Gore Takes Campaign Back to School

By Joetta L. Sack

Columbus, Ohio

On a mission to learn about the inner workings of public schools, Vice President Al Gore is perched awkwardly at a tot-sized table in a kindergarten classroom, trying to draw a shy, dark-haired boy into conversation.

But the boy isn't cooperating, so Mr. Gore turns to a classmate, a boisterous girl, and notices she has lost her front teeth. She says she just received $5 from the tooth fairy.

"Oh, the rate's going up!" the vice president exclaims, to the nervous laughter of a few adult bystanders...