GOP MESSAGE STRESSES IMPROVING SCHOOLS

Improving America's schools is the key to winning the war on drugs
and solving other social ills, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge said Saturday
in the weekly Republican radio address.

Ridge, a two-term governor who has expressed interest in the vice
presidency, urged policy-makers to base decisions on what is good for
children and parents, even if those choices are not favorable to the
education system or the "adults employed in that system."

"Sadly, when it comes to improving education, I believe we have lost
our way," Ridge said. "When we talk about improving education . . . it
seems we only talk about the system of education and the employees of
education," such as school board members, superintendents and unionized
teachers.

"If we provide our children with a quality education, then I believe
there is no challenge we cannot overcome," he said.

"Poverty, urban decay, long-term economic prosperity, a strong
national defense -- all are (challenges) within reach if we give our
young people the best education in the world. And none are in reach if
we do not."

In remarks taped Wednesday before leaving on a 10-day economic
development trip to Asia, Ridge praised Republican leaders in Congress and GOP
governors for moving toward an emphasis on children and parents.

He noted that Congress recently passed a bill giving states greater
leeway in spending federal education dollars.