THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 26, 1996 TAG: 9604250305
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 9 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: Decision '96 - Virginia Beach School Board
LENGTH: Long : 684 lines
You have 11 days left to decide who will best represent your concerns on the School Board. To help you sort through the seven choices you must make from among 45 candidates, we have asked each of them to address seven issues that have sparked some disagreements:
1. Is the present school budget adequate?
2. Do you favor charter schools?
3. Do you favor vouchers to facilitate school choice?
4. Do you support periodic testing of teachers?
5. Should creationism be part of the curriculum?
6. Should prayer in the schools be permitted?
7. Should parts of the present curriculum be emphasized? De-emphasized? AT LARGE, 2 YEAR TERM
GAIL A. BALL
1. Budget: No.
2. Charter schools: Yes.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing teachers: Yes.
5. Creationism: All theories on the origin of the universe should be explored. However, this is not to imply that a religion should be taught in violation of the doctrine of the separation of church and state. Theories are theories and simply stated, the scientific method requires observation, and nobody was there to observe creation. Theories change daily.
6. Prayer: Yes. Individuals have the right to pray. Schools do not have the right to initiate prayer. Any policy we develop has to recognize the constitutional limits.
7. Curriculum: Writing should be emphasized. Study halls might be eliminated in an effort to lengthen the amount of time a student is in class.
DONALD F. BENNIS
1. Budget: Proposed 1996-97, yes; 1995-96, no.
2. Charter schools: May support a pilot program as long as school is curriculum driven, teachers are licensed, minimum state standards are met and there is equal access for all.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing teachers: No. As in other professions (i.e. legal, accounting, medical) should enhance continuing education courses to meet or exceed state licensing requirements.
5. Creationism: Not exclusively, but only as part of any curriculum examining other scientific or philosophical concepts of the origins of life.
6. Prayer: Only voluntsize basic math and writing skills. De-emphasize repetitive elements of social studies.
Patricia Burns 1. Budget: No. The new proposed budget is
1. Budget: No. The new proposed budget is better but still not fully adequate.
2. Charter schools: Very interesting concept from what I have read. Open-minded, would support it being tried if a school wanted to do it.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing teachers: Yes.
5. Creationism: No.
6. Prayer: Voluntary, yes. Mandatory, no.
7. Curriculum: I am in favor of the curriculum being back to basics with more emphasis on reading, writing and mathematics so that the students will be better prepared for the real world.
Charles Clark
1. Budget: Yes.
2. Charter schools: No.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing teachers: Yes.
5. Creationism: No.
6. Prayer: No.
7. Curriculum: Basic skills such as mathematics, language, reading, writing, civic responsibility and basic science need more emphasis. De-emphasize social issues and programs that are not directly related to education and that take away part of a teacher's time spent teaching.
Daniel Edwards
1. Budget: No.
2. Charter schools: No.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing Teachers: No.
5. Creationism: No.
6. Prayer: No. Current moment of silence is appropriate.
7. Curriculum: Emphasize basic math and writing skills. De-emphasize repetitive elements of social studies.
James A. Grace
1. Budget: Yes. Until you establish educational goals, you don't know what you need for a budget.
2. Charter schools: Yes.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing teachers: No.
5. Creationism: Yes. Rather than teaching one or the other, mention creationism as one potential explanation before moving into what is popularly referred to as science.
6. Prayer: Yes.
7. Curriculum: Generally the emphasis should be on English, math, science, history and geography. You have to have a game plan. The curriculum should follow the educational priorities of the community.
Michael B. Moore
1. Budget: No.
2. Charter Schools: Yes.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing teachers: No.
5. Creationism: It should be given the same attention as any other theory.
6. Prayer: No.
7. Curriculum: Emphasis in elementary and middle school should be on grammar and writing skills, analytical thinking, problem solving and working cooperatively. Some students lack skills in these areas and are unable to communicate effectively.
Michael P. Nagelin
1. Budget: No. I doubt it ever will be.
2. Charter schools: No.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing teachers: No. I do support greater control of personnel employment decisions by principals.
5. Creationism: No. The children should be made aware that various religions have their own theories on the creation of man.
6. Prayer: Yes. It should be ``permitted'' but not required and not ``lead'' by a member of the faculty.
7. Curriculum: Basic reading, writing and mathematics should be introduced at the earliest opportunity (preschool and kindergarten).
Raymond Alan Newlon
1. Budget: Yes.
2. Charter Schools: No.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing teachers: Yes. Testing would be part of teachers' accountability.
5. Creationism: No.
6. Prayer: Yes.
7. Curriculum: We need to provide the best affordable education possible for students. We also need to challenge their minds through core and expanded core subjects involving English, math, sciences and geography.
KENNETH SIGMON
1. Budget: No.
2. Charter schools: No.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing teachers: Yes.
5. Creationism: No.
6. Prayer: Yes. Student initiated, voluntary.
7. Curriculum: Yes. We should emphasize a three-part set of foundation skills - Basic skills: Reading, writing, math, listening speaking; Thinking skills: creative thinking, decision making, problem solving, reasoning; Personal qualities: responsibility, self-esteem, integrity, sociability, self-management.
LOUIS SOSCIA
1. Budget: Yes.
2. Charter schools: No.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing teachers: Yes.
5. Creationism: Yes.
6. Prayer: No. One minute of silence.
7. Curriculum: Yes. Emphasize foreign languages in early grades because of global economy.
GEORGE T. COKER
1. Budget: In terms of dollars, probably yes. However, major reprioritization is needed. Lack of management has led to construction over-run while teachers deserve a raise.
2. Charter schools: No.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing teachers: Not without prior emphasis, awareness, training and understood methodology.
5. Creationism: No.
6. Prayer: Yes. Voluntary prayer is permitted now. Everyone has a minute of reflection.
7. Curriculum: The curriculum is basically sound, although there is no doubt room for improvement. There probably should be some shift toward ``back to basics.''
CLAUDE ``OKIE'' THOMPSON
1. Budget: Yes.
2. Charter schools: No.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing teachers: No.
5. Creationism: No. Elective course only.
6. Prayer: No. Silent period.
7. Curriculum: Yes. Emphasize basics - reading, writing, math, science and economics. De-emphasize electives.
AL WALLACE
1. Budget: No.
2. Charter: No.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing teachers: No. Periodic testing not necessary if Measurements of Effectiveness (MOE) are good.
5. Creationism: Yes. Darwin's evolutionary approach is a theory. This should be balanced by the widely accepted ``creationism'' philosophy so that students are not kept ignorant of a long standing issue. That is what education is all about.
6. Prayer: Yes. With conditions. I support silent prayer. There are many denominations and prayers; therefore, students should be given a moment of silence to pray in their own way. The school system needs to support family values and respond to student needs. The schools also serve as a role model. Providing a moment of silence does not impose upon other student's religious beliefs.
7. Curriculum: Yes. Emphasize technological and career education programs.
ROBERT E. BEARDSLEY:
1. Budget: Yes. I do feel the budget is as adequate as our tax base can provide for. Compared to a city like Plano, Texas - no.
2. Charter schools: No. The House of Delegates could not work through this controversial area and postponed the item for a year. Your own paper on 1-5-95 cited issues of elitism segregation and diversion of money. I understand the governor's position and feel perhaps a solution could be developed.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing teachers: Yes. I also support paying for continuing education .
5. Creationism: No. Not in science class.
6. Prayer: No. Moment of silence, yes.
7. Curriculum: Emphasize the four R's: Retrieval (data) wRiting, Reading and 'Rithmetic. Devote more time and money to technology. Stress computer literacy. Sex education should be required for health reasons alone. Parents should be allowed to handle the societal aspects of sex education for their children. First-rate vocational education facilities should be provided for students who don't intend to go to college. AT LARGE, 4-YEAR TERM (2 VACANCIES)
RAYMOND D. BECK:
1. Budget: Yes.
2. Charter schools: No.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing teachers: Yes.
5. Creationism: No.
6. Prayer: No.
7. Curriculum: Emphasize writing and speaking in a logical and reasonable sequence. Emphasize opportunities for students in vocational school programs, starting in eighth grade. Computer education also essential.
SANDRA C. ``SANDY'' BOWIE:
1. Budget: Yes. But, question is unclear. Which budget? 95-96? Or proposed 96-97?
2. Charter: No.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing teachers: Yes. Any professional should be held responsible, especially when expectations of the job description are clear; accumulative (ongoing progress) assessments identify areas of strength - areas that need to be developed.
5. Creationism: No. The (U.S.) Supreme Court has given our country the directions we need to take.
6. Prayer: No. The Supreme Court has given us our direction. Only student initiated (prayer) - yes. The ``moment of silence'' is part of daily school routine.
7. Curriculum: Each discipline has a very important role to play in the development of students and in promoting that all children are equipped with the necessary knowledge and tools to meet the demands and needs of the 21st century. Each child should be given the opportunity to learn how to efficiently operate a computer. Other technology should be integrated throughout the standards of learning.
Donald R. Bradway:
1. Budget: Yes. The budget proposed by the School Board to the City Council is adequate. The proposed budget will maintain current standards but will not propel the system to the highest level possible for each student.
2. Charter: Yes. Charter schools are one acceptable solution for dealing with education when the traditional school model has not worked. Charter schools require a strict definition of purpose, criteria and goals.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing teachers: Yes. Periodic testing is only one component of the evaluation process. Periodic review and testing of teachers' performance, expertise and instructional capability should be included.
5. Creationism: No. Religious education and training are the responsibility of the family and places of worship, not public education.
6. Prayer: No. A short period of silence may be taken for the students' and teachers' reflection and meditation.
7. Curriculum: Educating students with technology skills is mandatory, Special programs with learning opportunities beyond traditional school models for students with unique requirements, whether gifted and talented or learning disabled, are required. We must provide today's student with lifetime skills in communications (written, verbal and visual) and mathematics to face the changing job market of the 21st century.
Robert J. Brich:
1. Budget: No.
2. Charter schools: Yes. I define charter schools as a school started by a group to provide for individual needs and beliefs. I favor . . . charter schools only if they fall under local school standards and direction.
3. Vouchers: No. Favors allowing parents to decide which schools within their district their children should attend. Vouchers or tax credits could impose severe budget strains or even closure of existing schools.
4. Testing teachers: No. Teachers today are required to complete continuing education programs, professional reviews and periodic observations.
5. Creationism: Yes. Although I am not a practitioner of the creationism concept, I do believe that it should be given appropriate objective exposure as should other alternate approaches to evolution.
6. Prayer: Yes. It is my position that there should be a separation of church and state. I do, however, support a free expression of religion (voluntary prayer) if there is consideration for singular religious beliefs (or non-beliefs) and respect for individual practices. The moment of silence for this purpose is satisfactory.
7. Curriculum: Tailor education to meet the needs of all students (abilities and goals) to provide equity. Give students of all abilities equal attention.
JOSHUA F. EDWARDS SR.
1. Budget: No.
2. Charter schools: No.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing teachers: Yes.
5. Creationism: No.
6. Prayer: No.
7. Curriculum: We have a coordinated curriculum for the school system that will challenge all students. Therefore, the learning and teaching process must complement the curriculum goals and objectives approved by the School Board and administrators of Virginia Beach. A school system curriculum cannot and must not remain static. The school curriculum program should be reviewed annually and when necessary changes must be made in academic courses that are antiquated and incompatible with the mission of the school system.
STEVEN M. EMMANUEL
1. Budget: No. I think we could do much more with what we have. But the budget is small for a city of our size.
2. Charter schools: No.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing teachers: No. This can be accomplished by Gateway testing.
5. Creationism: No.
6. Prayer: No.
7. Curriculum: We need more emphasis on the fine arts and the study of foreign languages.
ANN G. EWING
1. Budget: No.
2. Charter schools: No. This should not be needed.
3. Vouchers: No. This should not be needed.
4. Testing teachers: Yes.
5. Creationism: No.
6. Prayer: No.
7. Curriculum: Yes. Technology and writing/communication skills. Electives should be more meaningful at the secondary level.
VERNON H. FIX
1. Budget: Yes.
2. Charter schools: No. I want our schools to be better.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing teachers: Yes.
5. Creationism: Yes.
6. Prayer: Yes.
7. Curriculum: I would like more academic courses, less social courses and activities.
STUART R. GORDON
1. Budget: While the budget is adequate in dealing with areas such as transportation, power and maintenance, it fails to provide a commitment to excellence in public education. It neglects to address such vital issues as the reduction of pupil-teacher ratio, elimination of portables and the installation of a comprehensive plan to bring technology into the classroom.
2. Charter schools: In concept, I would support public funds being utilized for public charter schools which conform to state and local guidelines. Before I would implement the program, I would want to be satisfied we are not creating enclaves for the elite.
3. Vouchers: I am opposed to the use of public funds in any form (vouchers or tax credits) for the support of private or parochial schools.
4. Testing teachers: To have teachers take periodic tests would not demonstrate their teaching performance. I would support serious performance assessment which goes beyond the principal's periodic observation of the teacher in the classroom. I would create peer review committees in each school.
5. Creationism: No. Creationism is a religious belief which can only be taught in a historical context together with other world religions.
6. Prayer: No. I am strongly opposed to any state-sponsored prayer in school. I do not, however, object to a moment of silence.
7. Curriculum: I would hesitate to make that decision without firsthand knowledge which I would gain if elected to the school board.
JOHN MASON
1. Budget: Yes.
2. Charter schools: I'm not opposed to charter schools.
3. Vouchers: No. I favor the credits.
4. Testing of teachers: No.
5. Creationism: No.
6. Prayer: As allowed by the First Amendment.
7. Curriculum: Reading comprehension, writing and speaking skills should be emphasized. I would need to look at the curriculum in greater detail to determine if subjects should be de-emphasized.
GEORGE MELNYK JR.
1. Budget: Yes.
2. Charter schools: Due to the complexity of the issue, I have not been able to formulate an educated opinion.
3. Vouchers: Yes, as long as they will not increase costs to the city.
4. Testing teachers: Yes.
5. Creationism: Yes.
6. Prayer: Yes.
7. Curriculum: We need to emphasize reading, writing, arithmetic and the sciences.
MIKE MITCHELL
1. Budget: Yes. The budget proposed by the School Board is adequate for the 1996-97 school year but the reduction by the City Manager will adversely affect the school system's ability to manage all the programs proposed.
2. Charter Schools: No.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Teacher Testing: No. Virginia has one of the highest minimum required scores on the National Teacher's Examination in the country. Adding a requirement for periodic testing will create an additional expense for the school system. A more effective and less expensive way of identifying poor performers would be through peer reviews.
5. Creationism: Yes. Creationism is a religious concept. The evolution of religion and its impact is an important part of history. While I do not think it appropriate to have creationism taught in science classes, I think it should be addressed as one of the precepts of numerous religions during history classes.
6. Prayer: Yes. I am not a proponent of dictating a particular prayer that every student, regardless of religious affiliation, must recite. However, I wholeheartedly support a moment of silence.
7. Curriculum: In grades K-3, greater emphasis should be placed on teaching the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic. An inability to read well will adversely affect the child's ability to succeed. If the student does not know his addition, subtraction, multiplication and division tables they will have problems at every other level of math. If they cannot communicate their ideas in clear, simple sentence structure, they will never be able to communicate more complex ideas.
JANE NOSONCHUK
1. Budget: Would any budget be adequate considering the changes the public wants to see made? However, $390 million should help cover some of the recent budget indiscretions and set us on the right road.
2. Charter schools: No. We do not need to contract for strangers to control the education of our children.
3. Vouchers: No, this would undermine our efforts to improve public schools.
4. Teacher testing: No. I feel that state requirements for continuing education should be adequate, and, if not, these are the requirements which should be improved. More importantly, we must provide adequate staff development and inservicing to insure the highest caliber teachers.
5. Creationism: Yes. As much as evolution has been taught as a theory which many people believe, creationism should have an equal platform.
6. Prayer: Yes, individually or as a specific club activity in the case of a religious club. Prayer should never be mandated or disruptive to education.
7. Curriculum: The curriculum is good. We need to let teachers use creative methods in getting the children to absorb the information. If anything, we need to check the ``at risk'' programs to make sure we expect appropriate objectives for children who may have never had even the basic necessities and foundations at home to prepare them for school. I would need more specific information to say whether a program in the curriculum should be de-emphasized.
JAMES P. POLK
1. Budget: No.
2. Charter schools: No, not at this time of financial crisis.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing teachers: It would depend on what you mean by testing.
5. Creationism: Yes, but only as part of a class outlining different religious views about origins of earth.
6. Prayers: Yes. Privately to self as it already is.
7. Curriculum: Our curriculum is fine. No de-emphasis but more emphasis on ecology, computers, voc ed training, increased gifted programs.
MICHAEL PROKOPCHAK
Budget: No.
Charter schools: No.
Vouchers: Yes for magnet schools. No for private schools.
Testing teachers: No.
Creationism: No.
Prayer: Moment of silence.
Curriculum: The curriculum should be structured to include technology and new advances in the appropriate curriculum.
ROBERT C. MANDIGO JR.
1. Budget: Yes.
2. Charter schools: Yes.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing teachers: No.
5. Creationism: No.
6. Prayer: Yes. The moment of silence now commonly used is a satisfactory mechanism allowing students to pray or not to pray. It allows those who wish to pray the opportunity to do so and does not infringe on the rights of those who choose not to participate.
7. Curriculum: More emphasis on reading; reading comprehension; writing, including grammar, style and spelling; and mathematical problem-solving skills at all grade levels.
PEDRO RODRIGUEZ
1. Budget: Yes.
2. Charter: No answer.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing of teachers: Yes. I favor periodic reviews from board members' committees.
5. Creationism: No. It may violate the rights of those who oppose it.
6. Prayer: No answer.
7. Curriculum: Back to basics!
NEIL ROSE
1. Budget: The proposed $400 million budget was adequate. The School Administration staff needs to project the cuts required by the City Council counter proposal and the Board needs to decide if its mission can still be met.
2. Charter schools: No, I would like to see the effort being put into pushing for charter schools put into improving our existing schools.''
3. Vouchers: No, but I will listen to arguments in favor of vouchers.
4. Testing of teachers: I believe in a system where we select the great teachers and use them to evaluate their peers, using that as a basis for constructive criticism of peers.
5. Creationism: This issue concerns me because teaching creationism, in effect, teaches religion. However, I understand how some parents feel that the teaching of evolution is an affront to their religious beliefs. I think it is important that our children understand scientific analysis and differing points of view.
6. Prayer: I oppose public prayers in schools. In our society it is impossible to come up with a meaningful prayer upon which everyone can agree. Instead, children can be encouraged to pray at home or in their church, synagogue or mosque and we can continue the moment of silence in our schools.
7. Curriculum: A challenging curriculum is needed for all students, be they at the magnet school, Open Campus or any other school in our system. All of our students will learn more if challenged to do so. We should focus on providing our children the tools they will need to compete in the world marketplace and should look at ways to challenge them more.
FRANK E. ROUGH
This candidate did not submit answers to our questions.
SONJA WATTS
1. Budget: No.
2. Charter schools: Yes.
3. Vouchers: No answer.
4. Testing of teachers: Yes.
5. Creationism: No answer.
6. Prayer: On a voluntary basis.
7. Curriculum: We need to consider de-emphasizing any courses that have become watered down that they actually hinder our children from obtaining high SAT scores.
ROSEMARY WILSON
1. Budget: The 1995-96 school budget is by no means adequate. It was developed by the same group that developed the budget of 1994-95, which had the $12.1 million deficit. I think the school personnel should be applauded for cutting the costs, tightening their belts as they have so far this year. After a careful analysis of the proposed 1996-97 school board budget, I believe the budget to be adequate.
2. Charter schools: We need to concentrate on Virginia Beach Public Schools and strive to improve what we have.
3. Vouchers: Vouchers are a legislative issue. As a member of the Virginia Beach Public School Board, Virginia Beach schools have to be my main focus.
4. Testing of teachers: The school and teachers within the school should be accountable. The principals, other administrators, and the rest of the school staff should also. Rather than paper and pencil tests, which do not measure a teacher's effectiveness, perhaps the student achievement as measured by progress on the school's strategic plan could be a fair and equitable measure of school and teacher effectiveness.
5. Creationism: I believe a well-rounded and well-educated person should see all sides of an issue. I believe since creationism has such a large following, it should at least be addressed as one of the theories as to the beginning of time.
6. Prayer: Yes, during the moment of silence.
7. Curriculum: Yes. We should make sure our children have the foundations of reading, being able to write and computation skills. We should also have the basics of science, social studies, technology and the arts. VIRGINIA BEACH \ ARTHUR T. TATE
Because he is running unopposed, Tate did not seek endorsements and so he chose not to answer these questions. BLACKWATER
Delceno Miles
Because she's not seeking any endorsements, she chose not to answer these questions. She was appointed to the board in March and is running unopposed. Miles said she wanted to dedicate as much time as possible to learning the job. LYNNHAVEN
MIGUEL J. ``MIKE'' ARSUAGA
1. Budget: Yes.
2. Charter schools: Yes.
3. Vouchers: I need to know more about both sides to answer.
4. Testing teachers: Yes.
5. Creationism: Yes, but only mentioned in connection with social studies. It is not science.
6. Prayer: No, although a moment of silence is all right.
7. Curriculum: De-emphasize outcome based aspects. Return to basics. The curriculum as it stands now needs a tune-up more than an overall. It is 98 percent adequate but needs more emphasis in some areas such as writing.
NANCY DAHLMAN GUY
1. Budget: Given the fiscal realities, I believe that the budget which was approved for the school year 1996-97 is adequate. If fully implemented, it should meet the needs of Virginia Beach's students at this time. Since the City Council has not completely funded that budget, and since no one I have spoken with, including Dr. Jenney, has been able to tell me exactly what will be deleted as a result of the $15 million differential, I cannot give you an opinion on the adequacy of that budget.
2. Charter schools: No. Although charter schools are an intriguing idea, and the bill which was proposed and defeated in the last General Assembly is very narrow, I still feel that they are not something we need to consider in Virginia Beach.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing teachers: We do need evaluations of teachers that include assurance of their continued mastery of their subject matter. I am not sure that the evaluation should necessarily be some type of standardized, multiple choice test.
5. Creationism: No.
6. Prayer: I have no problem with continuing the ``moment of silence'' during which students may pray if they wish. Anything beyond that would, according to the opinions of the Supreme Court, violate the ``establishment'' and ``free expression'' clauses of the First Amendment of the Constitution.
7. Curriculum: Our curriculum should continue to emphasize the basic skills of reading, writing and math. However, I support the continuation of a broad based curriculum that includes the sciences, social sciences and arts as well. I believe we must improve technology education since we live in a world where computer literacy is also a ``basic skill.''
BEN A. KRAUSE
1. Budget: Yes, for now. But adequacy depends upon the objective we want to achieve.
2. Charter schools: No, I favor making public schools so good parents will not want their children to go elsewhere.
3. Vouchers: No, I favor making public schools so good parents will not want their children to go elsewhere.
4. Testing teachers: Yes.
5. Creationism: Yes, give the students knowledge of theories and encourage them to think.
6. Prayer: No, if you mean state-sponsored or school-mandated prayer. I support a moment of silence.
7. Curriculum: Math, science, English, history, geography and social studies should be required of all students at all grade levels. Band, orchestra, chorus and P.E. are important and should continue to be taught. The curriculum could de-emphasize subjects like home economics in favor of subjects such as accounting or computer science.
J. GAIL CAYCE SCHWARTZER
1. Budget: No, funding has not kept pace with growth.
2. Charter schools: No, unless incorporated within the public schools.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing teachers: No, but I support continuing education required and provided by the school system.
5. Creationism: No.
6. Prayer: No. A moment of silence is fine.
7. Curriculum: We need to implement the HIV/AIDS curriculum the state recommended in 1992. Current Family Life needs upgrading if we don't. PRINCESS ANNE
FRANKLAND P. BABONIS
1. Budget: No.
2. Charter schools: No.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing teachers: Yes.
5. Creationism: No.
6. Prayer: No. I support a moment of silence.
7. Curriculum: I would leave it the way it is until I thoroughly reviewed all schools. De-emphasizing would require a detailed review by parents, teachers, administrators and the state.
ARCHIE WILBER ``WILL'' DEBAUN, JR.
1. Budget: Yes.
2. Charter schools: No.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing teachers: Yes.
5. Creationism: Yes
6. Prayer: No. But, I believe in the moment of silence.
7. Curriculum: The three R's - reading, writing and arithmetic should be emphasized the most. De-emphasize social engineering.
H. L. ``Les'' Powell, Jr.
1. Budget: No.
2. Charter schools: No.
3. Vouchers: No.
4. Testing teachers: Yes.
5. Creationism: No.
6. Prayer: Yes, in the form of a moment of silence. There are a lot of different religions and beliefs in our school system. This moment of silence gives students the chance to reflect on those beliefs.
7. Curriculum: The school system has a procedure for establishing curriculum that includes both teachers and parents. Adjustments are made when the curriculum committees for the various subjects recommend changes.
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