European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 20, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 b the stars and stripes saturday april 20, 1991bush u unveils education p i an parental Choice of schools tests by the los Angeles limes Washington president Bush on thursday proposed a sweeping package of educational reforms that would add Little to Federal spending but ask state and local governments the business world and communities to join in an Effort to a Are invent american  meeting wit business and government leaders at the White House the president detailed a program that would create a voluntary National testing program and set up a system of rewards and pen allies to prod schools to better pc for Mance. A a a a Bush so America 2000�?� program would use $550 million in Federal seed Money to set up 535 experimental schools and create a non profit business funded corporation to sponsor research and development into All aspects of teaching. The administration proposes to spend $600 million on the program a Small Purv Tion of an Overall fiscal 1992 education budget of $29.6 billion a a proposed increase of 3.7 percent in total outlays. But Bush said the country is spending 33 percent More per Pupil in 1991 than it did in 1981, in inflation adjusted terms and. Insisted that More spending is not necessary. A Quot. A i done to think there a a person anywhere who would say we be seen a 33 percent increase in our schools pc for Mance a the president said in a speech from the White House. He was joined by newly appointed Secretary of education Lamar Alexander and others. Bush stressed that the nations governors would be partners in leading the program and alluded to his 1988 Campaign Call for volunteerism a i ask All americans to be Points of Light in the crusade that matters most a he said. One of. The programs most sensitive proposals Calls for parents to be Given More Choice to pick schools As a Means of applying leverage to improve curricula. It says that parents should be free to Send their children to any Public school in their District a or even to private schools that conform to government  a a a a a a a a a a critics of Choice contend it would encourage Middle class families to flee pub lie schools at the expense of the poor. But administration officials said that they would try to ensure that Low income families would be Given the same opportunities As those with More Money. The programs emphasis on experimentation brought generally favourable reaction from educators As Welt As congressional democrats. But the programs modest Federal funding its Call for National testing and its emphasis on parental Choice swiftly came under attack. Senate democrats Are backing an education Bill that would add $3.1 billion to current spending while House democrats Are behind a proposal to add $2,4 billion in Federal education spending next year s a a. A the programs Call for voluntary National tests is Likely to draw continued criticism. Officials contend that a Range of tests can be devised to suit different localities although All would be a a calibrated to the slime Basic standards. That would enable parents in any Region to Tell How their children compare to those elsewhere. Bush education program at a glance 1. Voluntary nationwide examinations in English math science history and geography in the fourth eight hand 12th grades. 2. State local District and school level reports on Progress toward the National educational goals. 3. Some $200 million to encourage school districts to offer parents More choices in selecting schools. 4. Higher teacher pay for outstanding teachers those teaching Core subjects. Those Quot in dangerous or challenging settings and Mentor teachers training rookies. A ,. A a 5. Financial rewards for schools that make notable Progress. 6. Subsidies for teacher and principal certification programs outside usual channels. A a a. A a a a a a  7. Business generated $150 million for a nonprofit corporation to Lay the groundwork for new schools. 8. Model schools in each of the 435 congressional districts. 9. State sponsored academies to help teachers and school leaders overhaul their schools. 10, business and labor established skill standards for All industries. The education officials also say that they will be Able to ensure the tests Are not biased against minorities. And while the tests would be voluntary the administration would encourage their use by colleges and employers in Hopes they will gain currency As National standards. A such groups As the National Parent teacher association the National education association and the a act Are on record As opposing National testing. Perhaps the plans most dramatic element is its Call for creation of a new american schools development corp., which would award contracts next year to a amps Susan Harris Between three and seven a or amp do consortium a a a a. These consortium Are expected to be combinations of think tanks universities management consultants and High technology manufacturers. Their charge will be to reconsider All aspects of teaching a from the length of the school Day to the organization of the classroom and the relationship of teacher and student. The group will be headed by Paul of Neill chief executive of Alcoa corp., and will seek to raise an initial $150 million to $200 million through private donations. By the families of 3 7 i own victims Miami apr the families of 37 sailors killed in a gun Turret explosion aboard the battleship Iowa two years ago filed $2 billion in wrongful death claims against the Navy on thursday their attorney said. Longstanding supreme court doctrine bars such claims on behalf of military personnel but Miami based lawyer Ellis Rubin said the families Are challenging that precedent. A they want me to test this decision and ask the supreme court to revisit this question a Rubin said Quot Why should the Navy have total immunity when it was their negligence that snuffed out the lives of these loved ones a. The families also filed a parallel lawsuit under admiralty Law in an Alexandria va., Federal court to pursue All Legal avenues Rubin said. The families reached the $2 billion figure by valuing each year the victims were Likely to have lived at $1 million or an average of about $50 million a Sailor said Rubin. A any claims received will be processed in accordance with Law and regulations a said Navy Pentagon spokesman it. Mark Walker who refused further comment. The 37 sailors were among 47 who died in the april 1989 explosion inside the Turret of a 16-Inch gun aboard the Iowa. The families of the 10 other victims were contacted but decided against joining the Legal action Rubin said. Quot initially the Navy blamed the explosion on sabotage by Clayton Hartwig a Sailor who died in the explosion. News reports said the Navy thought Hartwig triggered the blast Over an alleged homosexual interest in fellow crewman Kendall Truitt. Truitt vehemently denied any such relationship. But congressional committees rejected the Navy a sabotage theory and an examination by Sandia National laboratories pointed to accidental triggering of the powder bags used to fire the 16-Inch shells said Rubin. Students being sent Home Early at Leuzinger High school in Lawndale Calif glance at Law enforcement officers As they leave school on thursday. The officers were called to school riot quelled the school after about 3qq students rioted prompt neighbouring businesses to shut Down. There were no i mediate reports of injuries or arrests