Responses for The Daily Page
February 12, 2006
Arlene Silveira
Candidate for Madison School Board, Seat 1
arlenesilv@aol.com
516-8981
1. Do you think that the Assembly bill to bar the teaching
of Creationism and Intelligent Design as science is necessary?
I don't support teaching Creationism and Intelligent Design
as science in the public school system. But I prefer not having the Legislature
making such specific curricular decisions for our public schools. If the Legislature can mandate not teaching
it, it can mandate teaching it. Legislators are hardly experts on
curricula. After establishing very
general mandates, the Legislature must allow local Boards of
Education to establish policy and programs that operate within with the general
State mandates. It is the responsibility of district administrators to work
with school principals and teachers in the development of specific curricula to
meet the standards and policies set by the board.
2. What high
school sport do you most enjoy watching?
I enjoy watching all sports with my favorite high school
sport to watch being football. It is
the entire experience of a football game that I find entertaining. We went to the West football games this fall
and had a wonderful time. The game
itself is fast-moving and exciting, there is tremendous school spirit, it is an
opportunity for parents to visit and for the students to mingle. The event builds school pride and
community. I am looking forward to next
season!
3. What was your
favorite extracurricular activity in high school?
I was a 3 season athlete in high school so my favorite
extracurricular activities involved sports.
I played field hockey in the fall and ran winter and spring track. Between practices and weekend games and
meets, our teams spent a lot of time together.
I liked the competition and I enjoyed the team interactions very
much. There was a great
camaraderie. My time spent in these
extracurricular activities are some of my fondest high school memories.
Age: 47
Bishop Stang High School, North Dartmouth, MA
Springfield College, Springfield, MA; BS in Biology,
Chemistry, Secondary Education
University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT; MS in Molecular
Biology