The Pet Goat
| Company type | Educational material |
|---|---|
| Industry | Education |
| Founder | Siegfried "Zig" Engelmann and Elaine C. Bruner |
| Products | Elementary-level reading passage |
The Pet Goat (commonly misnamed as My Pet Goat) is an elementary-level reading passage developed by American educators Siegfried "Zig" Engelmann and Elaine C. Bruner. It became widely recognized after US President George W. Bush read it to a second-grade class on the morning of September 11, 2001. During the reading, Bush was quietly informed about the September 11 attacks. He chose to remain composed and let the exercise conclude before responding to the unfolding events. This moment has been frequently analyzed in discussions regarding Bush’s reaction to the crisis.
Reading exercise
Engelmann, who has created more than a thousand instructional materials since the 1970s, authored "The Pet Goat." This story is included in the student workbook Reading Mastery: Rainbow Edition, Level 2, Storybook 1. It employs the Direct Instruction approach to teach vocabulary featuring words ending with E. The narrative centers on a girl whose pet goat is disliked by her parents because it consumes everything. However, they change their minds after the goat prevents a robbery by butting the intruder, leaving him "sore"—a word ending with e.
George W. Bush during the September 11 attacks
President George W. Bush visited Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida on September 11, 2001, as part of his campaign for education reform. Shortly after his arrival, he was informed of the initial plane crash into the World Trade Center, initially reported as a small propeller plane accident. While sitting in Kay Daniels' classroom during the reading of "The Pet Goat," White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card discreetly notified him that a second plane had struck the other tower and that the nation was under attack.
Bush chose to remain seated and composed while the children continued reading, attempting not to disturb or alarm them. Students later described his expression as turning red and serious, reflecting feelings of being "flabbergasted, shocked, [and] horrified." According to Bill Sammon’s Fighting Back, Bush’s eyes moved around the room as he absorbed limited information. Following guidance from Press Secretary Ari Fleischer ("DON'T SAY ANYTHING YET"), Bush stayed after the reading ended to avoid showing panic. He briefly interacted with students and their teacher before deflecting a reporter’s question concerning the Trade Center and beginning to comprehend the magnitude of the attacks.
Interest in "The Pet Goat" surged following Michael Moore’s 2004 film Fahrenheit 9/11, which mistakenly referred to it as "My Pet Goat." Soon after, blogger Peter Smith identified its correct title and credited Engelmann as its creator.
Reactions
The New Yorker featured a seven-minute clip from Fahrenheit 9/11, depicting President Bush holding Reading Mastery while seemingly "staring blankly into space," framing this as a significant moment that suggested hesitation during the crisis. Supporters countered that Bush’s composed demeanor was deliberate, aimed at preventing alarm among students while awaiting further details. The president himself stated his instinct was to display calmness and strength until he fully understood what was happening. Principal Tose-Rigell of Booker Elementary and students from Daniels’ class later affirmed that Bush’s conduct was fitting under the circumstances.
One year post-attacks, Kay Daniels’ classroom preserved the chair where Bush had sat, adorned with a purple ribbon. By 2004, Engelmann expressed surprise over the widespread attention focused on "The Pet Goat," noting that while it did not bring him personal fame, it intrigued many others.