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248-851-6989

Jewish Coalition Against Vouchers presents its views
on controversial ballot proposal.

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Community Center in West Bloomfield.
Audience members were asked to
write any questions on cards and discon-
tinue their questioning once a panelist
parks flew Monday night at a
had answered. Among those submitting
community forum on
questions were representatives of Kids
Michigan's most controversial
First! Yes!. The statewide committee sup-
ballot proposal.
ports passage of Proposal 1.
The event sponsored by the Jewish
Several proponents of vouchers tried
Coalition Against Vouchers featured six
to
speak at the meeting, but were told to
opponents of Proposal 1, a measure vot-
confine
their comments to writing, lead-
ers will decide on Election Day, Tuesday,
ing to bursts of anger.
Nov. 7. This proposal, also called the
John Williams, a field director of Kids
voucher proposal, would change the
First! Yes!, stood up to ask, "If Jewish
state constitution, allowing direct and
people were in a public school system
indirect use of tax dollars for K-12 pri-
where 50 percent failed, what would
vate and parochial schools.
they do?"
The proposal's first use would be to
"Within the systems, there is choice,"
provide vouchers worth about $3,300 to
answered
panelist Dr. Seymour
students living in failing school districts,
Gretchko,
as determined
superintendent
by 1998-99
of the West
graduation rates.
Bloomfield
Other districts
Schools.
could vote to
"Educational
become voucher
reform is
districts as well.
occurring. Not
Vouchers could
as fast as I'd
be used to pay
like, but it is
tuition at any
occurring."
private or
Williams left
parochial school
the
meeting
that would
before
it ended.
accept the stu-
Dr. Mark Smiley
Wendy Wagenheim
Panelist
dent. Funding
Shirley
would come
Stancato, who is the first black woman
from Michigan's school aid budget.
to become president of New Detroit
"It's bad public policy; bad for the
Inc., pointed out that many mainstream
community in general; bad for the
black organizations oppose Proposal 1.
Jewish community," said Howard
They
include the Council of Baptist
Wallach, co-chair of the Jewish
Ministers,
the Urban League, the
Coalition Against Vouchers.
NAACP
and
New Detroit.
Dr. Mark Smiley, headmaster of the
Another panelist, Wendy Wagenheim,
private Hillel Day School of
legislative director of the American Civil
Metropolitan Detroit in Farmington
Liberties Union, said the proposal was "a
Hills, was even more emphatic. "Could
way to help private and parochial educa-
Hillel use the dollars? Yes," he told the
tion. It doesn't tell you how Detroit edu-
audience of about 100. "Would it be a
cation v∎ rould be improved."
good idea? No."
Anita Nelams, Kids First! Yes! senior
Smiley said the proposal would greatly
strategic
adviser, was unimpressed.
.
harm public schools, where about 65
"We sat through 90 minutes of lies,
percent of children from Conservative
innuendoes and half-truths," she said
homes receive their education. It would
after the meeting. For instance, voucher
be especially disastrous for students with
opponents say the plan would raise
special needs, he warned.
taxes. However, Nelams said, the more
The meeting took place in
children who participate, the less cost to
Handleman Hall at the Jewish
the school-aid fund.
"We have not claimed this is a
Related commentary: page 44

DIANA LIEBERMAN
StaffWriter

S

