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Show A8 The Salt Lake Tribune CAMPAIGN 2000 Gore Takes Pride in Being Tagged As an Environmental Extremist combustion engine and replace it with a propulsion nologies are proving him right. As the nation celebrates the 30th Earth Day today, Gore is focusing anew on the environment, an issue on which his supporters believe Republican presidential rival George W. Bushis vulnerable. Gore’scritics have latched on to the proposed demise of the revered engine,in use since before the days of Henry Ford's Model T, as proof of extreme environmental “I expected that criticism then and I wearit as a badge of honor today,” he declared at a motor freight yard in Romulus, Mich., Up to now, however, the Demo- outside Detroit, where he an- cratic candidate has not been able nounced a new government industry research effort aimed at to energize environmental activ- ists behind his campaign. Public opinion polls suggest that while almost everybody wants the environment protected, people are more interested in issues such as education, crime and the economy. On Friday, the vice president flewto the Detroit area,the heart of America’s automobile industry, to highlight the development of super fuel-efficient engine technology for trucks. Although not a campaign trip, it was a way for Gore to challenge the talk of environmental extremism. Healso took after Bush’s environmental record, accusing his GOPrival of“playing politics with the polluters” and after five years as governor leaving Texas “with the worst environment of any state.” In a 1992 book, Earth in the Balance, Gore wrote thatit ought to be Bush Widens Advisory Circle For Campaign tripling the fuel economyof trucks. He now sees the development of cleaner, more efficient engines “in less than 25 years,” he said, contending he had been too conservative when he penned his book eight years ago. Few issues distinguish Gore and Bush as clearly as the environment, according to activists and business executives alike. Gore has argued forratification of a climate change treaty that would require reductions in socalled greenhouse gases, saying it can be done without jeopardizing economic growth through development of more efficient automobiles and power plants. Bush would dumpthetreaty, crafted in Kyoto, Japan, more than two years ago, arguing it would devastate businesses and hinder economic growth. Bush’s Education ‘Miracle’ Under Critical Review Teachers, experts weigh possible to phase out the internal- Saturday, April 22, 2000 BY JOHN MINTZ Texas officials’ claims about soaring test scores. But it is clear that some of their key assertions aren't backed up by other tests issued on a national scale. While Texas says it has dramatically shrunk the gap ‘THE WASHINGTON POST between minority and white stu- validity of achievements dents’ scores, a test used across the country called the NAEP showed they haven't closed that “achievement gap” — in fact, it Suggests pressive gains that Texas students, particularly minority children, have achieved on test scores during his tenure. Buta growing corps of skeptics, including some education experts and Texas teachers, believes that Bush's record on educationis less than miraculous. They say Texas’ standardized tests are too easy and that aggressive test-dirilling in- flates children’s scores and turns some Texas schools into drab factories for test preparation. As evidence of his claim, Bush points to the skyrocketing scores of Texas children on a standardized test that the governor has strongly promoted, and in particular to the narrowing gap between the scores of minorities and whites. Picking up on initiatives launched by his predecessor, Gov. Ann Richards, and billionaire Ross Perot, Bush has put in place an “accountability” system the State's white and black fourthgraders widened over time. “The Texas miracle in education is a myth,” said Walter Haney, a Boston College researcher who studies test statistics. Texas schools, he said, have some of the nation’s highest dropout rates, bs the s: of Bush touts helps drive tensa thousands of students, mostly mi- children are devoting class time to practice test materials,” the re- searchers said. EASTER SALE CLOSE OUT APRIL 15™ - 23” (While supplies Last) a loss that in turn boosts test scores, he said. GOLF 30-70% OFF Some education experts and teachers say the emphasis on tests also undermines educational quality. Teachers whose careers depend on raising minority pupils’ test scores often neglect such activities as creative writing, litera- ture and science labs, these specialists say. 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The campaign will CLUBS, Valley Fair Mau at Par-Fect Golf in Houston with virtually no under skills they ought to know.” Since the 1994 inauguration of norities, to quit school each year — which educators’ careers rise and fall depending in part on how well children fare on that test. He also has increased state spending on schools and tightened curriculum standards, It is difficult to evaluate all the THE ASSOCIATEDPRESS the gulf between researchers, Linda MeNeil of Rice University and Angela Valenzuela of the University of Texas. “While middle-class children in white, middle-class schools are reading literature, learning a vari- WIRELESS Sat 10-5 MCI WORLDCOM ene rs i : vam Diner ceaie Reserved. llthird party marks arethe proprietary marks oftheir respective owners. FREE heededLeesahdd BIKE With Purchase of Home Gym orTreadmill! 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