Presidential Documents

54755

Federal Register

Vol. 62, No. 203

Tuesday, October 21, 1997

Title 3—

The President

Proclamation 7043 of October 17, 1997

National Character Counts Week, 1997

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

The roots of America’s greatness are embedded in the character of its citizens.

From our Founders’ passion for justice and equality to the social consciousness and humanitarian spirit of today’s citizens, the character of our people

has inspired the world. Undeniably, character does count for our citizens,

our communities, and our Nation, and this week we celebrate the importance

of character in our individual lives and in the life of our country.

Instilling sound character in our children is essential to maintaining the

strength of our Nation into the 21st century. The core ethical values of

trustworthiness, fairness, responsibility, caring, respect, and citizenship form

the foundation of our democracy, our economy, and our society. These

qualities are not innate but learned, and we must ensure that we nurture

them—both through our words and our example—in our Nation’s young

people.

More than any other institution, the family is the cradle of character, giving

children their first crucial lessons in attitude and behavior. In today’s complex society, where children are subject to pressures and negative influences

rarely experienced by earlier generations, parents face great challenges as

they strive to impart to their children the values that will help them become

caring and responsible members of society.

My Administration has worked hard to give parents new tools to help

them fulfill their important responsibilities. We worked to require V-chips

on all new televisions to give parents greater control over what their children

watch; we collaborated with the television industry to encourage the airing

of more educational programming for children; and we negotiated a breakthrough agreement with the entertainment and broadcast industries to create

a voluntary ratings system that will help parents identify programs containing

material inappropriate for children. Our proposed funding for the AntiGang and Youth Violence Strategy will provide for after-school initiatives

in communities across the country to help keep young people occupied

in wholesome activities, off the streets, and out of trouble while their parents

are at work.

Schools also have an important role in educating our young people about

the difference between right and wrong. My Administration has recognized

this by creating partnerships with the States to help our schools do a

better job of teaching character to America’s students. Our push for rigorous

standards and our promise to open the doors of college to all students

who work hard let students know that good character really does count

and will be rewarded with expanded opportunity. We also should encourage

and commend the schools across our country that have begun to incorporate

volunteer service as a curriculum requirement, teaching students the important life lessons of sharing, compassion, and civic responsibility.
54756 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 203 / Tuesday, October 21, 1997 / Presidential Documents

Developing strong values in America’s children requires the participation

of all our people. As we observe this special week, I ask that all Americans

demonstrate in their personal and public lives, and teach actively to our

country’s children, the high ethical standards that are essential to good

character and to the continued success of our Nation.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the United States

of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution

and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 19 through

October 25, 1997, as National Character Counts Week. I call upon the people

of the United States, government officials, educators, religious, community,

and business leaders, and the States to commemorate this week with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth

day of October, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninetyseven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two

[FR Doc. 97–28090

Filed 10–20–97; 10:38 am]

Billing code 3195–01–P

hundred and twenty-second.

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