MANCHESTER – New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said yesterday if he's elected president he'll increase federal spending on education by $60 billion.

"It's worth every penny," he said.

The Democrat unveiled his ambitious plan yesterday before an auditorium full of students at West High School.

The plan, which ranges from ensuring every child in the country can attend preschool to trading college tuition for public service, would be paid for by scrapping Cold War weapons systems the governor says are unneeded.

Investing in education, said Richardson, will solve a broad array of social problems the country faces by producing smarter, healthier young people less laden with debt and better able to create good jobs.

"Education is the spark that lights minds," he said. "As we ignite schools across the country, we can kindle a great fire of learning that will light the way to the future."

►A governor goes back to school

Former Mayor Robert Baines introduced and endorsed Richardson.

"Every once in a while, the right leader comes along at the right time," said Baines, who spent 20 years as principal at West.

Speaking to a friendly audience, Richardson got plenty of enthusiastic response. Students applauded his vow to eliminate No Child Left Behind assessment tests.

The room erupted with clapping -- including a few students in the school's Junior ROTC program -- when the governor said a President Richardson would immediately pull all U.S. troops from Iraq.

But afterward, West students questioned whether the plan is unrealistic and too expensive.

"He has some great ideas," said senior Michael Hersher. "Executing some things like this are hard in real life."

Hersher asked Richardson how he would add 100,000 new math and science teachers nationally, when those people don't exist.

The governor said secondary school curriculum upgrades would get students interested in becoming teachers, but the main incentive has to be better pay.

Richardson's plan would:

-- pay for full-day preschool for every 4-year-old

-- fully fund Head Start

-- scrap NCLB

-- raise starting teacher salaries to $40,000

-- add 100,000 math and science teachers

-- create 250 math and science academies

-- pay two years of college tuition in return for a year of public service

-- put $500 million into arts and music programs

-- oppose private school vouchers, but support charter schools

-- eliminate "junk food" from all schools

-- expand career and vocational programs.