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CNN Live Event/Special

Laura Bush Discusses Early Cognitive Development

Aired July 26, 2001 - 13:12   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LOU WATERS, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to get you over to Georgetown University. The first lady of the United States, Laura Bush, is conducting a White House summit on early cognitive educational development with other government leaders, and directed at government and community leaders -- science-based information on how the young should be treated in our schools across this country.

Let's hear what the first lady has to say.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: ... no language to children who can express themselves.

One young man named Victor expressed himself very well in a recent letter. He wrote: "I love to read books. I learned to love books because my mother makes me read 20 minutes a day and write a book report. Books are an important part of my life. They teach me many lessons, and they are also enjoyable. I read once that you were a librarian, and therefore, you know how important books are in a child's life."

Books are vital in a child's life, and so, of course, is parental involvement. From an early age, children need parents and grandparents, siblings and caregivers to spend time reading with them. Without this early preparation, children face a much steeper learning curve in school.

We hear a lot about children who struggle with reading and learning. According to the U.S. Department of Education, more than 60 percent of fourth graders in our highest-poverty schools still cannot read on a basic level.

President Bush and I sometimes get letters from children from high-poverty schools, too. A fifth grader wrote and said, "When I was a little boy, President Bush was still governor of Texas. I heard that during that time, you'd been a librarian and very interested in children reading. Remember, it's hard to get children to want to read, because so many people live in great poverty."

This boy's eloquent letter demonstrates an important point. Economic status should not determine success or failure. Children can and do learn well despite difficult circumstances, and every child can learn to read. The president believes this, and I believe this. WATERS: Preparing young children for school, the subject of a White House summit on that early preparedness. It's being conducted at Georgetown University. Also in attendance, the secretary of education, the secretary of health and human services. The target: 350 government education and community leaders who would be expected to go with this information into their communities and make it work as the president continues to push his education policy in Washington -- first lady.

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