MEDIA ADVISORY
Jonathan Zimmerman, an associate professor at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Education, argues that Alabama Governor Bob Riley’s invoking of the Bible in his unsuccessful attempt to raise taxes is at odds with today’s blending of religion and politics by conservatives. However, in an op/ed in today’s Christian Science Monitor, Zimmerman notes that Riley’s actions are reminiscent of progressive movements through the middle of the 20th century when activists linked religion to their causes.
A former Peace Corps volunteer and high school teacher, Zimmerman is the author of Whose America? Culture Wars in the Public Schools (Harvard, 2002) and Distilling Democracy: Alcohol Education in America’s Public Schools, 1880-1925 (Kansas, 1999).
Reporters interested in speaking with Professor Zimmerman on this topic should contact James Devitt at (212) 998-6808 or james.devitt@nyu.edu.
EDITOR’S NOTE The Steinhardt School of Education prepares students for careers in education, health and nursing, communications, and the arts and to serve as a source of continuing education for working professionals who seek career advancement and enrichment. On the graduate level, specialized training is offered within the context of one of the country’s leading centers of research. The school is also a center for research and community service, especially committed to activities aimed at improving the urban environment.