ASHCROFT EXPLAINS VIRTUAL OFFICE; STUDENTS GIVEN INSIGHT TO WEB

With a click of a computer mouse, U.S. Sen. John Ashcroft ushered seventh-grade students at Louis J. Schultz School into his virtual office Wednesday.

The virtual office comes equipped with everything from a desk to a wall photo of the senator.

Ashcroft announced plans to chat on-line once a month with Missouri school children beginning next year as part of his Leading by Learning program.

Also, a special site on Ashcroft's home page will show case Internet teaching programs that have been developed in Missouri schools.

He called up digital photographs of his visit Tuesday to a Kansas City middle school. A member of the senator's staff took similar photos at Schultz School.

Those photos can be viewed on Ashcroft's home page at www.senate.gov/TILDEashcroft/.

Ashcroft initially ran into difficulty trying to call up the Kansas City photos.

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again," Ashcroft told the students as some of his aides worked to bring up the images.

"The future of teaching and learning is at our fingertips, literally," he said. It involves creative students and teachers who use computer technology to understand the world around them, Ashcroft said.

The Cape Girardeau school was one of five schools Ashcroft visited during his two-day trip through the state that ended Wednesday.

Ashcroft told about 20 students in a computer lab that the Internet offers them better access to government. The Internet, he said, helps students get more information from Congress as well as communicate with government officials.

Ashcroft said he is reaching out to Missouri's school children via his Gateway to Government program.

The Missouri Republican showed students how they call up Ashcroft's home page and scroll through a list of bills he has sponsored. Visitors to the home page also can access other home pages, including the White House page and the Library of Congress.

Ashcroft showed students a diagram of the White House and how to send him e-mail.

He said 85 percent of America's college students have e-mail addresses.

One boy asked Ashcroft for advice on getting into politics. "Be well informed," he said.

Ashcroft was teaching at Southwest Missouri State University two decades ago when he became involved in politics.

He ran for Congress and lost. But the experience launched a career in politics that included two terms as Missouri's governor.

"Losing is not something to be afraid of," he advised the students.

Ashcroft told students he has no plans to run for president. "Don't count on it," he said.