DISTRICT SENATE RACE: KINDER, HEARNES DISCUSS EDUCATION

JACKSON - State senatorial candidates Peter Kinder and Betty Hearnes outlined their positions on a variety of educational issues Monday night, expressing agreement on some issues and distinct differences on others.

In remarks to a candidates forum sponsored by the legislative committee of the Southeast District of the Missouri State Teachers Association, both 27th district senatorial candidates agreed that education was a top priority and contended they had the best background to help bring needed changes.

Kinder, a Republican making his first bid for public office, told the group of nearly 100 educators, "I yield to no one in my commitment to education. ... I do believe public education is at a crisis in this state."

Hearnes, a Democrat, who served five terms in the Missouri House from 1979-89, focused on her past experience as a member of the education committee and the appropriations committee for education. "I was a strong voice for education in the House," declared Hearnes, citing her past experience as a teacher and her lifetime membership in the MSTA.

Although Hearnes said she felt strongly about her record on education during five terms in the House, Kinder took issue with that record and suggested that she had done little to further the cause of education.

Kinder pointed out Hearnes never introduced a single bill dealing with elementary and secondary education during her 10 years in the House, and that she had voted against the 1985 Excellence in Education Act that set about a number of reforms, including minimum salaries for teachers.

Hearnes, in the question and answer period, defended her vote, contending the act was flawed. Hearnes said she was especially concerned the act would lead to a state-directed curriculum and pointed out that the career ladders section to raise salaries did not have a funding mechanism with it.

"That was a tough vote," said Hearnes. "I'll have to answer for that the rest of my life."

Hearnes also replied that she had co-sponsored numerous bills related to education and worked hard on the floor and in committee for passage of those bills.

After Hearnes completed a lengthy response to Kinder's comments, Kinder said he wished she would agree to his request for a series of debates. "Now I think you see why we need the kind of open, frequent exchanges on the issues I have been calling for in this campaign," remarked Kinder.

On other issues:

Both candidates agreed that one third of the state budget should be used for elementary and secondary education, and that desegregation payments should not be included in that total. They also agreed that a new foundation formula should have a "hold harmless" provision.

Kinder said he was flatly opposed to collective bargaining for public employees, including teachers; Hearnes said she did not favor the right to strike but does support collective bargaining with binding arbitration so that teachers would have the same tools as administrators to use at the bargaining table.

Hearnes expressed reluctance to support a 200-day school year because funds are not available to properly fund additional days. Kinder said he favors a gradual move toward a longer school year, coupled with adequate funding.

On the school choice issue, Hearnes flatly rejected the idea and declared: "I think school choice would destroy the public school system." Kinder said he wants to experiment with school choice to see if it works, and cited recent polls showing strong public support for it. "I generally look with favor on school choice and tuition credits as meaningful reforms," said Kinder.

Kinder suggested that many of the problems facing education are due to "a crisis of leadership" and that the best way to correct that is to bring new leadership to the Missouri General Assembly.

He said in his campaign that he has found that many teachers are taking money from their own pockets to purchase school supplies, which he stressed is "flatly unacceptable" and a "result of where our current leadership has gotten us.

"I am a vote to elect new leadership in the Missouri Senate," Kinder declared.

In defeating Proposition B last fall, Kinder said voters were not expressing opposition to education, but rather refusing to spend more money for business as usual. He suggested that voters are trying to send government officials a message that they want reform.

"I think we have to be committed to intelligent reform of our public school system and getting more resources into it," declared Kinder.

Hearnes called for stronger partnerships with communities and schools because "the thing hurting schools the most right now is lack of public confidence."

Hearnes suggested it is time to reduce much of the bureaucratic paperwork and simplify the organizational structure in schools, and that administrators should step back and give teachers time to teach. "I think it is time that schools step past slogans and image building and get about the serious task of decisions, implementation and evaluation," said Hearnes.

She stressed the importance of emphasizing grades K-4 as "a crucial area" for laying the foundation for other grades. If a student is not performing at an acceptable level at the end of the third grade, Hearnes said additional resources need to be shifted to assist the student.

Hearnes also called for taking a close look at funding for schools. She said more money could be available by focusing on the core budget in the appropriations process, taking a zero base approach to budgeting.

She added, "You can't solve all the problems with money, but you certainly can't solve them without it."