The Candidates
On The Questions

Would you support any changes that
would permit greater public funding
of private educational instituitons?

Should charter schools be subject to
the same legal requirements as other
public schools, like teacher certifica-
tion, mandated core curricula and
fiscal accountability. If not, in which
areas should they be exempt?

Would you support prayer in school
in any form?

I don't support the use of public dollars for
religious school. Nor would I support such
a change. In 1970, I opposed the constitu-
tional restriction on public dollars to pri-
vate schools. I will not lead a constitutional
change, but I am open to reviewing any
proposed changes regarding this area.

Charter schools provide children with competi-
tive options in education. We must give such
schools flexibility so there is the chance to
create the school that fits a child's needs.
Because charter schools are PUBLIC schools,
they must fall within the guidelines of the State
Constitution. I support those requirements.

While I would need to see the specific pro-
posal, in principle, I would not be opposed
to a "moment of silence" for children to
start the day in public schools.

Governor

Name: John Engler
Party Affiliation: Republican

Residence: Mt. Pleasant

I would not support any such changes.

Name: Howard Wolpe

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Charter schools should be subject to the
same legal requirements — no exemp-
tions.

No.

Yes.

No.

Residence: East Lansing

State Senate *

Name: Robert Boyd

Party Affiliation: Democrat

District: 13

Residence: Huntington Woods

Name: Richard Gach
Party Affiliation: Libertarian

District: 14

Although I encourage privatization of
education, along with most governmen
tal functions I do not believe that public
funds should be used for private or
parochial schools.

Yes.

No. But the real issue is quality of
education. The Natural Law Party
supports proven programs to increase
intelligence, creativity00 moral
reasoning and develop stud ents' ability
to live a higher quali ty of I ~ fe

Yes. However, let's remember the pur-
pose of education: to create healthy,
happy individuals who live in harmony
with natural law and can find real fulfill-
ment in life. The Natural Law Party will
introduce proven programs to accom-
plish this.

Absolutely not. However, public educa-
tion is lacking a proven technology to in-
crease students' ability to learn. One
such program, Transcendental Medita-
tion, is a simple, scientific mental tech-
nique that relieves`stress and develops
awareness and alertness.

Na. I support non-public education, but
publiqcis ollars should not be freely given
private entities that are not answer-
ale to the taxpayers and their elected
representatives. Michigan has excellent
private schools. PrNate funding pre-
'
serves their autonomy.

I support school prayer restrictions. The

to

Yes. Charter schools, by definition, are
public schools. It is my belief that they
are subject to the same legal require-
ments as other public schools. Public
funding requires accountability to the
public.

I am a strong supporter of public educa-
tion. I support innovative educational re
forms — charter schools, schools of
choice, military academies and a back to
basics curriculum to improve educa
tion. oppose public funding of religious
education.

Charter schools are a necessary innova-
tion to help improve our students' edu-
cation by spurring competition and
empowering parents, teachers and stu-
dents. Therefore, I support exempting
charter schools from teacher certifica-
tion and core curricula standards.

I oppose government or teacher-led
prayer in schools.

No. Unlike my opponent, David Honig-
man, who co-sponsored a call for a con-
stitutional amendment to permit public
.
funding of parochial and non-public
schools, I have been a strong advocate
for prohibiting public funding of
parochial and/or private schools.

Yes. Charter schools, in order to receive •
public funding, should be held to the
same legal requirements as other public
schools.

N

Public funding for the institutions them-
selves - No. I would be in favor of tax
dedications to families that send chil-
dren to private schools.

No - not unless they receive public fund-
ing.

Residence: Bloomfield Hills

Name: Stuart J. Goldberg

Party Affiliation: Natural Law Party

District: 14

Residence: Southfield

Name: Gary Peters

Party Affiliation: Democrat

District: 14

Residence: Pontiac

Name: Michael David Warren
Party Affiliation: Republican

District: 14

Residence: Southfield

Name: Vicki Barnett

Party Affiliation: Democrat

District: 15

Residence: Farmington Hills

Name: David S. Thompson

Party Affiliation: Libertarian

District: 15

U.S. Supreme Court settled this issue
when it ruled it unconstitutional to use
the classroom to encourage state pro-
mulgated prayer. Nothing now prevents
students from praying privately.

. Voluntary private prayer, such as a mo-
ment of silence.

Residence: Farmington Hills

30

* No response from Republican Michael J. Bouchard , Libertarian Henry Freriks and Republican David Honigman

