THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 1, 1996 TAG: 9605010390
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ESTHER DISKIN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
The Hampton Roads chapter of the Christian Coalition held a forum Tuesday night to question the city's school board candidates on issues ranging from fiscal management to discipline for unruly students.
Twenty-five of the 43 candidates running for the Virginia Beach school board attended the forum at the Regent University library. Each one had four minutes to answer about four or five questions from a citizen panel composed of four coalition members.
The questions, which were different for each candidate, revolved around some core concerns of the group's membership.
While candidates fielded some questions about budget management, there was a greater emphasis on issues involving students in the classroom.
One central theme was the role of the federal and state government in setting student performance standards or overall education goals. The coalition, which was founded by religious broadcaster Pat Robertson, is a strong supporter of rolling back government involvement and giving parents greater control over curriculum issues.
Panelists' questions, and scattered applause from about 60 people in the audience, reflected that perspective:
Do you agree with the psycho-therapeutic techniques that are being used in the schools today? Do you think it should be done without parents' knowledge?
With some of our at-risk students, their parents aren't that interested in them. Is there anything the school board can do about that?
Would you support a citizen education committee to review the curriculum?
At times, panelists could not resist showing their opinions when asking their questions, particularly when it came to criticism of the National Education Association and its local chapter in Virginia Beach. ``The NEA and the VBEA attack Christians and Christian values,'' said panelist Billy Seabolt, chairman of the Westside Young Republicans.
``Would you support them?''
The three other members of the panel were Marie Bain, a member of the local chapter of Concerned Women of America; Ed Kreyling, a former member of the Virginia Beach school board; and Ellen B. Beamon, a member of the conservative Eagle Forum.
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA BEACH SCHOOL BOARD RACE CANDIDATES by CNB