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First, the setup…
Public school students would be required to observe a moment of silence under legislation the Senate passed Wednesday, giving lawmakers a chance to work around constitutional prohibitions against school prayer. […]
The legislation would require schools to have a moment of silence at the beginning of every school day for kindergarten through high school students. The measure would change current law, which merely allows schools to have a moment of silence. That has created some schools in which some teachers allow the quiet period while others don’t.
“It is a neutral act, which affords students the opportunity to reflect upon whatever they wish, whether religious or not,” said Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood), the sponsor. […]
Sen. Dan Rutherford (R-Chenoa), the lone opponent, said the legislation was unnecessary because schools already have a right to hold a moment of silence and schools don’t need government telling them what to do.
To the question: Is this bill necessary?
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 9:33 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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I’d much rather have my kids observing a moment of silence than spend another moment learning reading, science or math.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 9:36 am
Last I checked isn’t the purpose of schools to educate children? I dont see how a moment of silence would help with that or why the State Senate is waisting time even addressing this.
Comment by RMW Stanford Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 9:40 am
What is the public policy problem that this legislation is attempting to address?
Comment by Carl Nyberg Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 9:59 am
How long is the “moment”?
What if a student’s prayer takes longer than the moment of silence?
Or is the moment only intended for a quick shout out to God?
Yep, this is definitely a good idea.
Comment by So-Called "Austin Mayor" Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 9:59 am
I’m tired of the entire issue. There are at least a dozen different ways to pray, but for over forty years I continually hear debate over the “head bowed, hands folded, eyes closed, moment of silence” type of prayer.
How pathetic. No moment of silence will improve the poor quality of education in this state. The bill treats prayer like it is a rabbit’s foot or a four leaf clover - complete disrespect and ignorance.
Get real. The bill is no substitute for real educational reform.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 10:09 am
Is this really going to take a whole class period YDD?
I find it just as easy to pray or reflect or whatever before you get to school. Also, I can take a moment on my own to say a prayer or focus if I wish to do so.
I am opposed to this because it is silly and unneccessary. She may have perfect timing since Prophet Rod has a direct link to God’s Blackberry.
Comment by Wumpus Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 10:11 am
If VanillaMan, YDD, SCAM and me are all on the same page, who do these pols think they are pandering to?
Comment by Carl Nyberg Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 10:12 am
RMW Stanford:
You might have spent that moment going over your spelling words. “Waisting”? I am sorry for pointing it out, I couldn’t resist.
Comment by John Lee Pettimore Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 10:12 am
The Bill is not necessary. I have equal protection concerncs about this as well. The preganant implication is that children are free to choose worship, during this time, if they so choose. But what if the childs religion requires prayers to be verbalized or broadcast. What if it requires them to prostarte themselves etc. The forced silence does not also force the shcool to accomodate other pratices, burning incesne etc. In short, it is targeted at a few religions which utilize silent prayer with no other requirements (covering ones head, burning incense etc). Also, why are we paying for teachers to spend a period of time doing nothing? If you want to provide some kind of non-denominational chapel, and allow students access to it during recess, lunch or other periods, I think that is a real solution. This is just disguised juedo christian acitivity during class time and should never be mandated. Kids have lunch, depending on age recess and other break times if they wish tio worship on their own.
Comment by Ghost Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 10:15 am
Not necessary. The purpose of schools is education. Time-on-task is the biggest indicator of student learning, and students need to spend more time on the tasks at hand.
Comment by Fan of the Game Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 10:20 am
Why just a moment?
Comment by Bill Baar Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 10:23 am
They really have nothing to do down in Springfield, do they?
Why are they wasting their time on this nonsense, when the state is 90 days behind on its bills?
Comment by Dieter Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 10:37 am
I consider it a positive that some schools do have a MoS and some don’t. That’s called flexibility and it seems as though it is a good solution to the fact that our State is big and diverse.
Comment by cermak_rd Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 10:49 am
Not needed, if the school wants do to it, it can. I agree with Rutherford we don’t need to mandate this.
Comment by onemanblog Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 10:56 am
The mandatory moment of silence is just another way to introduce Christian prayer in schools. To me it’s somewhat astounding how often blatant Christian proselytizing happens in rural school districts.
The Supreme Court case that decided that school sponsored prayers were unconstitutional — a case, btw, that originated in Illinois — made a huge point of identifying how peer pressure affects a child who is not of the majority religion. The same holds true of mandatory moments of silence.
If a teacher in a small school district decides to use this moment of silence to proselytize, there is no escape for the child of a minority religion. And, btw, minority religion in this context includes a wide range of non-evangelical christian denominations.
The bill’s a waste of time, and a trojan horse.
Comment by the Other Anonymous Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 10:59 am
Yeah, grade schools kids will observe a moment of silence and reflect on their shoe, their Wii score on Legend of Zelda, or simply kill time. Bill is a waste of effort.
Comment by zatoichi Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 11:22 am
NO MORE UNNECESSARY LAWS!!!!!!!!! Just stop the slide to socialism.
Comment by i d Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 12:08 pm
While they’re at it, maybe they could make sure music, drama, and other arts are in schools too.
Comment by NW burbs Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 12:23 pm
Senator Rutherford is right! This is a waste of the General Assembly’s time. It will also be a waste of our tax dollars ifit becomes law, because the legal bill for a futile defense of this measure in court is the last thing the state needs right now.
Senator Lightford should be ashamed of herself for pandering to religious extremists whose time would be better spent praying the the Good Lord in in a real forgiving mood when they take their last breaths of life.
Comment by fedup dem Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 12:58 pm
[…] of Day in reply to Question of Day Jump to Comments Rich Miller often sets up a Question of the Day over at his Capitol Faxblog. […]
Pingback by Quote of Day in reply to Question of Day « Illinois Reason Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 1:22 pm
This bill is unnecessary. As long as there are tests in school there will be prayer.
Comment by A Citizen Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 1:22 pm
How bout a moment of shouting for those who speak in tongues? If the GA doesn’t want to address the serious problems facing Illinois, then they should pass a law against frivolous laws.
Comment by Doodles Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 1:29 pm
No, it is not necessary. It’s a silly idea.
Comment by Way Northsider Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 1:39 pm
Are they going to require the kids to pray for the GRT?
Comment by Underdog Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 1:58 pm
Wow, a series of posts where everyone agrees, Rich you’ve outdone yourself!! So keep it going, what a waste of time this bill is. Why hasn’t anyone pointed out that there was only one opponent of this bill though….I mean these are our senators. What constituency moved them to do this?
Comment by LogicalGOP Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 2:19 pm
This bill is just a diversion from the real issues facing the State. It is a ridiculous waste of time and our taxpayer money to pass such an unnecessary bill.
Comment by Just a Citizen Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 2:42 pm
Don’t kids in kindergarten get about 45 minutes of silence at naptime?
Comment by Ma Duece Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 3:34 pm
Only if they don’t have to use that moment of silence to pray to god rod.
Comment by Little Egypt Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 4:36 pm
Should’nt Lightford,who graduated and represents the worst testing school in Cook County,Proviso East and Proviso West,instead focus on how best to improve education opportunites for those children instead of demsndiong they spend a MOMENT OF SILENCE? Maybe Lightford can also sponser a bill to stop and have the state intervene in school disitricts which constantly rank 90 out of 90, and try to eliminate school boards(like Proviso 209)who are being investigated for patronage hirings and corruption in contracts.Oh I forgot,she would’nt want that because she is the 209 biggest supporter and there her allies!
Comment by Proviso citizen Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 6:59 pm
Not wasting their time..they are wasting my taxpayer money because all the time they spent developing or discussing this issue was time taken away from addressing the myriad other real issues of the state. Let’t fire them all and start fresh.
Comment by NoGiftsPlease Thursday, Mar 22, 07 @ 8:49 pm
Welcome to the twilight zone. Republicans opposing veiled school prayer legislation introduced by democrats.
Its pretty ridiculous. If my religion requires me to gut a live rooster and rub the blood all over my face. It only takes a movement, and I don’t say a word. Is it acceptable for my child to do same in class?
Seriously though, if I had a kid, I would instruct him to force out a loud belch every day during “silent time.”
The entire concept is ridiculous. Why do some people feel the need to loudly display their religion and force it upon others?
Comment by Jerry Friday, Mar 23, 07 @ 9:18 am
Instead of a moment, I think it should be 5 minutes. Maybe this will focus some of the children.
Comment by cynthia Thursday, Mar 29, 07 @ 5:17 pm