Challenging Rafferty

Max Rafferty is to California education what Spiro Agnew is to national politics--a spellbinder of alliterative conservatism. Eight years ago, Rafferty swept the nonpartisan race for state Superintendent of Public Instruction by denouncing "permissive, pragmatic progressivism." He lost a loud bid for the Senate two years ago, but has since delighted his admirers by advocating mass searches for drugs in student lockers, by presenting guidelines for "moral instruction" that criticized pacifism, and by urging science teachers to give "equal time" to the Adam and Eve account of creation.

Now Rafferty is running for a third term. He is slaying all visible dragons, from teacher strikes to compulsory busing for integration ("impossible to implement"). Given the conservative tide in California, he should be a shoo-in. He is not.

Cool Professional. His opponent is relatively unknown, soft spoken and black. Wilson Riles, 53, is also a cool professional who is willing to explain unglamorous specifics of education. Since August, he has gained five percentage points in the California Poll while Rafferty has lost four, bringing Riles to within striking distance of a win. His supporters include not only liberals but also conservatives like S.I. Hayakawa, president of San Francisco State College.

Riles has been a state education official for twelve years, four of them as Rafferty's assistant superintendent. Federal officials regard his program of dispensing funds to disadvantaged youngsters as one of the best in the country. Presidents Johnson and Nixon appointed him chairman of two task forces on urban education.

Below Norms. While Rafferty has stressed emotional issues like drugs and busing, Riles concentrates on education. He notes that a recent evaluation showed that statewide gains in reading have still left 65% of the first, second-and third-graders below national norms. His proposed remedy: make a preschool program available to every California child. He also feels that teaching reading mainly through old-fashioned phonics, which Rafferty favors, is oversimple, and that many students can benefit from other methods.

The campaign has been muddied by innuendo. Riles accuses Rafferty of inflaming white fears in communities under court orders to integrate their schools. Right-wing literature, which Rafferty repudiates, has sought to link Riles with Communists, chiefly because of his work with the pacifist Fellowship of Reconciliation during the 1950s.

Riles' headway may reflect a growing sophistication about educational controversies. Says Riles: "People are tired of being polarized on emotional issues and tired of waiting for someone to help them provide good education for their children." The odds still favor Rafferty, but few expected that Riles would come as close as he has.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.