Former Kentucky Governor Brereton Jones, along with members of the PERK committee, believe that truly educated students must understand the vital role that religion has played in the history and culture of our country. Unless our history is factually taught, students will get a false education.

The conclusions of the PERK Committee are summarized in their brochure "Education about the Role of Religion in America's History and Culture". The Committee's recommendations are also available on the PERK Website, along with a collection of many of the historical documents that illustrate the role of religion. Excerpts from the brochure follow.

There has been much misunderstanding and confusion among school administrators, teachers, students, parents, school councils, and school board members concerning the study of the role of religion in American history and culture. For some months, a broadly representative group of citizens has been meeting to address the ways in which we might overcome such misunderstandings, and to offer some suggested direction for the teaching about religion's important place in many events of the history of our Commonwealth and nation.

This group has included ministers, rabbis, and active lay people from many different denominational and religious traditions including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam; educators; youth workers; attorneys; and citizen activists.

We believe that an educated person should have knowledge of the ways in which religion has contributed to our common life and heritage. Too often, matters that relate to religion, and the vital role that religion may have played in the course of events or in the life of an individual who has made historic contributions to our nation and state, may be neglected out of fear of violating the First Amendment or the sensitivities or values of students and their parents.

We want to communicate to every teacher, parent, student, school board, school based decision-making council and school administrator that:

• A comprehensive and complete approach to many subjects requires considering the role of religion. Schools and teachers should provide instruction about the role of religion and its influence in subject areas such as history, literature, social studies, natural and physical science, music, and art.

• While teaching about the role of religion is essential to the education of our children, we want to affirm that public schools should do so without promoting, denigrating, or imposing any particular religion or point of view about religion.

• According to Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) 158, an act relating to religious liberty for students in Kentucky public schools, "neutrality to religion does not require hostility to religion." The establishment clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution allows appropriate teaching about religion. Further, young people are free to express their religious points of view to the same extent and under the same circumstances that a student is permitted to express viewpoints on non-religious topics or subjects in the school.

• Thus, KRS 158.195 also says: "Local boards may allow any teacher or administrator in a public school district of the Commonwealth to read or post in a public school building, classroom, or event any excerpts or portions of the national motto; the national anthem; the pledge of allegiance, the premable to the Kentucky Constitution; the Declaration of Independence; the Mayflower Compact; the writings, speeches, documents and proclamantions of the founding fathers and presidents of the United States; U.S. Supreme Court decisions; and acts of US Congress including the published text of the Congressional Record. There shall be no content-based censorship of American history or heritage in the Commonwealth based on religious references in these writings, documents, and records." (Enact. Acts 1992, ch. 170, 4, effective July 14, 1992) Such documents are appropriate if they have a valid educational purpose without promoting one religion over another.

To have a well-rounded education, children need to study the vital role that religion has played in American history. Some people incorrectly equate neutrality toward religion with the absence of study about religion. In fact, avoidance of religion and exclusion of religious perspectives are anything but neutral or accurate.

Students need to learn that religious beliefs, standards, and practices are central to the lives of many people, and they need to know that religious traditions and ethical systems are not marginal, but central to American history and culture. It is of crucial importance that school boards and site-based decision making councils examine their policies and work to insure the full education of all Kentucky's children.