Education and Sharing Day, U.S.A., 2002 By the President of the United States o/ Arnerica A Proc]umution America's future depends in part on ensurin\365 that every child in America receives a quality education. And by teachin\365 our children the importance of servin\365 those in need, we will help fulfill an important part of their edu- cation, showin\365 them the rewards that come from compassionate outreach. Education has always played a vital role in the success of our Nation. It has provided hope throu\365h the principle that any citizen can realize the American dream, re\365ardless of back\365round, ethnicity, or faith. By chal- len\365in\365 youn\365 people to set hi\365h \365oals and to work hard to achieve them, we prepare our youth to carry on the success of the American story and to become leaders of this \365teat Nation. A core foundation of knowled\365e and values is essential for students to excel and contribute to the well-bein\365 of our communities, our country, and the world. Parents are a child's first and most important teachers, and they provide the cornerstone of a child's early education. Quality teachers, however, also play an important role in a child's personal and intellectual development. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, which I si\365ned into law in January 2002, requires that, by the end of the 2005-06 school year, there must be a "hi\365hly qualified" teacher in every classroom. Throu\365h this new law, States and school districts will have multiple tools to help them meet the new teacher quality requirements. Key elements of this effort include pro- violin\365 State \365rants to recruit and train teachers, and recruitin\365 hi\365h-quality individuals to become teachers, offerin\365 expanded student loan for\365iveness for teachers. And we must encoura\365e Americans to vo]unteer their time to setwe as mentors to our youn\365 peop]e. Great teachers are also found outside the classroom, makin\365 a positive im- pact on children and on local families. For example, l\177abbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher l\177ebbe, demonstrated the power of teachin\365 others to pursue both intellectual and moral excellence. For this purpose, he established education and outreach centers that offered social set'vices and humanitarian aid. Today, more than 1,400 of these centers op- erate in 35 countries, meetin\365 the spiritual and material needs of local com- munities. These beacons of hope communicate the l\177ebbe's ideal of livin\365 a meanin\365ful life throu\365h personal responsibility and dedication to those in need. On the 100th anniversary of the l\177ebbe's birth, I encoura\365e Ameri- cans to help teach our youn\365 people. In classrooms, homes, and places of worship, we can all make a lastin\365 impact on individual children and thus invest in our country as a whole. NOW, THEI\177EFOI\177E, I, GEOI\177GE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 24, 2002, as Edu- cation and Sharin\365 Day, U.S.A., 2002. I call on all Americans to help our youn\365 people better understand the importance of character and develop a true love of learnin\365. By doin\365 so, we invest in the future of our country. 61
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