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I cannot help but think, as I read this new strand, of a "letter to the editor" that I was compelled to write several years ago. A major newspaper was doing one of those "light" living styles article, and declared that "learning disabled" was "new-speak" for "stupid." I could not believe what I read then, as I cannot believe what I am reading now. These are people behind these labels that we use so carelessly at times, and particularly as educators, it is important to look at the individuality of each student with whom we work. At-risk students may be first generation college students, ESL students, economically poor students, and so on -- it does not mean that they can not learn. And why should we have to "guess" at what Bush might have meant to say? Communication is the message sent and the message received, if I remember correctly -- and I think the message sent, in this case, could be detrimental to those MILLIONS of students that in some way and in different schools and colleges fall into the category "at risk." Why can't we expect more than this from a person asking to be President? Julie Jackson-Coe Academic Skills Specialist Niagara University, NY 14109 Ph. 716-286-8077 Fax 716-286-8063 [log in to unmask]