Education Theme Week

MILWAUKEE: In a three-day Midwestern tour outlining his proposals for revamping education in the U.S., Bob Dole on Thursday proposed a "G.I. Bill" for school children. He would offer as many as 4 million lower- and middle-income Americans cash scholarships of $1,000 to $1,500 to send their children to the public, private or religious schools of their choice. The response drew quick and sharp condemnation from the Clinton Administration, the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers. "Bob Dole wants to tear down public education by pitting teachers against parents and dramatically reducing our investment in public schools," said Clinton campaign press secretary Joe Lockhart. TIME's Tamala Edwards notes that although Dole is addressing an issue of great concern to parents, he fails to put a human face on the problem. "There are a lot of parents out there who are fed up with the level of public school education," says Edwards. "The Dole campaign should have encouraged those groups to back him up on this " Instead Dole, a wooden speaker at best, put the issue forth in his habitual Washington-speak. Says Edwards: "Dole will have to let his campaign staff take control if he is to have a chance against a polished campaigner like Clinton." Anita Hamilton