Education Chief Lauds Religion at School Parley

U.S. Education Secretary William Bennett on Friday told a convention of Christian school educators in Anaheim that the only way to pass on what he termed basic American values is to instruct children in the Judeo-Christian tradition.

Bennett insisted in a speech to a conference of the Assn. of Christian Schools International that parents want their children to be taught not only basic knowledge skills, but also democratic ideals and the difference between right and wrong.

“We cannot do that without reference to religion, to religious beliefs and to our Judeo-Christian tradition,” Bennett told 7,000 applauding teachers and school administrators at the regional conference. “This tradition is the wellspring of our most important beliefs.”

Bennett is the first U.S. Cabinet member to speak to the evangelical schools association since it was formed 35 years ago, director Paul Kienel said in introducing him.

Message From Reagan

Reinforcing the support from Washington, President Reagan sent a brief message to the convention praising the efforts of Christian schools in providing “crucial training in virtue.”

Bennett opened his remarks by congratulating the association for leading the fastest-growing education movement in the country, with a nationwide total of 400,000 students and test scores well above the national average. He also told the convention that schools should take their direction from parents instead of educational experts.

“Schools must be places that further advance the parents’ values, not places that undermine the values of parents,” he said.

He said he is pleased with the 9-point rise in the national average SAT scores of high school students this year, which he said was related both to the back-to-basics movement and to a drop in federal funding for public education.

School Funding Disparaged

“What we are learning is that common sense, sound principles, good teachers and a dedication to sound values are more important than money,” he said.

At the end of his remarks, Bennett warned that education is the best weapon against a repressive government.