School Climate & Safety

Bush Visits N.Y.C. Elementary School

By Catherine Gewertz — October 10, 2001 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Resources for Educators Bush Visits N.Y.C. Elementary School Religion Rules Afghan, Pakistani School Day Student Poll Asks How Schools Talked About Terrorist Assaults Patriotism and Prayer: Constitutional Questions Are Muted Schools Hit the Hardest By Losses on Sept. 11 Monitor Emotional Toll Teachers Delay Delaing With Own Grief, Anxiety Terror Touches Schools

President Bush told a class of 1st graders in New York City last week that even though the United States is saddened by the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, America is still a great country where they can realize their dreams.

In a five-hour visit to the city on Oct. 3, the president sought to shore up confidence in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks. Accompanied by Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Gov. George E. Pataki of New York, Mr. Bush met with business executives, consoled firefighters who had lost colleagues, and visited a class of 26 children at Public School 130 in Chinatown. The school was closed for nearly a week after the trade center attack because of smoke damage.

Mr. Bush praised the heroism of the school’s teachers, who shepherded their pupils to safety in the minutes after two jets slammed into the trade center’s twin towers. He told the children that their teachers loved them, and he urged them to share their worries about the attacks with their teachers.

“They want to comfort you,” Mr. Bush said, “and they want to make sure that you understand what went on.”

Encouraging Words

He encouraged the children to work hard to reach their goals.

“You live in a great country,” he said. “One of the things that we’re learning out of our sadness is what a great country this is. ... Study hard, because this country says, you work hard, you can realize your dreams.”

The president, who led the class in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, added his thoughts to a large, white wall poster titled, “Why I Love America.” He wrote: “I love America because I love freedom.”

In the hallway outside the classroom, Mr. Bush stopped to look at pictures the children had drawn about the Sept. 11 events. Under the words, “The day we were very sad,” children had drawn pictures of the World Trade Center towers in flames and of a winged firefighter drifting toward heaven.

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Assessment Webinar
Reflections on Evidence-Based Grading Practices: What We Learned for Next Year
Get real insights on evidence-based grading from K-12 leaders.
Content provided by Otus
Artificial Intelligence K-12 Essentials Forum How AI Use Is Expanding in K-12 Schools
Join this free virtual event to explore how AI technology is—and is not—improving K-12 teaching and learning.
Student Achievement K-12 Essentials Forum How to Build and Scale Effective K-12 State & District Tutoring Programs
Join this free virtual summit to learn from education leaders, policymakers, and industry experts on the topic of high-impact tutoring.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

School Climate & Safety Spotlight Spotlight on Enhancing School Safety and Emergency Response
This Spotlight will help you explore proactive measures and effective strategies for enhancing school safety and emergency response.
School Climate & Safety States Emphasize School Violence Prevention, Not Just Security
In the wake of school shootings in their states last year, legislators hope to avert future tragedies.
7 min read
Local residents pray during a candlelight vigil following a shooting at Perry High School, on Jan. 4, 2024, in Perry, Iowa.
Local residents pray during a candlelight vigil following a shooting at Perry High School, on Jan. 4, 2024, in Perry, Iowa. The deaths in school shootings last year have led to new legislation in a half-dozen states.
Charlie Neibergall/AP
School Climate & Safety Leader To Learn From One Leader’s Plan to Cut Chronic Absenteeism—One Student at a Time
Naomi Tolentino helps educators in Kansas City, Kan., support strong school attendance.
9 min read
Naomi Tolentino Miranda leads a meeting on student attendance at J.C. Harmon High School on Jan. 16, 2025 in Kansas City, Kansas. Tolentino Miranda showed school administrators recent data reflecting positive progress in combating chronic absenteeism.
Naomi Tolentino leads a meeting on student attendance at J.C. Harmon High School on Jan. 16, 2025 in Kansas City, Kansas. Tolentino showed school administrators recent data reflecting positive progress in combating chronic absenteeism.
Erin Woodiel for Education Week
School Climate & Safety Q&A What a 'Positive, Proactive Approach' to Chronic Absenteeism Looks Like
A Kansas City, Kan., leader explains how her district shifted its approach to chronic absenteeism.
6 min read
Naomi Tolentino Miranda walks into J.C. Harmon High School on Jan. 16, 2025 in Kansas City, Kansas. Tolentino Miranda is the Coordinator for Student Support Programs and often visits school administrative teams to check on their progress combating chronic absenteeism among their students.
Naomi Tolentino walks into J.C. Harmon High School on Jan. 16, 2025, in Kansas City, Kan. Tolentino is the coordinator for student support programs and often visits school administrative teams to check on their progress in lowering chronic absenteeism among their students.
Erin Woodiel for Education Week