Bill Clinton: “Schroeder of Germany in Cologne June 18, 1999 Character Education in Public Schools Q. Mr. President, in another House…”

“Schroeder of Germany in Cologne June 18, 1999 Character Education in Public Schools Q. Mr. President, in another House action, the House has passed a measure which would permit the Ten Commandments to be posted in public schools. Do you think that's constitutional? President Clinton. I think it raises constitutional questions. I think what they're trying to do is to say that the schools ought to teach basic elements of character education, and I agree with that. And Secretary Riley and I have worked on that for several years, now. So I would--what I would like to do is to, rather than get into a big constitutional fight, is to have the Secretary meet with the Members of Congress, show them what we're trying to do in this area that is plainly constitutional, and maybe get them to support that, so we can intensify our efforts. And the idea that the schools ought to build the character of children I think is a very good idea. But it ought to be done in a way that respects the wide diversity of our student body and that doesn't lead to a long, drawn-out legal challenge. I understand the impulse behind it, and I think the impulse is good. We just have to be--we don't want to raise constitutional questions. There is another option here that I think achieves their objective. I'm going to--when I get home I'm going to talk to them about it. NATO-Russia Negotiations on Kosovo Q. [Inaudible]--you think there will be a solution with the Russians concerning the problems in Kosovo?…”