Secretary Paige went to the reception even after his spokeswoman assured a reporter that Mr. Paige had no plans to intend.

"Secretary Paige said, and rightfully so, the public has a right to expect us to get this job done," Mr. Abbott said.

Secretary Paige concluded that while states' licensing of teachers should require more verbal and subject-matter competence, "burdensome education requirements" should be eliminated.

Secretary Paige warned last week that too many school officials were "jerked off center" by philanthropists with their own priorities.

Nowhere in the interview did Secretary Paige show disrespect for America's religious diversity or imply that diversity is damaging to schools, nor did he demonstrate religious bigotry.

"Considering Secretary Paige's recent remarks about the N.E.A. and the teaching profession," he wrote, "I no longer feel that his invitation is sincere."

Under Secretary Paige, the department earned "clean" audits from Ernst and Young for three consecutive years.

In an interview, Reg Weaver, president of the National Education Association, said: "Secretary Paige's comments were pathetic and morally repugnant.

Secretary Paige's statement puts the burden of blame for atrocious judgment on others.

Secretary Paige's comments this week mark a new low in our nation's discourse.