
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, July 31, 1995                   TAG: 9507310021
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JAMES W. DYKE JR.
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

ALLEN'S POLITICS ARE HURTING EDUCATION

SINCE stepping down as Virginia's secretary of education in July 1993, I have avoided direct public criticism of my successor or education policies of the current administration. That approach acknowledges the 1993 elections are over and that our children's education shouldn't become a political football to be thrown around for partisan purposes. I have tried to show support for those portions of the administration's programs that are consistent with principles articulated during my tenure as secretary.

Among those are the call for higher academic standards, accountability, safe schools, new approaches to delivering instruction including charter schools, outsourcing of non-instructional education services to the private sector, and continued efforts to streamline government and return more control to localities.

However, I cannot remain silent any longer while the Allen administration pursues policies that undercut public education. This was most recently demonstrated by the governor's politically driven decision not to participate in the Goals 2000 program.

The administration seems to think that the $1.7 million lost in the first year by the governor's decision is no big deal. I wonder whether they considered how many new teachers or computers that money could pay for in Southside or Southwest Virginia where education funds for such uses are scarce or non-existent? How many potential dropouts could be saved by using that money to help fund prevention programs this administration wants to eliminate? Throwing away money targeted to education for purely political purposes is bad policy and fiscally irresponsible.

No one claims that the federal government has all or any answers for improving education. Education is rightfully a state and local responsibility, and Virginia must always maintain control over its education system. But some of those federal dollars targeted to promote reform come from Virginia taxpayers. The dollars would have come without any federal strings - as verified by many, including Education Secretary Richard Riley in his response to the governor's decision, Virginia Board of Education President Jim Jones, and noted Virginia educators who pursued that issue with the federal Department of Education.

And even if the feds try to attach strings, Virginia can always pull out of the program, a factor that helped persuade the Virginia Chamber of Commerce to endorse Virginia's participation in the Goals 2000 program.

The Allen administration has now taken several steps to demonstrate its outright contempt for public education, such as its policy of building prisons instead of schools and its obsession with looking for ways to confront the federal government at every opportunity, not just in education but in enviromental and other areas as well. Neither posture is consistent with the way Virginians normally do business. Several Republicans across Virginia, who have supported the governor in the past, have expressed their disappointment with his unprecedented practice of putting his personal political agenda ahead of what's best for Virginia.

That kind of approach must stop. The governor must serve all Virginians, not just those who believe in his political philosophy. Virginia deserves better from her elected leaders.

James W. Dyke Jr., Virginia secretary of education in the Wilder administration, is a partner in the Tysons Corner law office of McGuire, Woods, Battle and Boothe.

by CNB