
DATE: Tuesday, October 28, 1997             TAG: 9710280230

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Decision '97 

SOURCE: BY NIA NGINA MEEKS, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH                        LENGTH:   89 lines

AT ISSUE: ONE FAMILY'S SCHOOLS ARE BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC

For years, Susan Taylor Hansen and her husband, Robert, have been private-school parents.

They were concerned about the quality of their children's education and the environment in which they learned. She, an environmental lawyer, and he, a neurologist, led busy lives. They didn't want to have to worry whether their kids were getting the best schooling, if teacher morale was down, if resources were shaky.

``We wouldn't have a lot of time to watchdog the school,'' Hansen said.

Last year, that ideology changed a bit. After interviewing the teacher- and principal-to-be, the Hansens enrolled their youngest, Taylor, in John Tyler Elementary School. Taylor is in second grade. The decision was mainly a matter of logistics, closer to an aunt who could pick Taylor up after school along with her cousins.

The school staff continues to impress Susan Taylor Hansen, but she's afraid things will change as Taylor gets older.

``Far and away, the most important resource they have is the teacher. But the roof leaks - right on the teacher's head,'' Hansen said. ``The teacher is going to get tired of getting her hair wet.''

Nobody likes working in adverse conditions, teachers included. If the teachers bail out, the education level will plummet.

Evidence of that is already showing up in the SAT scores, Hansen said.

``We have good results in elementary education,'' she said. ``We're somehow losing something in the middle and high school levels.''

Which is why the Hansens still have two middle-school-age children in private school. Despite the expense, she doesn't see it as an excuse to spend public dollars on private education. Vouchers should be a non-issue.

Hansen grew up in Utah, which is ``very public school.'' Her mother, in fact, was a teachers union president and was appalled to hear that her grandchildren were in private schools.

In retrospect, Hansen believes private schooling was the best option for the social and nurturing environment for her oldest three. Still, that came at a price.

``It's a huge piece of a family's income. It's a lot of money. I don't care what your economic background is,'' Hansen said.

``If all the good parents with good kids are in private schools, it drains the public schools.

``If you have given up on the public schools, you have given up. That is the key to our success in every aspect,'' she said.

She and her husband face that reality whenever they try to recruit friends and colleagues to the city. Test scores and resources within the school district remain sticking points. Without solid public schools, economic vitality is dim, Hansen said.

``What we need from Richmond is money,'' she said. ``You shouldn't ignore that because you're in private schools.'' CANDIDATE'S RESPONSE

Susan Taylor Hansen's question: Do you support the use of some form of so-called ``vouchers'' that allow parents who wish to send their children to private school tax credits, use of a pre-tax account or other use of public dollars?

Donald S. Beyer Jr.: I oppose using taxpayer dollars to subsidize private schools. Building the best schools is my first priority. Private and parochial schools and home schooling are a welcome part of Virginia's educational fabric. However, the costs of these schools must not be borne by the general public, except for severely disabled students whose needs cannot be served by existing public school programs.

James S. Gilmore III: I have no voucher plan, but I have consistently maintained that vouchers are one tool among many that should be on the table to be considered as we seek to make our public schools the best. I also consistently have maintained that I would not support a voucher plan if it would be detrimental to public schools. ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

Susan Taylor Hansen [ran on B1]

Photo

BILL TIERNAN/The Virginian-Pilot

Susan Taylor Hansen, an environmental lawyer with an office in

Portsmouth, has four daughters. The oldest is in college. Of the

others, two attend the private Norfolk Academy and the youngest is

in a Portsmouth public school.

Photos

Beyer

Gilmore KEYWORDS: ELECTION CANDIDATE GUBERNATORIAL RACE VIRGINIA

ISSUE EDUCATION TUITION VOUCHER