ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, October 6, 1996 TAG: 9610070074
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
D - Democrat
R - Republican
L - Libertarian
VIP - Virginia Independent Party/Reform Party
1.
How do you see the problem? What's causing it?
FOR U.S. SENATE
Mark Warner (D)
``Our``Schools aren't giving students the skills they need to compete in the new economy. Teachers are forced to spend too much time on discipline and not enough time on teaching. Students without access to computers can't possibly learn what they will need to know in the workforce.''
John Warner (R)
``Schools should be safe havens for learning, not battle zones for juvenile delinquents. Parents unable or unwilling to nurture their children, the influence of misguided peers, the influence of negative and destructive media messages and the lack of adequate resources.''
FOR 5TH DISTRICT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Virgil Goode (D)
``We have a good public education system, but many of our rural areas do not receive an equitable distribution of funding.''
George Landrith (R)
``High quality education is critical for our youths future. Unfortunately, some schools focus more on politically correct attitudes and feelings rather than actually teaching them to read, write and know math, science and history.''
Tex Wood (VIP)
``The problem is the result: steadily declining average academic performance, despite relaxing performance tests.'' Blames ``politically correct bureaucratic pressures, and a greater concern for students' psyches than for their academic achievements.''
FOR 6TH DISTRICT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Bob Goodlatte (R)
``Education is the key to an individual's future and long-term success. Far too much federal spending is going to an inefficient and unresponsive bureaucracy at the Department of Education in Washington, D.C., and not enough is going directly into the classrooms.''
Jeff Grey (D)
``Our education system has the potential to be the best in the world. We must recognize this, and make it our priority. A 25 percent student drop-out rate in the state of Virginia is unacceptable. Our school buildings as well as our teachers have been neglected.''
Jay Rutledge (L)
``Too many children are trapped in non-performing government schools because their parents cannot afford to enroll them elsewhere. Government school proponents control both public finance for education and 'standards,' preventing a free market.''
FOR 9TH DISTRICT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Rick Boucher (D)
``Our major challenge is disparities in funding,'' with wealthier school systems spending more per pupil than in ``less financially fortunate districts, many of which are in Southwest Virginia. The major cause is the greater availability of local resources in the wealthier districts.''
Patrick Muldoon (R)
``Thegovernment'sAmericanpublicto our education problem is not more federal spending, but more parental involvement and local control.''
Tom Roberts (VIP)
``Although not a congressional issue, I feel the main problem today in education is that the number of students per class is too high. I believe the larger class sizes are in an effort to save money at the expense of the basics.''
What is its primary effect? What other things does it affect?
FOR U.S. SENATE
Mark Warner (D)
``First, it's linked to the income gap in this country. Kids without a good education can't get good jobs. I also believe that our failings in education contribute to the rise of juvenile crime. But I also believe schools can't do it alone.''
John Warner (R)
``Permissive, dysfunctional families make it very difficult for aspiring students to succeed. Local school authorities need the full participation of parents and the community in the child's education.''
FOR 5TH DISTRICT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Virgil Goode (D)
``Many of our schools here in the 5th District need resources to increase access to technology and reduce class sizes.''
George Landrith (R)
``We must also improve discipline in school so that our children are safe. Children cannot learn if they're scared by violence and drugs all around them.''
Tex Wood (VIP)
``The primary effect is a dumber culture unaccustomed to any criticism, incapable of expanding its awareness on its own, and satisfied with mediocrity because even less has been accepted as the norm. No factor in our culture is un-affected.''
FOR 6TH DISTRICT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Bob Goodlatte (R)
``Our education system must provide our children with the skills they need to compete in the global marketplace.''
Jeff Grey (D)
``Our nation and state must remain competitive in a global economy, and that begins with education.''
Jay Rutledge (L)
``This dual monopoly by government school proponents has defeated the best efforts of sincere, dedicated teachers and reformers for decades. Quality has declined. Public concern has made education a political football and the schools a political battleground.''
FOR 9TH DISTRICT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Rick Boucher (D)
``The primary effect of funding disparities is that in many instances the accident of the place of birth determines the quality of education, with adverse consequences for children in less financially fortunate districts and with effects on the region's economy.''
Patrick Muldoon (R)
``A strong education is a crucial foundation for the success of future generations.``Our capacity to produce a skilled and educated workforce affects our ability to compete in the global marketplace. Many of our social problems, like teen pregnancy, crime and welfare dependency stem from the lack of parental involvement in education.''
Tom Roberts (VIP)
``The primary effect of larger class sizes is the need for teachers to spend more time and effort in maintaining discipline and the students' attention. In a large class many students are less inclined or able to ask questions.''
How does this affect you personally?
FOR U.S. SENATE
Mark Warner (D)
``As the only person in my family to graduate from college, I know the value of education. I couldn't have completed my education without the student loan program. With new jobs requiring more and more technical skills, education has never been more important.''
John Warner (R)
``I am a grandparent and naturally concerned about the school environment facing today's youth. There is no substitute for quality education based on parental involvement, local decision making, adequate funding and rigorous academic standards.''
FOR 5TH DISTRICT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Virgil Goode (D)
``I am a graduate of Franklin County's public schools and next June my daughter will be also. I am proud of our schools but know that we all need to continue working to improve them.''
George Landrith (R)
``I have five young children and I have a strong interest in making sure that our educational system is excellent.''
Tex Wood (VIP)
``As someone who has spent many adult years teaching junior and senior high and college,As a teacher, ``I see the causes first hand, and I see students coming into my classes each year less prepared than those of the previous year. A chunk of freshman English now was standard 10th grade fare 10 years ago. Personally, the effect is one of sadness.''
FOR 6TH DISTRICT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Bob Goodlatte (R)
``I have a special interest in education because my children attend the Roanoke city public schools and I have three sisters who are public school teachers.''
Jeff Grey (D)
``As a father of two, I pray that all children have a bright future.''
Jay Rutledge (L)
``It is personally troubling to me that Americans do not have freedom in education. I want my grandchildren to have it.''
FOR 9TH DISTRICT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Rick Boucher (D)
``The disparity challenge led me to launch a district-wide project to use a modest amount of federal funds to provide a solution to the absence of advanced instruction in financially unfortunate schools, one of the major affects of educational funding disparities.''
Patrick Muldoon (R)
``My parents are educators and I am concerned about education. I want to ensure that my children, my nephews and nieces can receive a quality education to expand the opportunities available to them and improve their quality of life.''
Tom Roberts (VIP)
``Promoting good education for all is in my and everyone's self interest to insure a future vibrant and growing economy. A rising tide raises all ships.''
What actions should be taken?
FOR U.S. SENATE
Mark Warner (D)
``First,``We should make schools safer by promoting Promote school uniforms, alternative placements for ``chronically disrupti
ve students and proven drug prevention programs. We should put computers in classrooms and give teachers the training they need to use them.'' Fully fund Head Start, save student loan program. Third, we've got to ensure our youngest children enter school ready to learn by continuing toward the goal of fully funding Head Start. and finally, we've got to ensure students can afford college by saving the student loan program. The bottom line is that education should be given more of a priority in the United States Senate.
John Warner (R)
To improve the nation's schools,``Educators must have adequate resources, and they must maintain control as partners with parents at the local level. I have supported a partnership between junior colleges and the Department of Defense to make surplus military training materials available.'' called, 'tools for schools.'''And I am working to loosen federal requirements of Goals 2000, so that Virginia can use some of these funds to put more computers in the state's classrooms. Local school administrators need reasonable disciplinary authority to protect the school environment: Teachers need training and professional development to keep abreast of new curriculum: and parents must play a strong role in the educational choices which are made for their children.
FOR 5TH DISTRICT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Virgil Goode (D)
``In Virginia, we are taking action to decrease class sizes in kindergarten through the third grade and to put a computer in every classroom. We need to continue those efforts.''
George Landrith (R)
Schools should emphasize basics and improve discipline. ``Additionally, we need more parental choice in education (tax credits. vouchers, etc.).''
Tex Wood (VIP)
``D.C. shouldn't, beyond distributing funds where they are needed, get involved in method, content, or evaluation in education. States and localities need to demand more input from academic disciplines besides those from education majors, who have a lock'' on schools. from top to bottom on school administrations.''and sincerely believe that supposedly knowing how to teach is more critical than knowing what to teach.''
FOR 6TH DISTRICT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Bob Goodlatte (R)
Improving education ``means giving our childrenWants ``a strong foundation in the building blocks - reading, writing, math and computers.'' Wants schools ``with strong discipline, challenging curriculums, tough academic standards, top flight facilities, excellent teachers, and strong parental involvement.''
Jeff Grey (D)
Expand Head Start to rural areas, connect schools to Internet. ``I would expand Head Start programs into more rural areas.`` Continuing efforts to put our schools on the information super-highway is necessary to prepare our children for the future. Maintaining drug-free school programs is essential to ensure a safe learning environment. ``School lunch programs must be funded to give our children the nutrition they need to remain healthy and capable of learning.'' Backs tax break on tuition for higher education. I support a tax break on tuition costs for students enrolled in a higher education program.''
Jay Rutledge (L)
``The government school monopoly of public finance for education must be broken in a way that protects the freedom of nongovernment schools. My libertarian proposal for "Public School Cost Relief Tuition Bond" contracts will accomplish both of these goals.''
FOR 9TH DISTRICT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Rick Boucher (D)
``Our project has the goal of linking each of the 83 high schools, community colleges, and four-year colleges in the district'' with fiber-optic lines for interactive long-distance learning. ``We launched our project three years ago, and today 26 of the 83 sites'' are hooked up. have fiber-optic linkages.'' and are functioning parts of the network.''
Patrick Muldoon (R)
``I want to allow more decision making at the local level. I support returning our children's education back to the parents, teachers and local school boards. Federal regulation ties the hands of teachers while burying schools in costly and time consuming red tape.''
Tom Roberts (VIP)
``I believe that at least for the grades kindergarten through 9th, classes should not be much larger than 15 students and the basics of reading, writing and math should become a major focus.''
What's standing in the way of these actions?
FOR U.S. SENATE
Mark Warner (D)
``Misplaced priorities. Last year'sat the same time,Safe and Drug Free SchoolsI believeour commitment to education if we don't cut taxes on wealthy Americans.''
John Warner (R)
``Mounting pressure on federal, state and local government budgets have forced educational funding to compete for scarce government resources.''
FOR 5TH DISTRICT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Virgil Goode (D)
``There are some who are not fully committed to public education in the Commonwealth.''
George Landrith (R)
Did not address.
Tex Wood (VIP)
``Top-heavy school administrations propagating more studies and reports and theories for more administrators unwittingly stand in the way. Permissiveness from parents unable to distinguish unconditional love from unconditional approval hasn't helped.'' matters.''
FOR 6TH DISTRICT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Bob Goodlatte (R)
Did not address.
Jeff Grey (D)
Did not address.
Jay Rutledge (L)
``Robert Thoburn's phrase, 'Public School Relief,' describes the effect on public finances of parents' transferring a child from a public school to a private school. Making this 'Relief' the basis of a contract for claiming public education funding is original.''
FOR 9TH DISTRICT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Rick Boucher (D)
``We urgently need a greater commitment from the state to provide the funding necessary to eliminate disparities. Some states have eliminated funding disparities by having all educational resources distributed on a per pupil basis by the state.''
Patrick Muldoon (R)
``Programs like Goals 2000 promote Washington-knows-best answers to local issues. The result of federal intervention is that SAT scores have dropped and our math proficiency is lower than all other major industrialized nations.''
Tom Roberts (VIP)
``A change to lower the class size would require the hiring of more teachers and provision of some additional school facilities. Local real estate taxes would have to be increased and this might not be popularly proposed or accepted.''
What can a member of Congress do?
FOR U.S. SENATE
Mark Warner (D)
``Fully fund Head Start, give schools and libraries discounted access to the Internet, protect programs like DARE, put more emphasis on vocational training, support the student loan program and provide targeted tax relief for middle class families for college.''
John Warner (R)
``A senator can identify federal resources to assist state and local government to more effectively provide educational services. It is a senator's job to see that federal education programs are authorized and funded in a timely manner.''
FOR 5TH DISTRICT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Virgil Goode (D)
``Education is primarily a state function although the federal government does supply some resources. A congressman should ensure that when the federal government does provide resources, it does so without imposing overly bureaucratic requirements.'' and does so in a way that permits local schools to solve their local problems.''
George Landrith (R)
Did not address.
Tex Wood (VIP)
``A member of Congress should see to it that more of our rural federal tax dollars are sent here instead of to the huge, metropolitan areas.''
FOR 6TH DISTRICT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Bob Goodlatte (R)
``In a serious effort to significantly improve the quality of education in this nation,``I have joined in introducing the Back to Basics Education Reform Act. This legislation consolidates more than 240 education programs into two block grants [totalling $11 billion]. These grants will not burden the states with excessive paperwork and costly regulations.'' and mandates.''
Jeff Grey (D)
Favors keeping U.S. Department of Education, which some want to abolish. ``The Department of Education is needed for financial support and to give recommendations for curriculum to prepare our children for the future of a global economy.''
Jay Rutledge (L)
``A member of Congress can provide the vital, official sponsorship which such a proposal must have. A Libertarian member can insure the law is faithful to the concept.''
FOR 9TH DISTRICT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Rick Boucher (D)
``My office organized a task force of educators and local telephone company representatives to launch our fiber-optic project. I then encourage local governments and school districts to participate by demonstrating the many benefits which the fiber-optic network can provide.''
Patrick Muldoon (R)
``Congress should get out of the business of regulating our schools. Increased federal spending has translated into increased federal control over schools. Teachers are forced to spend more time meeting federal rules and regulations than in the classrooms actually teaching students.''
Tom Roberts (VIP)
``The best thing the Congress can do for K-12 education is to stay out of it and leave K-12 education to the states and local government. I favor an increase in the college education loan program with strict repayment enforcement.''
What can citizens do?
FOR U.S. SENATE
Mark Warner (D)
``Parents must take responsibility and teach kids right from wrong. They need to become more involved in their children's learning. We must turn off the television and open up books so our children learn to enjoy reading.'' Urges citizens to work with PTAs and school boards. Citizens can improve local efforts through the PTA and school boards.''
John Warner (R)
``If the schools are not excellent, taxpayers should demand to know why, and what they can do to help make the schools better. Families with school age children must understand that they have a role in running their schools.''
FOR 5TH DISTRICT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Virgil Goode (D)
``All of us need to work with our students, teachers and administrators to make our schools even better. Citizens and businesses can contribute a great deal to increasing community interest and involvement in our school systems through public-private partnerships.''
George Landrith (R)
Did not address.
Tex Wood (VIP)
``Parents and business [or] labor leaders who have solid educations should take an active role [in schools]. Attention should be paid to decreasing required education courses and increasing courses in other academic disciplines in our teacher certification programs.''
FOR 6TH DISTRICT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Bob Goodlatte (R)
Under his proposed education bill, ``parents, teachers, and local communities will have the freedom they need to design programs that will best meet their educational needs.''
Jeff Grey (D)
``State and local governments, teachers, school boards, and PTA's must have a strong input on curriculum and putting the programs together. Parents need to be there to support their children's efforts and to support the teacher as well.''
Jay Rutledge (L)
``Citizens should obtain the Public School Cost Relief Tuition Bond contract pamphlet from my campaign. They should learn about the crucial difference between using statutory and contract law to enable public finance of non-government education.''
FOR 9TH DISTRICT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Rick Boucher (D)
``The``Telephone company executives in our region were vital to the success of our project by making donations and providing a deeply discounted monthly rate for use of the fiber-optic line connecting each school. Business leaders have effectively urged deployment of the network.''
Patrick Muldoon (R)
``Parents need to get involved in their children's education. In addition, parents should elect representatives who trust them to educate their children instead of some faceless, nameless bureaucrat who doesn't even know their child's name.''
Tom Roberts (VIP)
``In my opinion, education begins and ends in the home. Parents' main responsibilities are to makign sure that their children get enough sleep, do their homework and check on their children's behavior with the teachers.''
What other public institutions should be involved and how?
FOR U.S. SENATE
Mark Warner (D)
``State and local governments can make a stronger commitment to education. Businesses should be involved in education at all levels - making sure that kids are prepared for the workforce by helping put computers in every classroom and wiring them to the [Internet].''information superhighway.''
John Warner (R)
``It is the role and responsibility of state and local government to fund the lion's share of the nations's education budget. Private institutions should enter into partnerships with schools to strengthen academic services with endowments and projects.''
FOR 5TH DISTRICT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Virgil Goode (D)
``I would like to see our community colleges, colleges and universities play a larger, voluntary role in our secondary schools. The faculty and students in these institutions have significant contributions to make through projects such as mentoring programs.''
George Landrith (R)
Did not address.
Tex Wood (VIP)
``Providing an``Education is a primary government service. The current situation has spawned an upsurge of private schools, and Catholic schools have been providing education for decades. All of these institutions need to be involved. And pay our teachers a decent salary.''
FOR 6TH DISTRICT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Bob Goodlatte (R)
Jeff Grey (D)
Jay Rutledge (L)
``Non-government educators must lead on this issue, so that when demands for public finance of non-government education are answered, the enabling legislation will secure non-government school freedom.''
FOR 9TH DISTRICT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Rick Boucher (D)
``Our public school systems are essential participants both as the beneficiaries and as the source of funding for the monthly fiber-optic line charges. Appalachian Regional Commission recently cited fiber-optic network ``as an example for other contressional districts to follow.'' The Appalachian Regional Commission, a principal source of federal funding for the project, recently highlighted the Southwest Virginia fiber-optic network in its quarterly magazine as an example for other congressional districts to follow.''
Patrick Muldoon
``The private sector can do so much for our youth. Job training, scholarships and community and civic programs enrich our children and their future.''
Tom Roberts (VIP)
``States and local government take care of the majority of the real work with K-12 education. This is as it should be with the exception that the burden of federal unfunded mandates and regulations should be done away with.''
LENGTH: Long : 504 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshots) all 11. KEYWORDS: POLITICS CONGRESSby CNB