Related Resources Secretary's Remarks Presidential Proclamation

U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige tonight kicked off the Character Education Partnership's 10th National Forum, "A National Call to Character: Capitalizing on Our Strengths" by saying that the United States must do a better job of educating children not just academically but also by fostering good character in order for the nation to sustain its prominence on the world stage.

"We live in a culture of callousness which has resulted in a staggering racial achievement gap, poor health status, overweight students, crime, violence, teenage pregnancy, and tobacco and alcohol abuse," Secretary Paige said.

"We face formidable forces--music, movies, the arts and even our culture itself all teach students to prize greed, celebrity and indifference, and to disregard violence. I have a particular concern about the lack of positive role models. Overall, we are failing to foster good character.

"In some schools, gangster rap and criminal deeds are tolerated, even allowed to replace education itself. We have to teach tolerance. But we do not have to tolerate the absence of positive values. For all these reasons, there is a dire need for the Character Education Partnership.

"We must teach our children more than reading and math; we must also teach them the values upon which this nation was built."

Secretary Paige also announced that the department will establish a Technical Center for Character Education and Civic Engagement. The center will provide technical assistance to grant recipients; a Web site clearinghouse with answers about resources and support; publications and seminars on effective character education programs; and internal training for Department of Education staff about implementing character education.

"Character education cannot be covered in ten minutes a day," Paige said. "It must be at the heart of the entire education program. Character can't be taught in a course, it is a way of living. As President Bush has said, 'Our children must learn to make a living, but even more, they must learn how to live.'"

Secretary Paige noted President Bush's strong commitment to character education as part of providing a quality education that prepares students for success in life. Since taking office, President Bush has increased funding for character education from $8 million to $25 million. Last year, Mrs. Laura Bush brought together nationally recognized experts for a White House conference on character and community to discuss the need for and effectiveness of character education programs.

Secretary Paige also noted that one of the six strategic goals at the Department of Education is to develop safe schools and strong character. In December 2002, Paige made the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools a separate organizational unit in the Department. Under his leadership, the office has expanded support for the Partnerships in Character Education program. The Partnerships in Character Education program provides information about resources and support for character education programs.

In the last two years alone, the department has awarded 47 character education grants to states and local school districts--more than the 46 grants awarded during the first six years of the program.

The Character Education Partnership is a national, nonpartisan and nonsectarian coalition of educators, organizations, companies and parents dedicated to creating schools and communities that foster ethical and caring young people.

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