Paige Blasted For Praise Of Christian Schools
Secretary of Education Rod Paige reiterated his endorsement of public schools and the traditional separation of church and state last week, attempting to appease the controversy surrounding his previous remarks in which he praised the "strong value system" in Christian schools.
During a press briefing on April 9, Secretary of Education Rod Paige clarified that his published remarks should not be interpreted as a criticism of public schools or the religious diversity of their students. In a hasty press conference at the Department of Education, he refused to apologize or resign as a result of comments published in a Baptist publication two days earlier. Mr. Paige stated that he was simply clarifying his remarks and didn’t feel the need to apologize.
However, the education secretary took on a conciliatory tone when addressing the controversy, emphasizing that his personal beliefs have no bearing on his performance as a Cabinet member. His comments elicited anger from members of Congress and advocacy organizations. The Secretary was criticized for his statements in an article published on April 7 in the Baptist Press, a national news service for Southern Baptists. He stated, "The reason that Christian schools and Christian universities are growing is a result of a strong value system. In a religious environment, the value system is set. That’s not the case in a public school where there are so many different kinds of values." Mr. Paige later expressed a preference for a child attending a school that emphasizes Christian values and strong faith.
Officials from the Education Department argued that the latter quote was taken out of context. They released a transcript in which the Baptist Press interviewer asked Mr. Paige to compare Christian, private, and public colleges and universities. Critics focused their objections on Mr. Paige’s statement that public schools have "so many different kinds of values" compared to Christian schools. They believed that the secretary was suggesting that religious diversity is detrimental to public education.
Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United For Separation of Church and State, called on Secretary Paige to retract his statements or resign, claiming that it appeared as though Mr. Paige supported the "Christianization" of public schools. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy also expressed his disapproval in a letter to Mr. Paige, urging him to renounce his comments. Sen. Kennedy argued that expressing a preference for schools that teach the values of a single faith implies favoritism towards certain families and children due to their faith.
In the Baptist Press article, Secretary Paige emphasized the significance of religion in his personal life and public duties. He was quoted as saying, "My faith in God is not a separate part of me. I can’t do that." In response to critics who objected to his view that religion has a place in public schools, Mr. Paige reportedly said, "I would offer critics my prayers."
When later explaining his comments to reporters, Secretary Paige aimed to clarify his viewpoint. He emphasized his full understanding and respect for the separation between church and state, citing his record as evidence. He stated that he did not intend to belittle the religious diversity or overall performance of public schools. While expressing support for character education and magnet programs, he made it clear that he was not advocating for parents or students to choose private schools. Secretary Paige declared himself a strong supporter of parental options in selecting schools, asserting that he believes in the innocence of his statement.
However, some individuals argued that Mr. Paige’s comments were being misrepresented and did not indicate a preference for one faith in schools over another. "It is an innocent statement made by a respectable and honorable man that was taken out of context," said GOP Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, the chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee. William Merrell, a spokesperson for the Southern Baptist Convention, an organization with members in over 42,000 churches across the country, dismissed the criticism as "anti-Christian nonsense." He expressed agreement with Secretary Paige’s views. Mathew D. Staver, the president and general counsel of the Liberty Counsel, a legal organization that defends religious expression in public schools, argued that critics were too quick to react negatively "whenever the word ‘religion’ is mentioned" in relation to education. "I believe it is essential for a leader to address these issues within the system," said Staver, whose organization is located in Orlando, Florida. "Otherwise, we are simply seeking conformity to a particular ideology, while our system deteriorates from within."
