ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, November 19, 1996 TAG: 9611190119
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: Associated Press
MEMO: Shorter version ran in Metro edition.
Conservative groups are urging Gov. George Allen to continue to turn down grant money for a federal program to increase job skills among high school students.
Virginia is one of five states that have yet to seek the money available under 1994's School to Work Opportunities Act, aimed at making school courses more relevant to the workplace. Schools can use the money to offer technical classes, fund work apprenticeships and arrange tutoring by local companies.
Allen aides said the state did not apply for the money this year by the Aug.30 deadline because local school districts were not ready to meet the federal requirements, not because of any philosophical objections to the program. Most of the 23 districts developing pilot programs were not far enough along to qualify for the funds, administration officials said.
It was unclear how much money Virginia would get, but some officials say it could amount to $40million over five years. The state earlier received $880,000 in planning money under the same law.
Administration officials say they plan to apply for the funds next summer, but activists have begun urging Allen to keep Virginia permanently out of the program.
Conservative groups such as the Eagle Forum, the Family Foundation and the Virginia Taxpayers Association contend the program is an effort to steer young people into government-chosen jobs.
The Eagle Forum has had meetings with parents across the state to discuss the implications of the federal legislation, said Helen Blackwell, the group's state chairwoman in Arlington. She said the Eagle Forum and other conservative groups will keep up the pressure in coming months.
``All these groups are going to do whatever they can to get Allen to do the right thing,'' she said. ``That is, of course, protecting our independence, our freedom.''
Program opponents also have been talking to state lawmakers about their objections, said George Tryfiates, executive director of the Family Foundation in Fairfax.
Two Fairfax County School Board members also have objected to the program. Member Mychele Brickner said it would place too much emphasis on technical skills and promote collective thinking rather than individual achievement.
``You can probably draw comparisons between these types of programs and socialism,'' Brickner said. ``Democracy is based on individuals, and socialism is based more on group activity.''
The Allen administration has rejected such criticism and fully intends to seek the money, said Randolph Beales, an assistant to the state secretary of education and director of the state's business-education partnership program.
``School-to-work is an ideal program for making sure you have a well-educated and highly trained work force,'' Beales said.
Some supporters of the initiative say they fear it will join other federal programs that Allen administration officials have opposed on ideological grounds. Virginia was the only state to reject money under Goals 2000, a federal program to help states reach general academic goals. Allen said accepting the $23million in aid would have given the federal government too much control over local education.
LENGTH: Medium: 64 linesby CNB