ST. HELENA ISLAND, S.C. - Democratic presidential contender U.S. Sen. John Edwards visited the site of the nation's first school for freed slaves Saturday and attacked President George Bush's education record.

"In many ways we still have two public school systems in America - one for the haves and one for the have-nots," Edwards, the North Carolina Democrat, told a crowd of about 100 people gathered at the Penn Center on this sea island near Beaufort, S.C.

"The president has talked about his slogan 'No child left behind.' But I have served on the Education Committee and my concern is this president is actually leaving millions of children behind," Edwards said to loud applause and hoots from the audience.

Edwards was campaigning before South Carolina's first-in-the-South Democratic presidential primary next February.

The Penn Center, which runs a number of community outreach programs for island residents, began in 1862 as a school for freed slaves after Union forces captured the area early in the Civil War.

Edwards said the president has failed to provide enough money to even pay for his own education plan.

"We have to address the serious needs in our public schools, particularly narrowing the gap between the two public school systems in America," Edwards said.

Edwards called for a national initiative to boost teacher pay and for pay incentives to encourage good teachers to teach in poorly performing schools.

He also said there needs to be more investment in early childhood education programs and in after-school programs. After-school programs can provide students with a place to go so they are off the streets and productive, Edwards said.

"The president's solution was to cut half a million after-school slots," said Edwards. "This is not what he values. This is not what he puts his priorities on. For the president, public education is a slogan. It's a political issue."

Then Edwards added: "For me, this is personal."

He noted how he went to public schools and was the first in his family to go to college.

"I still believe in an America where the son of a mill worker can beat the son of a president for the White House," Edwards said.

About a quarter of the people in the audience Saturday were black.

Earnestine Atkins, who is black and works for a preschool reading program operated by the Penn Center, said Edwards' decision to visit the center was symbolic.

"He has a clear picture of what America should be like. This is all about dreams for people to come together and work together. We need to get this country back in order," said Atkins, who was wearing a blue and white Edwards sticker.

Another center worker, Linda Jenkins, who is also black, said Edwards had "an excellent message." She said "he has a strong point" but added, "I'm still looking over the other candidates."

Roxanne Cheney, a white retired Marine colonel, came by to hear Edwards. And, she said she senses many Democratic voters are undecided with the primary months away.

"I sense it's a lot of window shopping at this time. I think there is also some frustration or concern with the large number of Democratic contenders right now. I think people are eager to get to a lower number," she said.