BOARD LEADER SAYS IMAGE UNFOUNDED : WALKER DENIES BEING RIGID.Byline: Alicia Doyle Daily News Staff Writer Norm Walker is used to being pegged by critics as a religious fundamentalist fundamentalist An investor who selects securities to buy and sell on the basis of fundamental analysis. Compare technician. , political extremist and right-wing conservative. After all, the former Baptist minister and past president of the Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. Republican Committee isn't shy about expressing his views. But look beyond Walker's image, he said, and you might be surprised with what you see. ``The biggest misconception mis·con·cep·tion n. A mistaken thought, idea, or notion; a misunderstanding: had many misconceptions about the new tax program. is that I'm rigid,'' said Walker, 45. ``I do have a set of beliefs that guide the way I think and how I approach issues. But I'm also very open-minded.'' As the new board president of the Simi Valley Unified School District A unified school district is a school district which includes both primary school (kindergarten through middle school or junior high) and high school (grades 9-12). In Illinois, these districts are called unit school districts. - the largest school district in Ventura County - Walker said he has no intention of using his post as a political tool to impose his convictions. Rather, he said, he will welcome community input and conduct district business in an orderly fashion - duties expected of any Simi school board president. ``Baptists do not believe in coercion coercion, in law, the unlawful act of compelling a person to do, or to abstain from doing, something by depriving him of the exercise of his free will, particularly by use or threat of physical or moral force. ,'' Walker said. ``I'm a thoughtful conservative. I'm very interested in education for larger purposes - we won't survive if we can't continue to educate people and get involved.'' A Simi Valley resident since 1991, Walker was elected to the school board in 1994 and unanimously elected to the board's top seat last week. The father of seven was an advocate of the failed school choice initiative and gave the district advice on its sex education curriculum. Walker was also involved with the city's adult entertainment ordinance and the battle to remove pornography from newsracks on Simi Valley's streets. As school board president, it is Walker's responsibility to present board decisions, address timely issues and deal with community concerns. Walker will also encourage parents to become more involved with school issues and open lines of communication "Lines of Communication" is an episode from the fourth season of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5. Synopsis Franklin and Marcus attempt to persuade the Mars resistance to assist Sheridan in opposing President Clark. between the board and community. An advocate of traditional teaching methods, Walker plans to strive toward reading programs that emphasize intensive phonics phonics Method of reading instruction that breaks language down into its simplest components. Children learn the sounds of individual letters first, then the sounds of letters in combination and in simple words. rather than the ``whole language'' approach. ``We know that certain kinds of teaching styles work,'' said Walker, pointing to reading scores that plummeted after children were taught how to memorize mem·o·rize tr.v. mem·o·rized, mem·o·riz·ing, mem·o·riz·es 1. To commit to memory; learn by heart. 2. Computer Science To store in memory: words rather than learn words phonetically pho·net·ic adj. 1. Of or relating to phonetics. 2. Representing the sounds of speech with a set of distinct symbols, each designating a single sound: phonetic spelling. 3. . ``Sometimes, we have a tendency to overreact o·ver·re·act v. To react with unnecessary or inappropriate force, emotional display, or violence. to a new idea. I love innovation when it works, but I'm leery about moving too quickly.'' A former minister and headmaster of Cochran Street Baptist Schools, Walker left his religious posts last year to have a greater impact on public policy issues. In addition to his school board duties, Walker also runs an advertising business from his Simi Valley home. School board member Carla Kurachi said Walker's strong leadership skills and past board experience are what made him the best candidate for school board president. Simi Valley Mayor Greg Stratton said Walker's background in business will be an asset to his new role on the board. ``Many people forget that a school district is a large company as well as a place to educate,'' Stratton said. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: (ran in SIMI edition only) Simi Valley school board President Norm Walker, former Baptist minister, says critics are wrong when they label him an extremist. Andy Holzman/Special to the Daily News |
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