President Pushes Education Spending

President Clinton, turning to one of his top domestic concerns Saturday, urged Congress to adopt his education agenda and approve new federal spending to hire teachers and rebuild schools.

Clinton called on the Republican-controlled Congress to pass his broad education program and provide states with the tools necessary to give all children a world-class education.

“Now, some in Congress believe the national government has no business helping communities to improve their schools . . . but I think strengthening education is a national priority,” he said in his weekly radio address.

Although acknowledging some need for a federal role, Republican governors said they want the government to be no more than a limited partner in the drive to mend the nation’s schools.

As governors of both parties gathered in Washington for their annual winter meeting, Clinton said state efforts to improve education must be underpinned by common-sense federal programs.

“All across our nation, we’re seeing a grass-roots revolution in education--a revolution in accountability and rising expectations,” Clinton said.

“This year, we have a rare opportunity to use our new prosperity to help this revolution spread to every single school district, every classroom, every child,” he said.

“The trick is helping more communities to put these proven solutions to work in their own public schools,” the president said. “I believe the national government has an obligation to help them do that.”

At a news conference, Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt, a Republican, said the goal of improving education will be easier to achieve once federal politicians and bureaucrats impose fewer rules and regulations.

“We would like them as limited partners, not as managing partners,” Leavitt said.

Clinton’s proposals include building or modernizing 6,000 classrooms, hiring 100,000 teachers, reducing class size in the early grades, starting more after-school programs, connecting all classrooms and libraries to the Internet, stopping social promotion and insisting on effective discipline.

Democrats and Republicans in Congress have seized on education as a top political issue while differing in their approach.