A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n

   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE           Contact: Rick Miller    December 20, 1996                     (202) 401-3026

Statement by U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley

Regarding Reappointment to the Cabinet

This is an important time for American education. The American people are tuned into education and have made it one of their highest priorities. We have more children than ever before in our nation's schools, and we will be breaking enrollment records for the next 10 years. And our schools must continue to pick up the pace to meet the challenges of the Information Age.

Yet, as always, public education must play its traditional and vital role of passing on to each new generation the uniqueness of what it means to be a "good citizen." The common school, full of Americans of every race, creed and ethnic background, remains the great bastion of our democracy. Schools and parents working together are central to our efforts to have our children grow up free of violence and drugs.

During the last four years much has been accomplished. President Clinton has broken new ground on many fronts -- the creation of a new direct lending program, strong support for charter schools, significant new investments in technology, historic religious guidelines for our public schools, a new emphasis on partnership rather than regulation, and strong leadership to establish national standards of excellence.

During the election the voters listened very carefully as the President laid out a very bold mainstream education agenda for the second term. It is a forward-looking agenda, from improving literacy, to connecting up to the Internet, to greater access to college for many more Americans. I am excited to help the President and the Vice-President in this effort.

Equally important, in re-electing the President the voters rejected the "blame the public education crowd." The American people sent a very clear message that they want those of us in Washington to focus in on positive and concrete solutions. In that spirit, I sincerely hope that the Congress will move beyond the issue of whether or not the Department of Education should exist or not exist. To my way of thinking the American people made it very clear that they want someone at the cabinet table speaking up for education.

Improving education should be at the center of a bipartisan agenda that prepares our great country for the coming times. I urge Americans of all political persuasions to see the improvement of education as our great patriotic cause as we move forward to the 21st century.

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