Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 1, 1995 TAG: 9510020001
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Here's what the candidates had to say on the subject of the Goals 2000 program.
Do you support Gov. George Allen's decision not to seek Goals 2000 federal funds to develop goals for improving math and science instruction, reducing dropouts and providing safe schools?
Bedford County
District 1:
Russell "Butch" Wright: "No. As I understand Goals 2000, there is very little federal funds involved. I do support local and state programs to improve math and science instruction."
Wesley Gordon Jr.: Did not respond.
District 5:
Eugene Erb: "No. As I understand the governor's decision not to accept the federal funds for planning was due to not wanting more federal control over state education - [47] other states have obviously not had the same concern. ... I think we could benefit from the federal funds in our state planning process."
Betty Earle: Did not respond.
District 6:
Hunter Hale Jr.: "No. Bedford County already has multitudes of mandates from the federal government. Why shouldn't we take advantage of their offer to fund some of our education. I feel Governor Allen is missing the boat."
Shirley McCabe: Did not respond.
District 7:
Stanley Butler: "I agree with his motives for not seeking the money - more federal control of state school operations and other specific points; however, we need to look at the greater good and does the good - the money allocated and the programs - outweigh the bad - federal control and other specific points. At this point, I am not familiar enough with all the reasons that Allen is not seeking the federal funds to make a decision."
Benny Shrader: "No. In refusing federal funds, Governor Allen is out of step with the public education community. Public schools depend almost entirely on government funding. Is Governor Allen proposing to do away with public education? Even though many funds have disagreeable strings attached, refusing Goals 2000 was not in the interest of public education."
Botetourt County
Valley District:
Michael Beahm: "I do not support Governor Allen's decision not to seek Goals 2000 federal funds. We collect substantial federal monies for a myriad of uses - some with and some without strings attached. ... The 'strings attached' argument is political rhetoric."
Fincastle District:
Sally Eads: "No. We need all of the help we can get to address disparities in math/science instruction, especially at elementary levels."
David Emeigh: "Yes."
L.W. "Jack" Leffel Jr.: Did not respond.
Blue Ridge District:
James Ruhland: Did not respond.
Craig County:
Alleghany District:
James Cady: Did not respond.
Simmonsville District:
Bonnie Hutchison: Did not respond.
Rodney Williams: Did not respond.
New Castle District:
Thomas Zimmerman: Did not respond.
Two at-large seats:
Patrick Myers: Did not respond.
Brenda Allen: Did not respond.
Robert Knepp: "Yes. Not finished with my research yet, but from information currently available, I'm not sure that I agree with the Goals 2000 project."
Hettie Farley: Did not respond.
Floyd County
District A:
Clay Link: Did not respond.
District B:
David Sulzen: "No. I believe his position on the matter is a political ploy and is totally inappropriate."
Cheryl Whitlock-Allen: Did not respond.
District C:
Howard Cundiff Jr.: Did not respond.
District D:
Marie Mathis: "In some areas, yes, and in other areas, no."
Margaret Hubbard: Did not respond.
District E:
Douglas Phillips: Did not respond.
Louellen Sharp: Did not respond.
Franklin County
Blackwater District:
Shirley Jamison: Did not respond.
Van Flora: "Yes. The way I understand this is we take federal money, and then Washington tells us how to spend all of our money. I think people in Franklin County know what's best for Franklin County."
Boone District:
Guy Buford: Did not respond.
Snow Creek District:
Terry Lovell: "No. I believe it was a political move and cost state education needed funds."
G.B. Washburn Jr.: "Yes. Once obtained, Goals 2000 would be a partially funded federal mandate."
Union Hall District:
Perry D. Hambrick: "No. We were one of only [three] states that did not vote to use the funds. His reasoning does not hold water."
Rocky Mount District:
Steve Flora: Did not respond.
Gills Creek District:
Jack Newbill: Did not respond.
At-large (one seat):
Amanda Davis: "Yes. I definitely applaud Governor Allen's decision not to seek Goals 2000 federal funds. Goals 2000 is not the direction I want to see our school system go in. The governor made the right decision. Goals 2000 obscured the real purpose of our educational system."
William Helm Jr.: Did not respond.
Giles County:
Western District:
J. Lewis Webb: Did not respond.
Central District:
Joseph Gollehon: Did not respond.
Carolyn Linkous: Did not respond.
Mary-Paul "Widget" Shannon: "No. Any time the federal government wants to give us money for a specific situation, take it, but at least be aware that the possibility always exists they may take it away or stop the program."
Eastern District:
Jeffrey Wiegand: "No, I do not support Governor Allen's decision. ... The guidelines are voluntary and flexible enough for state and local school boards to use the funds as they please."
Ronald Whitehead: Did not respond.
At large (two seats):
J.B. Buckland: Did not respond.
John Billos: Did not respond.
Phillip Morris: Did not respond.
Montgomery County
District B:
Robert Anderson: "Yes. It is nice to receive federal funds, but they should for the most part come with no strings attached."
Bernard Jortner: "No. Goals 2000 is a positive program, providing federal funds with fewer strings than usual. It should be accepted."
Oscar Williams: Did not respond.
District E:
Jack LeDoux: "Yes. Goals 2000 is an Outcome Based Education program which was canceled by [former Governor Douglas] Wilder. We do not need the feds telling us how to teach our kids. Goals 2000 subverts parental authority. The Constitution does not give the federal government any educational authority."
Victor Sheppard: Did not respond.
Michael Smith: Did not respond.
District F:
Richard Edwards: "No. This is an access to federal funds with no strings attached. The program allows a broad range of options to meet the qualification for these funds. Governor Allen is simply making a political statement - as irrational as it may be."
James Klagge: "No. I have seen no evidence that accepting this money endangers the autonomy of local schools in any way."
District G:
Peggy Arrington: "No. These are precisely the areas that are most in need of additional funding."
Wat Hopkins: "I do not. The governor should seek the funding."
Pulaski County
Ingles District:
Ronald Chaffin: "It is difficult to answer because I do not know his reasons for not seeking the funds. The Goals 2000 seems to be compatible with many of the goals of localities - safe schools, higher academic standards."
Barbara Chrisley: "Yes, I basically support Allen's decision not seek Goals 2000 federal funds..."
Robinson District:
Sybil Atkinson: "I am all for money coming into a school system, but I always question strings that might be attached. This was a tough call for all involved."
Rhea Saltz: Did not respond.
Massie District:
Jeff Bain: "No. My advice is to take the money. We paid the money in as taxes into the federal government, and it seems that we at least ought to get it back for local school systems that need every penny available. However, my preference would be for the federal government to drop the Goals 2000 program, period, since I feel this is the beginning of an attempt at more social engineering. But until the program is discontinued or until strings are placed on the use of the funds which are not in the best interest of Virginia, the funds should be accepted."
Nathan Tuck: "No. I would hope the governor has a plan to accomplish those goals proposed and more."
Draper District:
Lewis Pratt: Did not respond.
Cloyd District:
Beth Nelson: "Absolutely not! Failing to apply for that money appears foolhardy to me. There are no strings attached, and should unacceptable requirements be introduced later, we could withdraw from the program."
Carolyn Brown: "No. It would be more funding for the schools. It's nothing different than what we're doing now."
Roanoke County
Catawba District:
William "Bill" Brown: "I have not been able to research this enough to comment yet."
John Reed: "Yes. Goals 2000 is a cop-out for weak schools. It changes the emphasis on knowledge, facts and information to values and attitudes. If all students are to succeed under the Goals 2000 program, standards will be lowered. The school system should teach basic learning skills which help the students to adjust to rapidly changing demands of future occupations."
Marion Roark: Did not respond.
Cave Spring District:
William Irvin III: "No. Although I disapprove of government mandates in many cases, the educational institutions need the federal dollars and we are generally supporting the fundamentals of Goals 2000 anyway."
Carol White: "Yes. We do not need any further federal involvement in our schools. Localities need to be able to set some of these policies, not the federal Department of Education. Although many people feel there are no such mandates attached to the money in Goals 2000, I am skeptical. Also, the percentage of money received from the federal government is quite small."
Vern Jordahl: "Anyone who studies Goals 2000 realizes that it seeks to do much more than improve some programs, reduce dropouts and create safer schools. It is a colossal step into educational malpractice because of its massive move in the direction of 'affective' education which violates three areas in education: the Pupil Privacy Protection Act; the principle of not establishing a federally controlled educational system and local community standards; beliefs of parents and whole school districts are undermined when affective education psychologically manipulates the attitudes and values of students. Most reprehensible is its inherent system of building psychological 'personality profiles' on our students which will follow them the rest of their lives."
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB