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After two failed efforts to remove racist language concerning education from Alabama's 1901 Constitution, Gov. Robert Bentley says he's more determined than ever to try again to delete vestiges of segregation from the document.

Amendment 4 would have removed language mandating poll taxes and separate black and white schools, but black legislators and the Alabama Education Association opposed the measure. They argued it should be defeated because it preserved a 1956 amendment that declared that Alabama children did not have a right to a public education

Bentley said he would prefer an amendment that only addresses the racist language. He said he is concerned that deleting the1956 amendment concerning the right to an education would cause Alabama residents to worry that lawmakers would approve a tax increase to pay for it. But he said he believes removing the racist language would help the state's image around the country.

Legislators have said the amendment would have to be worded carefully to avoid the difficulties that have doomed the first two efforts, the first one in 2004.

Alabama House Speaker blamed the amendment's failure on the Alabama Education Association, which ran television ads against it.

"Anytime you spend hundreds of thousands of dollars airing TV ads that spread outrageous lies with no opposition, a segment of the public is going to believe the lies. Alabama's image is damaged today, and the trail of evidence leads to AEA's doorstep."

But AEA Executive Secretary Henry Mabry said his organization is not going to support an amendment that takes away a child's right to an education.

Almost 61 percent of the 1.7 million ballots were cast against the amendment.

State Rep. Patricia Todd, D-Birmingham, said she blames the confusion of Tuesday's vote on the constitution itself. She is a member of a commission established by the governor to suggest changes to the document.

"This is a perfect example of how bad the constitution is," Todd said. Todd and other critics say the constitution is archaic, too long and needs to be replaced.

Republican State Rep. Paul DeMarco of Homewood is a member of the governor's constitutional revision panel, along with Todd.

He said the panel plans to next take up articles relating to education including possibly the one pertaining to the right to an education.