Meet The Candidate

Wülie J. ■Simpsontíasarf nounced his candidacy lor a position on the Ann Arbor Board of Education in the June 10 election. , He submitted the following statement: "Every child in this school system has a basic right as an individual to expect and receive the best education their community can offer. We must therefore provide every student with basic skills. "There are some basic reaI sons why we are not providing these skills to the fullest extent possible. I would hope we can begin to change directions in the future. "Ann Arbor is not an excepción to the recent statistics Ifrom Education and Welfare I Department' s Right to Read I Program which irtdicates that lone million children aged 12 I to 17 cannot read. When we I take a closer look at these staI tistics we can readily see that I this nation is not educating its I Black children, or those who I happen to be poor. We have I the resources to solve this I problem so we need to move I in this direction now. We should strengthen elementary education. If children are to survive in school at all they must get I basic skills. Remedial work I should be given when it is I needed. Plan F was a poor adminisI trative decisión. Children and their parents need to know where they are going to school and be confident that the system is going to work for them while there. Children should understand how discipline is administered. They should feel that the system is fair, and that everyone receives due" process. The middle school is a good concept and should be preserved. Career education should be stressed in our schools for all children. Parents want to know what is happening to their children in schools and would like to be more active. Students are saying the ability to relate effectively . with others is a basic part of their education and that there is no better place to learn tol relate than in school. Otherl students have the feeling thatl teachers, administrators andl the board of trustees do notl care about the quality of 1 catión given. We must dispell I this idea. Drug usage is a problem in I our school which is causing I much concern. These are the problems as 1 1 perceive them. The solutions I to these problems will be 1 ficult to find, but I am 1 vinced that they can be found. I I feel I have an awareness I of the problem of our schools I and the commitment neede.d I for the position. I have the I time and the interest to work I diligently with others who I are committed to good 1 tion for all." Simpson, 48, is a social I worker in the counseling I department at Washtenawl Community College. He hasj been a resident of the 1 münity since 1967. Simpson, I his wife and four children live I at 1058 Westaire Way. His old-l est daughter graduated froml Huron High in 1973. The otherl children are in the school system. Simpson is a member of the board of directors for Ann Arbor Child Care and Development Center and a member of the Committee for the Adoption of Black Children. . i He is a forme r Cub mas ter and Little League baseball I coach, a member of the first ■ career education committee I for Washtenaw County. He has Balso served on the Parent I Teacher Organization boards B for Haisley Elementary School Banri Hnrnn High School.