ALLENTOWN -- President Bush brought the campaign trail to Allentown yesterday, praising a local school there and announcing a new initiative to further American education.

At a time when American schools are being criticized for the poor quality of education, Bush lauded Lehigh Valley 2000: Business Education Partnership, a branch of his Education 2000 program.

"We don't need another test to tell us something is wrong with the state of American education," said Bush, who spoke at Dieruff High School. "For the sake of every student here today, we've got to shake off any sense of complacency and shake up the status quo. Here in Lehigh Valley, that's a lesson you learned years ago."

Education Secretary Lamar Alexander agreed, saying, "Lehigh Valley is a model example for this country."

Standing at a podium surrounded by books and a papier-mach apple, Bush also announced a legislative initative called the Lifetime Education and Training Account. The account would allow eligible citizens to further their education with new grants and lines of credit.

"If we want to compete in the 21st century, we've got to become a nation of students," he said.

But Democratic presidential candidate Jerry Brown, who spoke at the University yesterday, said Education 2000 is a good idea but has some flaws.

"I think it's a beautiful idea but in many ways a fraud because the money and the commitment is not behind it," Brown said. "Until I hear Bush make a real fundamental shift in his economic policy I won't believe Education 2000."

Alexander, however, said the administration does support the plan but it will take time.

"It's not a seven-second soundbite," he said. "It's a nine-year crusade."

Bush also stressed the need for school choice.

"For far too long, we've shielded our schools from competition, allowed the system a damaging monopoly-power over students," he added.

The president compared grade-and high-school choice to the multitude of colleges and universities Americans can choose from.

"Each year, we make over $20 billion in federal grants and loans directly to students -- one in every two students enrolled in college right now -- to use at the university of their choice," he said. "And no one asks whether they enroll in Penn State or Pennsylvania University or Villanova or Lehigh or Lafayette."

Although he claimed the trip was not political, Bush took time out to criticize Congress. Everyone understands the need for change in education except the Democrat-controlled Congress, he said.

"At a moment when the consensus for change seems to be reaching critical mass, on Capitol Hill you can watch the last stand of the status quo," Bush said.

But some people had differing ideas about what needs to be changed. Outside the school, about 20 protesters chanted, "Hey hey, ho ho, George Bush has got to go."

They carried signs calling for more jobs and less military spending.

"I'm just here because I hurt inside," said protester Robert Oppen, a machinist from New Jersey.

Bush is accumulating the wealth of the country in the hands of a very few, Oppen said, adding that the president has hurt the economy and the working class.

The government shouldn't be building bombs and war planes while American factories shut down, he added.

"I find that offensive, not defensive," he said.