
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, August 5, 1993                   TAG: 9308050257
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BY ROB EURE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

ALLEN DISAVOWS COMMENT

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Mary Sue Terry demanded Wednesday that Republican George Allen separate himself from running mate Mike Farris' written assertion that public schools have become a "godless monstrosity."

Speaking to a leadership conference of the Virginia Education Association, Terry said "the only monstrosity is that Congressman Allen's running mate would destroy our schools as we know them."

Terry's comments were warmly received by the teachers, whose political action committee later Wednesday endorsed the Democratic ticket.

Terry called on Allen to endorse or repudiate the Farris statement. Allen quickly disavowed it in a response issued Wednesday afternoon.

"I do not believe that public schools are `godless monstrosities' and would be happy to disagree with any candidate who said they were," Allen said in a prepared statement. "However, Mr. Farris has already disavowed that statement and said that it was an exaggeration."

In his 1990 book, "Home Schooling and the Law," Farris argued that Christian values have been "thoroughly eradicated" in public schools. "Religious beliefs of secular humanism and New Age religions are taught without difficulty," he wrote. "Yet, courts have consistently held that religious values and concepts may not be transmitted or inculcated."

Since emerging as a statewide candidate this spring, Farris has moved to distance himself from his controversial writings as a national leader in the home-schooling movement. In a speech last month to the Virginia Press Association, Farris specifically disavowed the "godless monstrosity" phrase.

Still, the teachers' applause of Terry's comments and the enthusiastic reception given Lt. Gov. Don Beyer - despite his arrival an hour late - left little doubt that the mainstream education community is not forgiving Farris for his writings.

VEA political action committee officials did not even interview Farris and Republican attorney general nominee Jim. Gilmore before awarding their endorsements. The teachers' group said the Republican candidates did not wish an interview; Farris scheduled one, but canceled and never rescheduled.

The teachers' political action committee interviewed Allen in the spring, when he was in a three-way contest for the Republican nomination. The endorsement then went to Del. Clinton Miller of Shenandoah, whom Allen defeated at the state GOP convention.

Keywords:
POLITICS

by CNB