THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 21, 1996 TAG: 9607190023
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J5 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Opinion
SOURCE: MARGARET EDDS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: 162 lines
Three years ago, when Virginia government was in the thick of trying to upgrade day-care support for working families, the notion of a series of regional centers was hot.
In concept, the Centers for Families that Work would have been a resource and referral arm for beleagured parents, a sort of one-stop public shopping center for finding out which day-care center was most convenient, had openings, and could deal with Johnny's asthma or Mary's hyperactivity.
That idea, since abandoned in political reshuffling, is at the heart of the latest battle in the culture wars that have riddled parts of state government since Gov. George Allen took office 2 1/2 years ago.
In education, social services and the environment, conservative activists have replaced more moderate appointees on boards and commissions and have set about dismantling the work of their predecessors.
The full effects may not be evident for some time, but to my mind, the current furor over the centers is a pointed example of why the changes are dangerous business.
The latest controversy emerges at a time when Allen is, in effect, on a roll. Bolstered by his administration's aggressive marketing and recruitment efforts, the state has scored a series of economic-development triumphs.
Within his own party, he has never been stronger. The nettlesome problem of a state party chairman who undercut the governor at every turn has been eliminated. Meanwhile, two potential intraparty rivals have been taken down a notch by recent events.
Oliver North, who might contest Allen for the U.S. Senate in 2000, failed to stop Sen. John Warner's renomination. And Northern Virginia home-schooling advocate Mike Farris lost out to Rep. Bob McDonnell in a contest for a spot on the GOP's platform committee in San Diego.
But the appearance just now of a bomb-throwing, 32-page report and cover letter attacking the group that spawned and promoted the Centers for Families that Work gives pause. It is a nagging reminder that the ``Allen revolution'' is not just about jobs, lowered crime and folksy good humor. In this case, it is also about paranoia leading to allegations that established professionals are trying to subvert the minds of young children.
The report, which with stunning overkill has been sent to the FBI for criminal inquiry, alleges a 1993 bid-rigging conspiracy involving the Virginia Council on Child Day Care and Early Childhood Programs.
The council, which was revamped after Allen took office, was sunsetted out of existence last month.
Prepared for the Allen group by an Ohio anti-trust attorney, the report alleges that the old council allowed the same agencies that won pilot contracts for the Centers for Families that Work to help write the specifications. Those specs ensured that the agencies would receive the contracts, the report alleges.
The Planning Council in Norfolk is among the groups cited.
A fuller reading of the report and the cover letter by Jeff Garnett, a Louisa lawyer whom Allen appointed as chairman of the council, suggests that the deeper concern is the possible introduction of liberal ideas on gender roles, political boycotts and homosexuality to young children.
Based on the report, which describes sinister code names for the council and conspiratorial educational theories, Garnett warned Allen of attempts ``to form the minds of our young children with a radical ideology before they enter public schools.''
Garnett, who sounds far more reasoned in person than on paper, elaborated in an interview. ``I come from a conservative perspective, . . . (but) I'd be equally upset if the National Rifle Association had a curriculum that tried to teach gun loading to 2-year-olds.''
Still, at bottom, the controversy boils down to complaints over (1) a contractual arrangement and (2) an ``Anti-Bias Curriculum'' destributed by a national organization with ties to the agencies that got the Centers for Families that Work contracts.
State Auditor of Public Accounts Walter Kucharski says he believes any infractions in the contracts were technical and unintentional. And the ``anti-bias'' curriculum, while certainly not everyone's cup of tea, is an optional plan contained in one publication of 100 put out by the national group.
Of far-greater concern to Virginians should be what happens to ideas such as the resource centers when they run up against culture wars. The answer is: They disintegrate.
Garnett says the state social-services department is planning a program that would post on the Internet a digest of day-care options in various communities.
That's a far cry from centers where working parents could speak to a knowledgeable person about their specific day-care needs and find guidance - about as far as the gap between allegations of sinister day-care movements and reality.
RICHMOND Three years ago, when Virginia government was in the thick of trying to upgrade day-care support for working families, the notion of a series of regional centers was hot.
In concept, the Centers for Families that Work would have been a resource and referral arm for beleagured parents, a sort of one-stop public shopping center for finding out which day-care center was most convenient, had openings, and could deal with Johnny's asthma or Mary's hyperactivity.
That idea, since abandoned in political reshuffling, is at the heart of the latest battle in the culture wars that have riddled parts of state government since Gov. George Allen took office 2 1/2 years ago.
In education, social services and the environment, conservative activists have replaced more moderate appointees on boards and commissions and have set about dismantling the work of their predecessors.
The full effects may not be evident for some time, but to my mind, the current furor over the centers is a pointed example of why the changes are dangerous business.
The latest controversy emerges at a time when Allen is, in effect, on a roll. Bolstered by his administration's aggressive marketing and recruitment efforts, the state has scored a series of economic-development triumphs.
Within his own party, he has never been stronger. The nettlesome problem of a state party chairman who inexplicably undercut the governor at every turn has been eliminated. Meanwhile, two potential intraparty rivals have been taken down a notch by recent events.
Oliver North, who might contest Allen for the U.S. Senate in 2000, failed to stop Sen. John Warner's renomination. And Northern Virginia home-schooling advocate Mike Farris lost out to Rep. Bob McDonnell in a contest for a spot on the GOP's platform committee in San Diego.
But the appearance just now of a bomb-throwing, 32-page report and cover letter attacking the group that spawned and promoted the Centers for Families that Work gives pause. It is a nagging reminder that the ``Allen revolution'' is not just about jobs, lowered crime and folksy good humor. In this case, it is also about paranoia leading to allegations that established professionals are trying to subvert the minds of young children.
The report, which with stunning overkill has been discussed with the FBI, alleges a 1993 bid-rigging conspiracy involving the Virginia Council on Child Day Care and Early Childhood Programs.
The council, which was revamped after Allen took office, was sunsetted out of existence last month.
Prepared for the Allen group by an Ohio anti-trust attorney, the report alleges that the old council allowed the same agencies that won pilot contracts for the Centers for Families that Work to help write the specifications. Those specs ensured that the agencies would receive the contracts, the report alleges.
The Planning Council in Norfolk is among the groups cited.
A fuller reading of the report and the cover letter by Jeff Garnett, a Louisa lawyer whom Allen appointed as chairman of the council, suggests that the deeper concern is the possible introduction of liberal ideas on gender roles, political boycotts and homosexuality to young children.
Based on the report, which describes sinister code names for the council and conspiratorial educational theories, Garnett warned Allen of attempts ``to form the minds of our young children with a radical ideology before they enter public schools.''
Garnett, who sounds far more reasoned in person than on paper, elaborated in an interview. ``I come from a conservative perspective, . . . (but) I'd be equally upset if the National Rifle Association had a curriculum that tried to teach gun loading to 2-year-olds.''
Still, at bottom, the controversy boils down to complaints over (1) a contractual arrangement and (2) an ``Anti-Bias Curriculum'' destributed by a national organization with ties to the agencies that got the Centers for Families that Work contracts.
State Auditor of Public Accounts Walter Kucharski says he believes any infractions in the contracts were technical and unintentional. And the ``anti-bias'' curriculum, while certainly not everyone's cup of tea, is an optional plan contained in one publication of 100 put out by the national group.
Of far-greater concern to Virginians should be what happens to ideas such as the resource centers when they run up against culture wars. The answer is: They disintegrate.
Garnett says the state social-services department is planning a program that would post on the Internet a digest of day-care options in various communities.
That's a far cry from centers where working parents could speak to a knowledgeable person about their specific day-care needs and find guidance - about as far as the gap between allegations of sinister day-care movements and reality. MEMO: Ms. Edds is an editorial writer for The Virginian-Pilot. by CNB