THE POLITICS OF PRAYER

President Clinton, moving to steal thunder from religious conservatives, ordered the Education Department to distribute guidelines to the nation's schools pointing out thatstudents can already pray in the classroom. "The First Amendment does not convert our schools into religion-free zones," Clinton said in an address at James Madison High School in a northern Virginia suburb. Instead, he pointed out, the Constitution allows students to read Bibles or other scriptures, say grace before meals and take part in religious clubs in high schools. "Students can also pray to themselves," he said, drawing laughter when he added: "Preferably before tests, as I used to do." Social conservatives pledged to continue fighting fora constitutional amendment on school prayer, which would go farther than the status quo by allowing teachers to offer public expressions of faith in schools.