THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 8, 1996 TAG: 9610080424
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: At Issue: education
SOURCE: BY TOM HOLDEN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 160 lines
When Karen I. Brandl hears talk about the government's role in education, her thoughts turn not to another program or a Washington directive but to the home where, she believes, education begins.
It's not that she's opposed to government help; she understands that government must fund schools and provide incentives for working parents to pay for the staggering costs of higher education.
But it is at home that a child's education begins, where young minds first develop - not in Washington, Richmond or the school board dais.
``It bothers me when people tell the government, `You have to educate my kid,' '' she said. ``There is too much government now. I think parents have to get more involved in their children's education, as well as their everyday lives. They have to be there for them, so that the children feel good about themselves.
``You can't let the schools or the government take care of it.''
Brandl and her husband, Steve, are the parents of two school-age children, Alex, 10, and Laura, 7, both of whom attend Windsor Oaks Elementary School. Both parents are pleased with the work the school's teachers do and consider their children's educational progress to be excellent.
Windsor Oaks has about 700 students. The neighborhood is a mix of sturdy ranchers and two-story frame houses. About a third of the students receive free or reduced-price lunch. The school's test scores are solid - not the best in the division, but respectable - and the school runs some innovative programs, particularly one that encourages students to read. It is believed to have bumped up overall reading scores.
``Kids want to learn,'' she said. ``They want to give 100 percent, but parents have to back them. Without proper support from home, they'll fall flat on their faces. I'm sure there are a good percentage of children who will succeed on their own, but just imagine what it would be like it we supported all the kids.''
The election poses some problems for Brandl. Active in her children's school, Brandl is a regular at PTA meetings and a member of a school committee that tracks student, parent and teacher attitudes. Given her involvement, she is not happy about her choice of candidates this year.
``I don't care for any of the candidates, but I'm going for the Republicans. I don't like Clinton. I have intentionally stayed away from the political arena, and I know that's not right. I'm a patriot, but I made a decision this year to not get involved. I'm just too disappointed,'' she said.
Like any parent, Brandl worries about juvenile crime and is hopeful the school system will prepare her children for a 21st century job market. To that end, she favors increased funding for schools.
But she is mindful that what schools need first is to ground children in the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic. Once that is done, more complex tasks, such as computer literacy, will come naturally.
Brandl said the ingredients for a successful educational system are stable homes, good schools, an active community and, perhaps last of all, government help.
``I think parental involvement is critical to ensuring that children get the best education possible,'' she said. ``Kids like to be recognized, and children want to do well. When they do well, parents should encourage them.
``I know that schools get a lot of money from the state, but we're doing a lot on our own here right now.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo of Karen I. Brandl and her children on
page B1 by CHARLIE MEADS, The Virginian-Pilot
Photos of candidates
Graphic
BRANDL'S QUESTION FOR THE CANDIDATES:\ In many households, both
parents have to work to pay the bills. This leaves less and less
time for parenting and staying involved in their children's school
work. What can government do to help parents have more time for
their kids?
SENATE
John Warner's response: ``Too many parents are working harder,
but enjoying the fruits of their labors less. Today, more than 40
percent of the average worker's income is consumed by local, state
and federal taxes. This burden is depriving parents of the
opportunity to meet the daily needs of their children, to volunteer
in their children's schools, and to participate with their children
in a variety of childhood experiences. This burden must be reduced.
We must balance the federal budget - clearing the way to reducing
the national debt and providing taxpayers long-deserved relief -
enabling Virginia's parents to decide for themselves how they will
spend, save and invest more of their hard-earned money, and giving
them more time to be with their children.''
Mark Warner's response: ``I have three little girls. Like all
parents, I want to make sure that I get to see my children grow up.
The employees in my business work hard, but we understand and
support their family commitments. As a businessman, I will have
credibility with the business community to encourage family-friendly
policies. I also believe that we should make use of changing
technology and allow people to do some of their work from home.
Telecommuting, while not applicable to every job, is pro-family,
pro-environment and often cost-free for the government.''
HOUSE
2nd District
Owen B. Pickett's response: ``A family's goals and priorities
must remain a family function, and the government cannot become
involved and should not attempt to substitute its judgment for that
of the family. Most parents recognize the benefits to their children
of a sound education. Unfortunately, some do not. With compulsory
school attendance laws, teachers are severely challenged in those
cases where a student doesn't receive the support of his or her
family. Many teachers work extremely hard to fill this void. In a
broad sense, government can help families by encouraging a strong
economy that provides jobs and economic opportunity. While
government may be helpful in creating opportunities for children and
families, it cannot compel performance.''
John F. Tate's response: ``By cutting taxes across the board, we
can give significant amounts of money back to hard-working families,
potentially giving one parent more time that they can spend with
their children instead of working virtually half of each year just
to pay their taxes.''
3rd District
Robert C. Scott's response: ``One of the most important things
that government can do is provide afterschool programs. In the
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act re-authorization, we
attempted to include significant funding to give students
constructive things to do with their time, particularly with adult
guidance.''
Elsie Goodwyn Holland's response: ``Nothing. They elected to have
children and they have to know they have responsibilities. There is
this concept that government can solve everything, but government
cannot raise their children for them. They should make decisions
about their children before they have them. Children should be
reared by the family. People should think long and hard before
having children. Schools have guidance counselors and teachers and
they all give a lot of love; there is no federal program anywhere
that can do more.''
4th District
Norman Sisisky's response: ``I think there are more and more
families in which both parents are forced to work. And that should
be a matter of choice, not necessity. But the government can't make
parents spend more time with their children. What we can do is work
to foster economic growth so there'll be more jobs, better jobs and
better-paying jobs.''
Anthony J. Zevgolis' response: ``A tax credit would encourage
mothers to stay at home with their kids. I think parents need to
make demands on their local governing body and their school
officials that any activities in the schools accommodate their
schedules. They need to get involved. Right now we have a meeting
once a year at our high school, and it involves parents, business
leaders, teachers, school leaders, political leaders, civic
organizations and the media. And each year we actually divide up
into groups, and they would give their No. 1 priority for the coming
year. Everyone's got to participate. The bottom line is, education
is everybody's problem.''
KEYWORDS: U.S. SENATE RACE VIRGINIA CANDIDATE ISSUES
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