Washington--Until Americans value academic achievement more than athletic prowess, education reform cannot succeed, former Secretary of Education Terrel H. Bell warned at a Jan. 22 press conference here that included an appeal to the next President to lead the effort to create a 鈥渓earning society.鈥�
鈥淲e need a change in attitude and in the priorities of our people,鈥� Mr. Bell said. 鈥淲e need to become more education-conscious and learning-oriented, and that鈥檚 where I think our leaders can help us.鈥�
Mr. Bell is touring to promote his new book, but in his appearance here discussed his reform agenda more than The Thirteenth Man, his memoir of life in the Reagan Cabinet. (See 澳门跑狗论坛, Oct. 28, 1987.)
There is something wrong with a society that values muscle more than intellect, Mr. Bell said.
鈥淲e鈥檙e so preoccupied with athletics and physical prowess in our country and that鈥檚 rewarded,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hy are our children willing to spend two to three hours a day [at athletic practice]? Because we鈥檝e hyped it so much.鈥�
鈥淭hat鈥檚 not going to help our country,鈥� he continued. 鈥淚 like sports and I don鈥檛 denigrate athletics, but where are the rewards in other areas?鈥�
Low Achievers Not Served
While the education-reform movement has improved overall educational quality, Mr. Bell said, it has not adequately addressed the problems of low achievers.
鈥淲e have made progress and shown significant improvements in American education for the 60 to 70 percent that stay in school and graduate,鈥� he said, but the 鈥渘umber one domestic-affairs problem in the country鈥� is the plight of the other 30 to 40 percent.
This is not a new problem, he said, but 鈥渢he consequences of failure are more dire than they have ever been because of the economic realities we face.鈥�
鈥淭he problem has to be attacked by all of us,鈥� he added, 鈥渂ut the leadership has to emanate from the Oval Office.鈥�
He urged that the next President give to educational improvement the kind of leadership Harry S. Tru8man gave to the rebuilding of Europe and John F. Kennedy gave to America鈥檚 competitiveness in space.
President Reagan has not done enough to boost education, he charged, and none of the current Presidential candidates has gone beyond platitudes to voice a vigorous education agenda.
He added, however, that he knows from personal conversations with Vice President George Bush and past dealings with Senator Paul Simon, Democrat of Illinois, that they are at least 鈥渃ommitted鈥� to aiding education.
In addition to promoting a change in American attitudes, Mr. Bell suggested, the next President should also call a conference at which governors, state and federal legislators, college presidents, and precollegiate educators can discuss the problems facing education and formulate solutions.
He also advocated more funding for Head Start, the Chapter 1 compensatory-education program, and the Job Corps, and seconded calls by his successor as Secretary, William J. Bennett, for more accountability in such programs.--jm
