Students should have safe schools, senator says

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Students should not be forced to attend dangerous schools, Sen. Paul Coverdell, R-Georgia, said Saturday. (264K/23 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

Delivering the GOP's weekly radio address, Coverdell proposed legislation that would allow students to attend a school of their choice -- public, private or religious -- if the school to which they are assigned poses a threat to their security.

"Government bureaucrats should not force children into bad schools," he said. "Parents and kids need a way out, and while our schools are the responsibility of states and local communities, the federal government has a responsibility to lead."

Citing an unidentified national survey in which 40 percent of students said they felt unsafe in school, Coverdell said, "We must act now to ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn in a safe and drug-free school."

Curbing drug use

In addition to allowing students a choice of schools, Coverdell said the federal government needs to renew its efforts to reduce drug use among teen-agers, which he said is fueling a rise in juvenile crime.

Noting figures that indicate a rise in marijuana use among children ages 12 to 17, Coverdell said the federal government also needs to renew its efforts to curb drug use by minors.

Specifically he called for laws allowing violent juvenile criminals to be tried as adults and increased drug education efforts. He said parents should better supervise their children and the entertainment industry should not glorify the drug culture.

"The message we send our children on drugs is a real problem. When the message is anything short of zero tolerance for drugs, we encourage drug usage by kids."

Related story:

• Transcript of GOP radio address by Sen. Paul Coverdell - January 4, 1997

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