IMPROVING EDUCATION TOPPED AGENDA

ST. LOUIS -- The 42 governors at the National Governors' Association meeting devoted more time and study to the needs of public education than any other subject.

The comprehensive look at kindergarten through 12th-grade education, triggered by numerous studies conducted by the NGA's Center for Best Practices, focused on a sizable number of issues ranging from reforming state procurement to obtaining the best information technology to lectures by visiting students from as far away as Las Vegas, Nev., to the quality of teacher training in state colleges of education.

Mirroring public concern over lagging educational standards, Delaware Gov. Thomas R. Carper observed during one meeting, "If children are our hope for the future, then we are their hope for today."

The governors paid particular attention to 9-year-old Justin Pizzo of Las Vegas, who urged them to "get with the program" and not remain "dummies" about the technological revolution in education. The youth demonstrated some of the advantages of new technology as he flashed previously recorded information on the Amazon region on large screens in the room. By the time he had finished one of the longest presentations at the conference, governors gave him an enthusiastic round of applause.

Some governors were more than "politically incorrect" as they discussed, among other subjects, the need for improved teacher training in state-supported colleges and universities. South Carolina Gov. Jim Hodges was one who voiced concern over what he called "inadequately trained" graduates of education schools, citing studies that indicated as many of 60 percent of these graduates were poorly equipped to handle their teaching assignments.

His concern was echoed by other governors, including Tennessee's Don Sundquist and New Hampshire's Jeanne Shaheen, one of the two women heading a state government. Sundquist proved to be one of the most vocal critics of teacher education programs, bringing Vanderbilt University Chancellor Joe B. Wyatt to the session to bolster arguments favoring reform.

One innovative approach to better-prepared teachers was provided by South Dakota Gov. William Janklow, whose efforts led to creation of a state-supported academy for professionals with emphasis on the utilization of expanded classroom technology. The academy's summer sessions have proved popular as more teachers sought entry over its three-year period. South Dakota provides a $1,000 stipend for each teacher who attends.