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The illiteracy level of our children are appalling.
I've got a reason for running. I talk about a larger goal, which is to call upon the best of America. It's part of the renewal. It's reform and renewal. Part of the renewal is a set of high standards and to remind people that the greatness of America really does depend on neighbors helping neighbors and children finding mentors. I worry.
I'm very worried about, you know, the kid who just wonders whether America is meant for him. I really worry about that. And uh, so, I'm running for a reason. I'm answering this question here and the answer is, you cannot lead America to a positive tomorrow with revenge on one's mind. Revenge is so incredibly negative. And so to answer your question, I'm going to win because people sense my heart, know my sense of optimism and know where I want to lead the country. And I tease people by saying, 'A leader, you can't say, follow me the world is going to be worse.' I'm an optimistic person. I'm an inherently content person. I've got a great sense of where I want to lead and I'm comfortable with why I'm running. And, you know, the call on that speech was, beware. This is going to be a tough campaign.
Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning? The illiteracy level of our children are appalling.
I want to thank the astronauts who are with us, the courageous spacial entrepreneurs who set such a wonderful example for the young of our country. Columbia carried in its payroll classroom experiments from some of our students in America.
And if you're interested in the quality of education and you're paying attention to what you hear at Laclede, why don't you volunteer? Why don't you mentor a child how to read? So thank you for reminding me about the importance of being a good mom and a great volunteer as well.
I know there's a lot of young ladies who are growing up wondering whether or not they can be champs. And they see the championship teams from USC and University of Portland here, girls who worked hard to get to where they are, and they're wondering about the example they're setting. What is life choices about? It's important for young men and women who look at the Nebraska champs to understand that quality of life is more than just blocking shots. So on behalf of a well-oiled unit of people who came together to serve something greater than themselves, congratulations.
In other words, I don't think people ought to be compelled to make the decision which they think is best for their family. I love the idea of a school in which people come to get educated and stay in the state in which they're educated.
The public education system in America is one of the most important foundations of our democracy. After all, it is where children from all over America learn to be responsible citizens, and learn to have the skills necessary to take advantage of our fantastic opportunistic society.
You'll hear people say it's racist to test. Folks, it's racist not to test. Because guess who gets shuffled through the system oftentimes? Children whose parents don't speak English as a first language, inner-city kids. It's so much easier to quit on somebody than to remediate.
If a person doesn't have the capacity that we all want that person to have, I suspect hope is in the far distant future, if at all. We must have the attitude that every child in America—regardless of where they're raised or how they're born—can learn. It is time to set aside the old partisan bickering and finger-pointing and name-calling that comes from freeing parents to make different choices for their children.
I do think we need for a troop to be able to house his family. That's an important part of building morale in the military. Of all states that understands local control of schools, Iowa is such a state. Home is important. It's important to have a home.
You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test. One reason I like to highlight reading is, reading is the beginnings of the ability to be a good student. And if you can't read, it's going to be hard to realize dreams; it's going to be hard to go to college. So when your teachers say, read—you ought to listen to her
It's important for us to explain to our nation that life is important. It's not only life of babies, but it's life of children living in, you know, the dark dungeons of the Internet.
Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream. I think we ought to raise the age at which juveniles can have a gun. As governor of Texas, I have set high standards for our public schools, and I have met those standards. Laura and I really don't realize how bright our children is sometimes until we get an objective analysis. Reading is the basics for all learning.
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