EDUCATION AND SHARING DAY, U.S.A., 2015
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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.
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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.
And the Rebbe pressured the President to split the Department of Health/Education and Welfare and create a Cabinet Position, The Department of Education.
Make sure that every candidate for President commits to preserve and expand the Dept. of Education!
The Rebbe’s message lives on!