God-Free School Zones: US Education Secretary under fire for defending religious freedom

Brendan Miniter

Education Secretary Rod Paige set off a firestorm last week when he told the Baptist Press that Christian values are conducive to learning. The Washington Post and New York Times (and many other newspapers) denounced Mr. Paige on their editorial pages.

What Mr. Paige actually said wouldn't seem all that controversial to mainstream Americans... All he really said was that a community that embraces the Christian values of hard work, honesty, humility, good stewardship of your talents and respect for others will create a positive learning environment. Or, more succinctly, character matters.

What the New York Times and Washington Post may really be afraid of, though, is something Mr. Paige isn't even pushing. That all of this may clear the way for local school boards to allow curriculum to include serious and honest debate about the role religion has played in society...

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