wfn.org | Christians, Jews Support Public Education

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org (CAROL FOUKE)]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
Email: news@ncccusa.org  Web: www.ncccusa.org
Contact: NCC News, 212-870-2227, or
  Sommerfield Communications, Inc. (for CCAR),
Elizabeth Case, 212-255-8386

94NCC9/2/99 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION, CHRISTIAN AND JEWISH LEADERS URGE
IN STATEMENT TIMED TO THE START OF THE NEW SCHOOL TERM

 September 2, 1999, NEW YORK CITY - As the new school term
begins, top officials of the National Council of Churches and
Central Conference of American Rabbis are joining their voices in
a strong statement in support of public education.

 Both long-time advocates for public education, the NCC and
CCAR already are collaborating with the Pennsylvania Council of
Churches to "pilot" a new interfaith campaign to increase the
quality - and equality - of U.S. public education for all
children.  The William Penn Foundation this summer awarded the
campaign an eight-month planning grant.

 The NCC has spoken out in support of public education since
at least 1963 when it called for "efforts to strengthen and
improve the American system of public education," and has re-
activated that call in the current context of attack on public
education.  Last November, the NCC's General Assembly approved on
first reading a new policy statement on public education, and is
expected to give its final approval when it meets this November
in Cleveland, Ohio.

 The NCC's President and General Secretary, along with the
CCAR's President and Executive Vice-President, co-signed today's
joint declaration of "Christians and Jews in Support of Public
Education."

Reported Jay Rock, the NCC's Co-Director for Interfaith
Relations who provided staff support, the statement is one way of
"making public our interest in working together on the issue of
public education.  Issues of equal access, equal opportunity and
civil rights - historic concerns of our two organizations - all
are being played out in the public education arena."

 The full text of the statement follows.

-end-

Christians and Jews in Support of Public Education

On this Labor Day 1999, at the beginning of a new school term, we
call upon all people to stand up for justice and equality when it
counts most - in the formative years of our children's lives.  We
join together today in support of public education in this
nation.  Though we are rooted in significantly different
traditions, we are united in our conviction that how well
children are treated in this nation is a faith issue.  Our
scriptures remind us that we are all created equally, and teach
us that each generation is responsible for the generations to
come.

Public education is under attack:
- Government at every level is retreating from its financial
obligation to public education.
- Inequity of school financing threatens public education's
promise of equality of opportunity.
- Funding for public education is increasingly politicized
through a variety of programs which divert public funds from
public schools.
- Instead of working vigorously to make public schools the best
they can be, too much is done to find alternatives to public
education, such as the development of voucher programs.
- Some schools are strong, while others do not serve children
well.  Yet often public schools are loudly criticized without any
commitment to make them stronger

The values of public education far outweigh the challenges that
it is facing today:
- Public education can provide an opportunity for children of all
backgrounds to live with each other, learn from each other and
care about each other.
- Public education can provide equal opportunity to children
irrespective of their backgrounds.
- Public education is the most successful anti-poverty program
our nation has known.  Millions of children have left poverty as
a result of their education in public schools.
- Public education has successfully prepared millions of us for
vocations, college, life-long learning and the tasks of
citizenship and public responsibility.
- Public education has helped millions of us mature as human
beings and enabled us to live fruitful and productive lives, and
in so doing, has enriched our society as a whole.

We have learned from the Talmud that the one who teaches a child
should be considered like one who raises a child.  Teachers, and
other school workers, must be afforded the respect that we, as
parents, need.  This nation's teachers deserve our thanks and
recognition for the critical role they play in the lives of our
children.

Public education is our best hope for the fulfillment of the
dream glimpsed by the founders of our society, and intended by
our Creator: the realization of freedom of thought and
expression, in a community of diversity, justice and harmony
among all people.  Strong public education must stand, and be
supported as the cornerstone of such a  society.

We call upon our leaders of government at all levels, and people
of all faiths and backgrounds to commit themselves to the
protection, financial security and continued reform of our public
school system.  Our society will be judged by our treatment of
each other, and in particular by the opportunities we afford our
children.

Rabbi Charles Kroloff, President, and Rabbi Paul Menitoff,
Executive Vice-President
The Central Conference of American Rabbis

Bishop Craig Anderson, President, and The Rev. Joan Brown
Campbell, General Secretary
The National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA
September 2, 1999
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