On the eve of Presidents Day weekend, U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today encouraged teachers to use the national holiday—with the help of a department Web site—to spark discussion of our presidents and their role in history. History, government and civics are core academic subjects under the No Child Left Behind Act.

Paige said the Web site, the Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE, www.ed.gov/free/pd.html) offers valuable information for teachers to make American history come alive for students. This is part of an ongoing department initiative designed to assist teachers and other educators who are in the forefront of the national effort to improve students' academic achievement. President Bush and Paige have called teachers "the backbone of our nation's schools."

Following is the text of Secretary Paige's statement on Presidents Day 2004.

"Each year we, as Americans, honor our presidents with a day of remembrance, appreciation and respect. We do so because these presidents embody generations of struggle to create our country and preserve our freedom. Their story is our story, the story of America.

"This year Presidents Day is Feb. 16. This holiday offers an excellent teaching opportunity. I would urge teachers all across America to emphasize American history and the many contributions of our presidents. For example, without the vision and leadership of George Washington, our country might have remained a British colony. Without the courage and conciliation of Abraham Lincoln, our country might be hopelessly split by Confederate boundaries. These stories and others are part of our common political, cultural and national story. Knowledge of our presidents and their significant accomplishments is part of our common American heritage. Knowledge of their lives and work is a way to track the steady progress of our country's history and accomplishments.

"In an effort to assist teachers, the Department of Education and other federal agencies have created an extensive Web site, www.ed.gov/free/, with many helpful resources. Available through www.ed.gov as part of Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE), the site makes it easy for teachers, parents, students and all of us interested in education to find learning resources from more than 40 federal organizations.

"The Web site includes:

• A look at the job of a president and the ways that presidents have communicated with the public;
• Artifacts associated with the presidents, such as the battle sword of George Washington, the lap desk on which Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, and the top hat worn by Abraham Lincoln the night he was assassinated;
• Writings and records associated with George Washington, including his letters, diaries, financial accounts, military records and other writings;
• Important documents concerning the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, including his draft of the Emancipation Proclamation, his second inaugural address and more than 70,000 images and transcriptions of letters, speeches and other writings;
• More than 150 portraits depicting every American president and most first ladies; and
• A link to the History Channel's youth-oriented documentary, "Presidents Day: A Day for Us All." This documentary was created through a partnership between the U.S. Department of Education and the History Channel, which will produce a series of programs to educate Americans about the meaning behind several national holidays, including Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Labor Day and Veterans Day. The 30-minute documentary will be aired nationally on Presidents Day, Monday, Feb. 16, on the History Channel at 8 a.m. (ET/PT).

"This information helps American history come alive for students. It makes history a part of life and not just a set of names and dates. I strongly urge teachers to review this Web site and to use it as we celebrate this day, and for any other learning opportunities. Our history is a gift of thought and action, a story about our search for freedom, justice and democracy. This Web site provides information about some of the leaders who have created, defended and expanded our democratic tradition. That is why we have a national holiday for presidents. We take a day to make their lives part of our own."

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