Bennett speaks on nation's educational system Forme r Secretar y of Education William Bennett emphasizes how Ame ric a can improve its e d ucational system Thursday, Oct. 29 in the s econd Ame r ican in st it u te lecture at Harding. The lecture drew a n e a r -cap aci ty crowd in the Benson Auditorium. "The longer you spend in school in the U.S., the more you fa ll behind." by S u san Arn ette Bison assistant e d itor Secretary of Education William Bennett delivered some alarming statistics about our nation's educational system before a near-capacity crowd in the Benson Auditorium on Thursday, Sept. 29. Secretary Bennett stated that only seven percent of high school seniors are at the level of ability to take college-level science courses, and that every year since 1969, the grasp of science and math has steadily decreased. Bennett also shared with the audience the fact that "the longer you spend in school in the U.S., the more you fall behind." When students from the United States were evaluated against students of other countries, "in fourth graders, they ranked 8 out of 15, in eighth graders, 11 out of 15, and by twelfth grade, 14 out of 15." William Bennett, who has served as secretary of education since 1985, relinquished his position almost two weeks ago to "further pursue interests in public and private sectors of education." He has been called "the best of the Reagan appointments." He received his B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Texas. Bennett's focus on education, has been in three areas. He says our public schools must concentrate on the content of material, characterbuilding, and choice of schools by parents . Bennett says students should have four years of English and three years of math, social sci - ences and pure science. He emphasized that "parents should be given a greater say in the education of their children at all levels. Finally , Bennett adds that "values of the mind and values of the soul are very interrelated." In conducting his research on the nation's educational system, Bennett visited 105 secondary and elementary schools across the United States and taught classes in the third, seventh and eighth grades. Bennett expressed a real concern for education to all those present at the American Institute Lecture Series on Sept. 29. Amid his 20-minute talk, seasoned with anecdotes and a dry wit, Bennett stressed the need for reform. He said, "The most important reason to improve education is so that we may deliver the American dream - the dream of equal opportunity." Bush Jr. speaks at Harding; endorses 'dad' by Greg Taylor Bison e d itor George Bush, Jr., son of Vice President George Bush, spoke Tuesday at a GOP rally in the American Heritage Au ,:itorium on the Hardi ng campus. Bush called himself the "second string" of the campaign for his fat her for president of the United States. He is traveling the Southwest speaking at rallies and dinners for his father who will find out whether he will sit in the oval office Tuesday, Nov. 8. "I'm just a half-broke man from Mid land, Texas, who is trying to fi nd his daddy a real job," Bush Jr . said jokingly. Candidates for offices in White County were recognized at the rally. Bush, referring to local politics, said grass roots politics is the key to win - ning any election, including the presidential ·election. "Voter turnout and grass roots organization is the key to winning this election." Bush went on to tell the crowd of 400 how his father stands on the issues of the 1988 election. He stabbed first at the Pledge of Allegiance issue in which his father has critiqued Dukakis for his veto of a Massachusetts bill that required teachers of the state to lead the pledge in the classroom. "No one is questioning his (Duka - kis') mentality," he said , in reference to the pledge issue. "We are not trying to belittle or use label s in this campaign," he said. On gun control, Bush Jr. said, "George Bush believes it is an individual's choice to own a gun or not to own one." Dukakis is a gun control advocate and opposes the death penalty - two issues on which Bush says his father differs with the democratic candidate. Bush defended his father's ongoing critique of Dukaki s ' Prison Furlough Program saying, "the Massachusetts governor has a different way of thinking. He cares more about the criminal than the victim. Dukakis thought it would be great to let them (prisoners) go free. Eighty of them didn't come back," the son of the GOP candidate said. The crowd rallied when Bush began to reel off his father's creden - tials and "if elected" promises. "Jobs for everyone who wants to work" was a hot button for applause. He also spoke of peace. "Peace through strength (military) has worked," Bush said. "Peace and prosperity are twin pillars of this campaign. If I were in college and looking at candidates for president, I would see who would make the economic pie grow the most." The Bush / Quayle campaigner ended his speech with one political promise if his father was elected: "The example he (Bush) sets through actions will make you proud." Bison review 121
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