Pallid Plan for Schools

HOW DOES ONE GET TO BE "THE EDUCATION PRESIdent"? Borrow your program from George Bush. Bill Clinton, of course, would not put it that way. But his first plan for educational reform is largely a request that Congress write into law six goals that Bush and the nation's Governors agreed to in 1990. The most important provisions: the government would set up a board to establish standards for schools, teachers and students to meet in both academic and vocational education and put up $393 million to encourage states to find ways to meet those standards.

And that's about it. The plan avoids all the toughest issues. National testing of students or teachers? "We're not proposing ((that)) in any way," said Education Secretary Richard Riley. Equalization of funding between rich and poor districts within states? No mention. School choice, either by vouchers cashable at public or private schools as Republicans propose, or among public schools only, a la Clinton's campaign? Not a word.