Commentary : Bringing California’s Schools Into the 21st Century : The Times invited gubernatorial candidates Pete Wilson, Republican incumbent, and Kathleen Brown, Democrat, to discuss issues in the 1994 election. Today the focus is on education.

There was a time not long ago when California’s schools were the envy of the nation, when businesses located here because we were the proving ground of the future, when families trusted the public schools with their dreams for their children.

Today, all that has changed. Every day, an estimated 10,000 California students bring weapons to school. Our classrooms are the most crowded in the nation. There are fewer computers per student in California than in any other state. Three-quarters of California’s business leaders say job applicants aren’t well-educated.

To compete in the 21st Century, California’s 5.2 million school children need real intellectual and problem-solving tools. But because of Gov. Pete Wilson’s failed leadership, too many of our children are not getting those tools. Four years ago, Wilson promised to be the “education governor.” But just when California’s kids needed Wilson most, the “education governor” broke his word.

After raising taxes $7 billion and giving tax breaks to the wealthy, Wilson tried to delay 110,000 children from starting kindergarten on time to balance his budget. Instead of taking immediate action for California’s children, Wilson waited 1,029 days into his term to hire a Colorado-based consultant to study--not to solve--California’s education problems. Instead of fighting for education dollars, Wilson tried to slash school funding by $2.3 billion. While Wilson claims that he increased K-12 spending, he doesn’t add that he fought education increases every step of the way.

California’s education decline could and should have been stopped--if we had a governor with vision. As a mother and grandmother, education has always been important to me. As a member of the L.A. Board of Education, I fought for quality education, safer schools, increased parental involvement and cutting the bureaucratic fat. I led the campaign to eliminate taxpayer-financed, chauffeur-driven cars for school board members. I wrote a motion to cap administrative spending by the school district. And I worked to increase parental responsibility, writing and passing a measure encouraging parents and teachers to cooperate in promoting homework.

I have a plan to restore the promise of quality education for California’s middle-class families. The following six steps are my road map to that goal:

* Develop a K-12 master plan. While California has 7,666 schools and spends more than $24 billion a year on education, we have no blueprint for the future. As governor, I will develop a comprehensive plan that sets meaningful goals and rigorous standards.

* Invest in education for a prosperous future. California’s middle-class families supported Proposition 98 guaranteeing a base level of funding for education. Under Wilson, that floor level has become the ceiling. Schools and families have shouldered too much of the pain from Wilson’s budgetary mismanagement. I will fight to protect K-12 funding. My economic strategy will bring job growth and recovery, creating additional tax revenues for our schools.

* Prepare students for work. More than half of California’s new job applicants lack adequate reading and math skills. I propose establishing a “JobReady” program in every high school to allow students to choose work-preparation classes, a traditional college-prep curriculum or a combination.

* Create “learning zones” of safe, drug-free schools. Students can’t learn when they fear for their lives. Gang violence like the recent tragic shooting of 16-year-old Rolando Ruiz at Hollywood High School must be stopped. I propose sending students caught with guns to special boot-camp schools and increasing campus security equipment. We need to fully fund anti-drug education programs like DARE and SANE and provide after-school programs as alternatives to gangs, guns and graffiti. And it shouldn’t have taken four years to pass tougher laws against carrying guns within 1,000 feet of a school.

* Cut administrative spending. Something is wrong when so many teachers pay for students’ supplies out of their own pockets. I propose cutting the bureaucracy by 13% and redirecting $411 million into the classroom.

* Empower communities by restoring local control. California’s schools must be put back in the hands of teachers, administrators, parents and communities. I support public-school choice, charter schools for excellence and creating voluntary education contracts to increase parental involvement.

We are headed into a new era being shaped by technology and global competition. Unless we radically change the way we educate our kids, they cannot hope to compete. California cannot afford to trade education for short-term budget tricks and political expediency. California cannot afford to break the promise of a bright future for our kids.