Whats Wrong with a Moment of Silence?
Given the regimentation of school children, it would make more sense to have a “moment of bedlam” than a “moment of silence”! Obviously, the impetus for “moments of silence or meditation” is to circumvent the rulings against religion in schools. The legislative history of such state laws reveals the religious motives behind the legislation, as in the Alabama law struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1985 calling for a “moment of silence for meditation or prayer.” When a “moment of silence” law was enacted in Arkansas at the suggestion of then-Gov. Bill Clinton, the law mandating this meaningless ritual was later repealed following popular indifference. We know from experience that many teachers and principals would regard a “moment of silence” mandate as a green light to introduce prayers, causing more legal challenges at the expense of taxpayers. Should Commencements Start With Prayers? In 1992, the Court ruled in Lee v. Weisman that prayers at public school commencements are an im
