April 24, 20 2:00 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Thank you for the warm wele. I appreciate you making a Texan feel right at home here in Harlem. (Laughter.) I have had a remarkable experience here at Harlem Village Academy Charter School. You know, it's interesting, one of the children said, why here, why did you e here, Mr. President? Of all the schools in the country, why this school? And my answer is because the President has an opportunity to herald excellence, and I have seized that opportunity. I have e to a school where some may say these children can't possibly exceed high standards -- but, in fact, they are. Secondly, I wanted to be nice to the chairman of the House Ways and Means mittee. (Applause.) I think any time I can thank a teacher, I need to do so. So for the teachers here, thank you for teaching, for the principals -- (applause.) Interestingly enough, this week is called National Charter School Week -- I mean, next week is called National Charter School Week, so a good way to herald National Charter School Week is e to a charter school, particularly one that's working. I'm a big believer in charter schools. I think charter schools make a lot of sense, whether it be here in Harlem or anywhere else in the United States. And so a way to express support for a charter school is to e to one that's working and say to people, if you find excellence, you might want to take a look at why; what is it about this school that enables a parent to say I really enjoy sending my child here. Or what is it about this school where a child looks at the President and says, I don't mind being tested, because I know that they're going to help correct problems early, before it's too late. This school is working, and I appreciate you letting me e to talk about not only this school, but also about an important piece of legislation called the No Child Left Behind Act. Before I do so, I thank Deborah for being what I call an educational entrepreneur. That means that -- (applause.) So I said to Deborah -- you know, I've never met Deborah before, and I said, how did you get involved in this school? She had a personal tragedy, and rather than allowing the personal tragedy to her down, she said, I want to make a contribution. And I can't think of a better contribution than to help start a charter school -- as a matter of fact, not only one, but two. I also thought it was interesting, she said, if you're going to be somebody who helps start charter schools and works to make charter schools excellent, that you better be on the front lines of education. So she became the principal of this school. If you're interested in helping your munity -- whether you be an individual, such as a Deborah, or a corporation, for example -- promote school excellence, do something for the munity in which you live. A lot of times if you wait for government, things won't happen. She's proven my case. She says, I want to be involved and I want to start some schools. Corporate America needs to take the same interest in local schools if they expect there to be a -- (applause) -- if we expect our country to realize its promise. Mateo Myers introduces Dr. Kenny and introduces me. Mateo Myers. So I said to a lot of the kids here at this school, how many of you want to go to college? They all rose -- raised their hand. That's a good sign. In other words, this school believes in high expectations and putting in a child's mind the possibilities of achieving a dream. I appreciate very much Joel Klein. You talk about a guy who has taken on a tough job, and in my judgment, my humble judgment, is doing it with excellence, is Joel Klein. (Applause.) As a result of that endorsement, he may never find work again in New York, but nevertheless -- (laughter.)