The following questions are courtesy of Eagle
Forum's Education Center which are designed for an individual to
use to get to know
their school board candidates, and find out where they stand on the
issues. Their answers should be "yes," "No," or "Undecided."
Do you believe it is the fundamental right of parents to direct
the upbringing and education of their children?
Do you support legislation that allows parents the right to inspect
and review instructional materials and methods?
Do you support legislation allowing parents to exempt their children
from classes or presentations they find morally objectionable?
Do you believe parents should be notified prior to psychological
evaluations, testing, or treatment of students?
Do you believe parental consent should be required prior to giving
information and care to students in such areas as sexuality and
reproductive health?
Do you support the right of parents to homeschool their children?
ACADEMICS
Do you believe schools ought to teach basic academic skills (e.g.
reading, grammar, spelling, arithmetic) instead of social issues
(e.g., environmentalism, diversity, health care)?
Do you support the exclusive use of intensive, systematic phonics
for teaching children to read?
Do you believe that it is a realistic expectation for children
to know how to read by the end of the first grade?
Do you believe topics such as homosexuality and other alternative
lifestyles should be addressed in the home rather than in the
classroom?
Do you support the teaching of abstinence as the most effective
and desirable way to prevent sexually-transmitted diseases?
Do you reject classroom instruction which emphasizes collectivist
globalism over American Sovereignty, limited constitutional government,
and a free market economy?
POLICY
Do you favor defunding Goals 2000 and repealing the School-to-Work
legislation, both at the federal and state levels?
Do you support local control of education, with self-governing
local school districts and minimum external constraints?
Do you reject national education standards and national testing?
Do you favor the abolition of the federal Department of Education?
Do you oppose the establishment of school-based health clinics,
which may perform examiniations, provide immuizations and medications
such as Ritalin, dispense birth control devices and abortion
referrals, all without parental consent or knowledge?
Do you oppose the collection and maintenance of student date,
e.g. health, performance, and social records, in computerized databases?
Do you oppose "full inclusion" of
emotionally troubled and other special needs children with the
general student population?
Do you favor withdrawing support for the National Education Association,
the American Federation of Teachers or state PTA conventions?