Bush touts education platform

GOP presidential contender talks with Georgia school's teachers, parents

Web posted May 10, 2000

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By Dave Williams<
Morris News Service

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. -- When presumptive Republican presidential nominee George W. Bush wanted to find out how parents like the English as a Second Language program at High Point Elementary School in this Atlanta suburb, he went straight to the source.

Before leading a roundtable discussion with High Point teachers at the school's media center Tuesday, the Texas governor dropped by the after-school program and spoke with Hispanic parents, addressing them in their native language. He said they were enthusiastic about the program.

``All these parents want their children to learn English,'' he said. ``It's a huge opportunity.''

At the end of a day that saw him win the long-sought endorsement of Arizona's U.S. Sen. John McCain, his vanquished chief rival for the GOP nomination, Mr. Bush came to the school in north Fulton County to highlight his education agenda.

He said he chose High Point, located in an older suburb that has experienced an influx of Hispanic immigrants in recent years, because progress the school is making with children of those immigrants fits with his beliefs about education.

``Every child can learn,'' he said. ``If a child's here, we need to give them an education.''

During the roundtable, Mr. Bush peppered teachers with questions from whether they have too much federal paperwork to fill out to whether they receive adequate training.

Teacher Bobby Allen explained High Point's early intervention program, used to identify students who need extra help in the form of individual and small-group instruction.

Teacher Jody Davis described the school's efforts to get parents more involved with their children's education, including a literacy training program for parents.

``If the parent cannot read, ... their child will suffer,'' added High Point kindergarten teacher Vera Woods.

Principal Linda Sumpter said she believes firmly in school-based management, a philosophy Mr. Bush tied to local control -- an education theme long held dear by Republicans at every level of government.

Mr. Bush indirectly praised Democratic Gov. Roy Barnes' education reforms, adopted by the General Assembly this year over opposition of some Republicans.

When Mr. Bush brought up education reform in Georgia, he noted that High Point should have no problem complying with the plan's accountability requirements.

``Isn't that something you're already doing here?'' he asked. ``That shouldn't trouble anybody.''

Reach Dave Williams at (404) 589-8424.