[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 63 (Thursday, April 2, 2015)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 18075-18076]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07784]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 63 / Thursday, April 2, 2015 /
Presidential Documents
[[Page 18075]]
Proclamation 9244 of March 30, 2015
Education and Sharing Day, U.S.A., 2015
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
In every child--every girl dreaming big dreams and
every boy hungry to make something of himself--there
exists limitless potential. Our young people are the
problem-solvers, thinkers, and visionaries of tomorrow
who will change the world as we know it, and they
deserve the chance to fulfill their enormous promise,
no matter who they are or where they live. A good
education can open the door to opportunity, and it
should be within the reach of all who yearn for the
chance to develop their minds and talents. Today, we
celebrate the transformative power of education and
honor a man who inspired a passion for learning among a
generation of students.
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher
Rebbe, dedicated his life to promoting education as the
cornerstone of humanity. A tireless advocate for youth
around the world, he believed that ``as long as there
is still one child that does not receive an adequate
education, we can neither be satisfied nor slacken our
efforts.'' In an era where a woman's education was not
valued the same as a man's, the Rebbe worked to tear
down barriers that stood in the way of girls who wanted
to learn. He established a Jewish organization for
women and directed his teachings of service and
scholarship equally to young girls and boys. He was
even known to write, ``There must be a girl!'' on
educational materials that depicted only boys.
Because of leaders like the Rebbe, we have made great
strides toward achieving quality education for all--but
his legacy is not only a story of progress, it is also
a call to remember his words and take up this
unfinished task. Today, 62 million girls around the
world who should be in school are not. Children who
deserve an education, who have the power to change the
course of history, face unacceptable obstacles because
of their gender, the circumstances of their birth, or
the customs of their society.
If we want to strengthen families and communities,
bolster economic growth, and promote stability
worldwide, we must work to increase the number of girls
in school and empower all children with the resources
they need to reach for a brighter future. This is not
only a humanitarian issue; it is also critical to our
security and global economic prosperity. That is why
First Lady Michelle Obama and I recently launched a new
initiative called Let Girls Learn. As part of this
effort, my Administration will be supporting hundreds
of community-driven projects around the world that will
build on investments we have made and successes we have
achieved in global primary school education. At the
same time, we are making it clear to any country who
wants to work with us that they must address the
challenges preventing young women from attending and
completing school--such as fees, threats of violence,
and the false belief that girls are not worthy of an
education.
We are committed to making a global and generational
impact, but Let Girls Learn is also about reminding
Americans about the importance of high-quality
education for all. As we help lift up children
worldwide, my Administration will continue to fight for
every young person here at home. We will not let up on
our efforts to deliver the best possible education
[[Page 18076]]
to all people in the United States, including our work
to expand access to high-quality preschool to every
child and provide our Nation's classrooms with the best
technology. And we are expanding our strategy to make
higher education more affordable by promoting a Student
Aid Bill of Rights and calling for 2 years of free
community college for anyone who is willing to work for
it.
Across the globe, girls have pushed forward to pursue
an education in the face of poverty and threats to
their safety. They are bold, ambitious, and undeterred
by immense challenges. Today, we are called to meet
their resolve with a commitment worthy of their
character. On Education and Sharing Day, U.S.A., we
recognize educators, pioneers of change, and all those
who have unlocked the spark of something extraordinary
within a child, and we rededicate ourselves to building
a world where the destiny of every young person is
limited only by the size of their dreams and the power
of their imagination.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim March 31, 2015, as
Education and Sharing Day, U.S.A. I call upon all
Americans to observe this day with appropriate
ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
thirtieth day of March, in the year of our Lord two
thousand fifteen, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-ninth.
(Presidential Sig.)
[FR Doc. 2015-07784
Filed 4-1-15; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F5