Altering Destinies

By Gene I. Maeroff

President Clinton has the right idea. Among his budgetary proposals for bolstering elementary and secondary education are several measures that would address some of the most pressing needs of students from economically deprived backgrounds.

Mr. Clinton wants to provide funds for tutors, after-school and extended programs, and stronger partnerships between schools and parents, businesses, and communities. These initiatives come on top of his call for almost $10 billion over 10 years for school construction and repair and $7.3 billion over five years to hire 100,000 teachers to lower class size in the first three grades.

Surely students need up-to-date schools. They also stand to gain if their teachers do not have to spread themselves among so many youngsters. But unless more is done to build systems of support for impoverished students, they are not apt to prosper--even in spiffier buildings with one...