NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      WASHINGTON, DC (CWNews.com) - A new poll of Americans released on Tuesday found that a majority support use of some level of tax payments for private school tuition for the first time, continuing a five year trend in that direction.

      The Gallup poll found that 86 percent of adults support President Bill Clinton's plan to use federal funds to build schools, 80 percent support his plan to hire more teachers, and 71 percent approve of his plan for voluntary national testing of reading and math competency in fourth and eighth grades. But 73 percent also favor Republican plans for tax-free education savings accounts for use at private schools and 68 percent support direct grant of federal funds to states for education purposes.

      In addition, 67 percent of those polled also support a constitutional amendment to allow prayer in public schools.