A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n

   FOR RELEASE                              Contact:  Kathryn Kahler    April 13, 1995                                     (202) 401-3026

Statement by U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley

regarding "Religion in Public Schools: A Joint Statement of Current Law"

I am encouraged by the spirit of cooperation that continues to grow among members of different religious faiths around their ongoing effort to find common ground on the issue of public education and religion.

The release of this "Joint Statement" is one more sign that groups that have historically held different perspectives on issues involving religion and public education are working hard to bring a new spirit and a tone of good will to this often highly-charged dialogue.

I applaud the American Jewish Congress for chairing this effort, as well as other key members of the drafting committee, including the National Association of Evangelicals and the Christian Legal Society. This is an important and worthwhile process that should continue.

We need to find new rules of public engagement, and there is no area where we need to extend ourselves more to lower our voices and respect the civic rights of all Americans than where religion meets public education. In that spirit, I urge other religious organizations, educators and civil rights groups to carefully consider the work and effort behind this document.

As Americans, we are a deeply spiritual people. We express our faith in many different ways. But when it comes to religion in public schools, too many Americans remain confused about what is permissible and what is not. In a December 1994 CBS News/New York Times poll, for example, the majority of all Americans -- 55 percent -- did not know that a child's right to pray privately in school is constitutionally protected.

Americans need to know that their public schools are open to constitutionally protected religious expression. Public education must protect the established rights of students -- and there are many, as this joint statement indicates.

The process of developing this joint statement tells us that thoughtful Americans of good will on either side of the issue can reach agreement on what the Constitution and court decisions permit. I am encouraged by the new spirit of thoughtfulness that seems to be emerging in the civic dialogue on religion and public education.