Department of Education Gets Patriotism Wrong

Interfaith Alliance, together with major religious organizations committed to religious freedom and education, has submitted a formal comment to the U.S. Department of Education opposing the proposed priority and definitions on promoting patriotic education.

The proposal’s framing of “American political tradition” as rooted in “Judeo-Christianity” and “the role of faith” distorts both history and the meaning of religious freedom. As our comment explains:

“That emphasis ignores the contributions of people from a multitude of religious and nonreligious backgrounds who have contributed to our nation’s founding and development. Moreover, it threatens to define America’s political tradition in a way that undermines religious freedom. Our nation’s founders provided a powerful example to the entire world in drafting the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This first freedom in our nation’s Bill of Rights embraced the free exercise of religion, including in the public square, as well as our nation’s commitment to non-establishment, a guarantee that our government would never favor one religion over another, nor religion over non-religion.”

A healthy democracy depends on public schools that teach critical thinking, civic responsibility, and respect for diversity. The Department’s proposal moves us away from that vision.

The following groups joined Interfaith Alliance in signing the comment:

• Alliance of Baptists
• Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty
• Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
• Ecumenical Office of the United Methodist Church
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
• Faith in Public Life Action
• Faithful America
• Interfaith Center of New York
• Jewish Council for Public Affairs
• Muslim Public Affairs Council
• National Council of Jewish Women
• NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
• Pastors for Children
• Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign
• The Sikh Coalition
• Sojourners
• Union for Reform Judaism
• United Church of Christ