Education Tops Governors' Lists of Priorities

By Bess Keller

If the State of the State speeches resounding through the halls of government this month were songs, every governor could be said to have tootled the education note, and many to have trumpeted an education theme.

"The four most important issues we'll talk about this session are education, education, education, and education!" Gov. Paul E. Patton announced in a Jan. 5 speech to the Kentucky legislature.

Mr. Patton's declaration was echoed around the country, coupled in many cases with ideas for stemming teacher shortages or for better educating students for...