Candidates Respond
To JCCouncil Survey
LESLEY PEARL STAFF WRITER
Jewish Community
Council survey dis-
tributed to local
school board candi-
dates running in the June
14 elections determined all
individuals running had
one goal in common — the
best education for chil-
A
dren. Opinions as to what
constitutes quality learn-
ing and the best way to
achieve that goal, howev-
er, varied widely.
Forty-three candidates
in 11 school districts were
targeted by the JCCouncil
as individuals most affect-
ing the Jewish community.
The districts surveyed
were Birmingham,
Bloomfield Hills, Novi,
Rochester, Southfield,
Troy, Walled Lake
Consolidated, West
Bloomfield, Berkley, Oak
Park and Farmington.
Twenty-three candidates
responded to questions
regarding the separation
of church and state, bud-
get reductions, Proposal A,
the Michigan Model (a
state-wide health program
available to all districts),
the goal of American edu-
cation and the teaching of
subjects and concepts
beyond the three Rs.
In what might have
been an otherwise lacklus-
ter election, after the rejec-
tion of Proposal A candi-
dates are battling hard
over issues of finance
reform and funding for
students.
Most candidates oppose
budget cuts and tax
increases in their districts.
However, many are realis-
tic in identifying the need
for reform.
Extra-curricular activi-
ties, administrative over-
head and maintenance and
custodial employment
were suggested areas to be
trimmed. Nearly all candi-
dates made such sugges-
tions with the stipulation
that education not be
altered negatively.
Other hot topics among
candidates, identified both
in interviews and the
JCCouncil survey, are the
separation of church and
state in the schools and
the growing influence of
the religious right.
SURVEY page 16
Jewish Community Council Survey
QUESTION:
What should be
the primary goal
of the American
educational
system?
KENNETH STEIN
Farmington
THERESA MUNGIOLI
SUZANNE J. VON ENDE
Rochester Hills
Bloomfield Hills
"I believe that the primary goal of the American educa-
tional system is that of a secular, nationalizing agent,
charged with the task of Americanization, of melding
backgrounds, and creating one nation. It is a principal
instrument in awakening children to cultural values, in
preparing them for later professional training, and in
helping them to adjust normally to their environment."
"The primary goal of the American educational system
should not be dictated from Washington, D.C., but from
the local district. The local school board can determine the
needs of the children in their own community and develop
the curriculum necessary to meet these needs."
"The goal of our educational system should be to equip each
student with the requisite knowledge, abilities and skills for
responsible participation in our complex, pluralistic world."
QUESTION:
Define the roles of
the students,
parents, the board
of education and
the educational
professionals in
realizing that goal.
DAVID YORK
KAREN MILLER
JUDITH ADLER
QUESTION:
What is your
position on
separation of
church and state
as it relates to our
public schools?
PAT RIBIAT
QUESTION:
Please identify all
subjects, concepts,
or ideas, if any,
which should not
be taught in
elementary, mid-
dle or high school.
Farmington
"The board sets policies and procedures and balances
the recommendations of the superintendent with the
resources, needs and desires of the community.
Professionals design and deliver research-based
instruction. Students are to apply themselves to the
best of their ability. Education begins and ends with
parents."
Southfield
Birmingham
"Everyone needs to work together, to support our children,
to prepare our children for the future. Parents should be
involved in their schools, the board of education should
provide the opportunities for all of our children, and edu-
cational professionals should be prepared to teach our
children what they need to know. We must guide our chil-
dren along the path to becoming productive citizens."
"A board of education creates and supervises policies govern-
ing the broad goals and objectives of its community's schools.
This includes hiring highly qualified professionals who design
and implement curricula delivering high-quality education,
based on their knowledge of both subject matter and child
development. A parent's role is to be an advocate for his or her
child, and for all the children in the school district."
STEVEN HANNAH
BETH DANTO BORSON
Bloomfield Hills
Birmingham
West Bloomfield
"I agree with the Supreme Court decision that calls for
strict separation of church and state. Prayer belongs in
the home, the mind and places of worship."
"The Constitution prevents the state from establishing a
religion and from interfering with the free exercise of reli-
gion. In attempting to enforce the first prohibition, the
courts have unreasonably interfered with the individual's
right to worship. Our forefathers did not intend to totally
isolate the schools from God or prevent all interaction
between the church and the state."
"The policy that exists now that separates church and state is
a good policy and provides equity for all public school chil-
dren. We need to look more at multi-cultural enrichment
programming."
GARY D. ABSBER
BATYA SCIIREIBER
ROBERTA FELDMAN
Rochester Hills
Oak Park
"I do not believe sex education which outlines alternative
lifestyles should be taught in grade school. Also the 'hot'
topics of the day such as environmentalism need to be
taught with a balance because of the captive nature of the
audience."
"Classroom subject matter needs to be tailored to the age
and maturity of the students. While painful subjects such
as the Holocaust and racist lynchings in our own country
would be inappropriate for very young children, a curricu-
lum that examines our similarities through diversity could
expand to include the study of racism for older students."
QUESTION:
In what areas
would you like to
see reductions
made in the
schools' budgets
and why?
HELEN DITZHAZY
JULIA GLAZER
QUESTION:
What was your
position on
Proposal A?
ROBERT PRESTON
Farmington
"I would like to see us never again have to pay one cent for
vandalism. I'd like to never again have to spend one more
cent for custodial and maintenance staffs to clean paper,
debris or food off of the floor because adults as well as
children will have to take care of their own messes."
Farmington
"I don't want to see any reductions in budgets as I don't
feel there is any significant amount of wasted dollars in
Farmington Schools' budget. I feel over the years the
increasing roles of schools and educators to fulfil our
children's educational experience has dictated that
more dollars be spent.
SUSAN MCKENDRICK
Farmington
Farmington
"I supported Proposal A for the good of all in the state
of Michigan. In the case of good compromises, no one
really is thrilled with the items. The same is true of
Proposal A. Troy is below the state average millage so
the benefit is not as great as elsewhere in the state."
Proposal A is not the optimum plan, but may be supe-
rior to the threatened alternative by the state which
would take millions from this district...1, however, am
only one voter, and my job, whether it passes or not, is
to ensure that priority spending is addressed, waste is
eliminated, and what we're paying for is effective."
Farmington Hills
"It is difficult to say what should not be taught in school.
Because of the natural curiosity of children and the variety of
questions and concerns they bring, teachers must be open-
minded and prepared to respond and not stifle learning.
Quality teachers know how to respond to 'teachable
moments.' "
JOYCE ZACK
' Oak Park
"Legislative mandated programs that the legislature does
not appropriate funding to accomplish."
SHARON LIPTON
West Bloomfield
"I supported Propsal A because it addressed the issues of
equity in education and property tax reform."
Candidates who responded by June 3, but not represented here, are Robert Stern (Oak Park), Steve Kennelly (Walled Lake Consolidated), Mindy Nathan (Bloomfield Hills) and Norman Roffey (Southfield).