Texas moment of silence challenged

Thanks for this post - I wasn't aware that was law either. Unless they can come up with a (probably far-fetched) valid public, secular educational rationale for this minute of silence that is inclusive of atheist and agnostic children that choose not to pray or meditate, I say get rid of it as a waste of time.

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We had a moment of silence during school, and while I never used it for prayer, I did use it to either complete my mental checklist for the day (test in history, finish math homework at lunch, etc) or to reflect upon the events of previous days (I really hated my parents). I had a friend that did a quick mind-clear using some mantra she never told me. Another friend, while I have no idea what went on in his head, usually played games on his calculator.

Now, in my high school, where I distinctly remember the moment of silence most clearly, we had over 2000 students. Looking back, I think it was nice to have 60 seconds of quiet during the school day.

I guess my point is that there is nothing religious about the moment of silence unless someone makes it so. I mean, I go to church with my inlaws (to make nice), and while the guy is up there yapping, I'm mentally elsewhere. He hasn't managed to convert me yet. The students in schools with moments of silence are likewise secure from becoming Christians (or something else), even if they're praying that they pass that test 3rd period.

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They use the moment of silence in the beginning of the day usually a minute, no big deal. As my sons teacher stated last year allow the kids to use it as a way to prepare for their day, meaning some use it as a way to think of devious deeds for the day, some pray which is their business, or some use to mentally prepare for their day, my son uses it as a way honor people. If we're throwing a way a moment of silence get rid of the pledge of allegiance.

To me it's only teaching children to respect their country and take proud of our nation including the moment of silence.

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I grew up in GA and had this every day. It was clearly religious in intent and pissed me off. We also had to stand and say the pledge, which annoyed me because of its religious references. These should not be elements of public school.

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Oh come on. Use the minute however you want. Didn't we see a post on here about yogo, etc. in schools as a way to start the day. A quiet moment for whatever purpose the child uses it for is a good idea.

Anyone who gets upset over the moment of silence is over the top.

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I would have preferred the minute of silence to being forced to recite the lord's prayer over the PA system once or twice a year and say grace once every 25-30 days. I went to public school in Louisiana. My brother graduated high school recently and they still open every day with the pledge and lord's prayer, which takes about 5-10 minutes every morning.

As others have said, the minute of silence can be used to collect your thoughts before the day really starts and I would have appreciated that more on test days. And there's less risk of being outed as the lone non Christian when you balk at doing something against your beliefs and being harassed by teachers and classmates.

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When I was in middle and high school in FL, our moment of silence was during homeroom anyway, which was not instructional time. So all we missed out on was an extra minute of socializing or finishing last night's homework.

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Texas has worse problems than a "minute of silence" if you consider the new head of the state school board. Consider.... http://www.pandasthumb.org/archives/2007/08/shocking_revela.html

There is a long history of attempts to get religion into schools. The last major one that hit the courts was Kitzmiller vs. Dover.

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Georgia still has the moment of silence. They stand for the Star Spangled Banner, the Pledge of Alliegence, the moment of silence, then all of the school announcements including the lunch menu and the word of the day, anyone's birthday, etc. I'd be using that moment to pray I could sit down.

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Oh, and visiting parents aren't allowed to be walking or talking in the hallways during the announcements. They're expected to stand still just like the kids until its all over.

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Well I'm caught between being tickled and being totally appauled at the idotd opposed to one little minute! First of all I realize you have rights but why should you have the right to push your rights to the point that they trample on others rights? This is America home of the free right? Not anymore, its only free to those who feel the world is set according to them! If you feel offended by saying the national anthem in which you could choose not to say the word you dont want to but I should point out the nation was built and based on certain beliefs, but if you dont like it and you think eveything in america should be changed to better suit you then why dont you leave and go to another country where you dont have the right to bitch about every little thing then let me know if that minute is still so damn important that you have to take it away from those who want it? You can use the minute for whatever you'd like I think it's a good middle ground those that want to use it for religious beliefs can and those that dont dont have to. Where to compromise go? I have to wonder everyone in todays society seems to have a "all my way mentality" meaning you want it all your way or no way.... well as big of a shock as I'm sure this is going to be for all of you some people do believe in god and some people use bottels to feed their kids (oh the horror to all you parent dish people!) and and some even use disposable diapers! Oh my goodness not everyone lives their lifes the same way... oh my would have guessed? My point is everyone has a right to live their own life the way they see fit, to determine their own destiny and just because you have rights to do something or not to do it doesn't mean those rights should impede on others to delete their choices to better suit you! In other words get over yourself its a minute, everyone can use it the way they want and as long as their is no suggestion at how to use it then everyone should be happy instead of trying to take away from others simply because you want a power trip! It shouldn't bother you what others do with that time its their minute they can do what they want! Alot in life others are going to want to do or not do things you may or may not want to do..... but because we live in a free country you can do as you choose.... Thats what I like about living in japan they realize everyone is different as respect the fact other peoples rights also not just their own selfish rights, as in they dont push their own personal rights to the point they take away form other a great lesson I wish more americans would learn!

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If it's just a moment of silence, I have no problem with it. I'd think of it as a transition from not school to school. The kids can do whatever they want with it.

Actually, I'm sure we have it here - just not called that. A bell rings, everyone freezes wherever they are. Another bell, everyone moves.

Once it gets past that and knowing Texas they'll probably try it becomes something entirely different.

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Afterthought:

This they shouldn't be doing.

"especially given the inclusion of the specific suggestion that the time could be used for prayer."

It would be like the "voluntary" prayer we had in school when I was a girl. All but one kid bows their head - that kid is the outcast.

Nothing voluntary about it once the "suggestion" is there.

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I am a substitute teacher in the state of Texas. I use the "moment of silence" to say a quick, personal prayer for strength for the day and to observe the students I will be teaching that day. The students are not required to pray, just sit quietly for that moment. It is a good time to focus for the day. This moment gives me a chance to look at the kids, look at my roll sheet, put names and faces together and gather my thoughts before starting the lesson for that day.

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I don't agree that a minute of silence is a wasted minute. Many things can be accomplished in a moment when there are no communications and limited distractions to add to the clutter in one's mind. I strongly feel that people perform better if they are given time to clear their mind without anyone simultaneously attempting to push something else into it. To justify removing a universally beneficial educational practice, there would have to be very strong evidence that kids' religious beliefs are being swayed, or they are being discriminated against, as a direct result of opportunity for children to include any thougts, including religious thoughts, in their silent moment. Until people learn how to read minds, I don't believe such evidence can be found.

The fact that there is a statement that the moment "can" be used for prayer should not be blown out of proportion. There is always so much controversy over when, where, and whether kids are allowed to voluntarily pray in school, or otherwise practice or talk about their religion; so, some guidence as to when it's allowed is helpful.

A moment of silence is a moment of absolute mental freedom. Nobody knows what you are thinking, or even "if" you are thinking. To suggest a statement in the law "allowing" silent thought, including prayer, is somehow imposing religion on anyone is utterly absurd.

I am waiting for the day when they announce that all school bus windows must be painted black, lest the children see churches on their commute to school, and thus have religion imposed on them.

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brandi conflates the national anthem (sung, I should point out to a rather difficult melody originally composed as the offcial song of a group of amateur British musicians, "The Anacreontic in Song"--go ahead, look it up) with the Pledge of Allegiance.

The words "under God" were not part of the original pledge, but were added in the early1950s by Congress after the pledge had been in use for some decades. The addition was done as a anti-Communist act, or as the McCarthyites of the era would have put it 'godless Communism'.

I am not opposed to prayer in school, for--as has been noted--as long as there are math tests, there will be prayers in school.

I am willing to accept publically delivered or encouraaged prayers in public schools under either of two conditions:

1. I get to write the prayer.

2. Each and every day, a prayer is made to a different god with no repeats until all current or historical named deities have been covered.

In the second case, I'll even go so far as to allow the Christians to supply the very first prayer to be used, provided the Christians can agree on one prayer. I expect the Christian god will come around again in 40 or 50 years...

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I was not trying to mix the national anthem with the pledge of allegience, i was simply trying to say that if having to say words to the pledge of allegience so called "pisses you off" then dont say it. My whole point is so often in this country people refuse to the utmost degree to compromise it has to be all one way or the other. A moment of silence is just that a moment of silence, people are trying way to hard these days to find something to bitch about. When i was in school i used that time to get ready fro the day ahead it was like a period to take a deep breathe and mentally prepare for the day. I understand why so many americans are choosing to move to other countries I have thought about I must admit. When people are willing to nit pick over a freakin moment of silence and call others bad parents because they smoke in front of them (my parents smoked in fron t of me and I turned out just fine!) or bottle feed or use disposable diapers or make any sort of wild accustaions then i dont feel that an environment I want my children growing up in. I think america is on a self distructive path, simply due to the people in it un willing to compromise!

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To clarify an earlier comment stated that they were ticked off about having to recite the national anthem..... my point is if it offends you dont say it... and why now? Why, now after all these years is "God we trust" and "under God" suddenly not ok? It doesn't matter everything will get done away with just as everyone wants and eventually so will the constitution........ then America will be one big crap hole! Bravo everyone pushing for their way all the way all the time you succeeded in making a mess!!!!! Everyone is going to have a difference of opinions but once again its finding the happy medium that people need to focus on.

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shoot not national anthem .. pledge of alliegence.....too big of a hurry! LOL

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Does anyone supporting this moment of silence have any actual *evidence* that children who are forced to observe for one minute every day in school are any more focused, remain on task better, or perform better in school?

Children are in public schools to get an education in a very limited amount of time each day. Not to be indoctrinated in some people's unsupported ideas of how to spend their day meditating or praying or whatever else they do with their minute of silence.

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