THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 29, 1995 TAG: 9509290001
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
The Democrats' ``Virginia Education Plan,'' unveiled last week as party leaders rode a school bus around the state, contains a grammatical error in the second sentence. That sentence speaks of the party's commitment to ``every student (singular), wherever they (plural) live. . . .''
The commitment should have been to ``all students, wherever they live,'' or to ``every student, wherever he or she lives.''
On the bright side, the error underscores the importance of a sound education.
Not that Virginians need reminding. A Richmond Times-Dispatch/WWBT-TV News poll earlier this month asked 508 registered voters across the state, ``Of the following issues, which one do you think deserves the most attention and money from state government in the next two years?'' The responses were: Prisons 11 percent, education 70 percent, transportation 7 percent, environment 5 percent and mental health 7 percent.
Education came in first, and there was no close second.
As the November election fast approaches, with all 120 General Assembly seats at stake and control of both houses hanging in the balance, Democrats have chosen the theme ``Good Schools (EQ) Good Jobs.''
A presidential candidate once repeatedly reminded himself, ``It's the economy, stupid.'' Now Democrats are telling themselves, ``It's the schools, stupid.'' They appear focused.
The Republicans have a seven-point contract with Virginians, one of which is ``Improving the quality of our children's education.'' So far the Democrats have a one-point contract - to improve the schools. And equating good schools with good jobs makes a connection most voters understand.
As was reported in this paper last week, the Democrats' plan calls for:
Spending $200 million for higher education over the next two years to help make up for the $400 million that's been cut from colleges the past four years, as the state weathered a recession without raising taxes.
Spending $40 million to ensure that each of the state's 50,500 classrooms has a computer by the year 2000.
Allocating $32 million to reduce class sizes in grades K-3 to a maximum of 22 children. Research repeatedly shows that students learn better in smaller classes, especially in the early grades.
Providing more than $3 million in grants for schools that devise ways to make schools safer.
Republicans' own polling data indicate the party is vulnerable on the issue of education. Democrats will ride the education horse as far as it will take them.
If they can persuade the public that they are the party of schools and Republicans are the party of prisons, they will retain control of the General Assembly.
But the Republican governor, who has been truer to his campaign promises than most politicians, remains popular. And Republicans, too, will attempt to present themselves as the education party.
Our hope is that the parties will fight over who can do most for education, so Virginia schools prosper, from kindergarten through college.
Good education does equal good jobs. And the reverse is true. Bad education equals bad jobs, or none. by CNB