No uproar over moment of silence
Local educators say law implemented without objection
Friday, November 9, 2007
GALESBURG - Area school districts have had no problem implementing a moment of silence at the beginning of each school day.John Shelly, Silas Willard Elementary School principal, said the moment, which is implemented by teachers after the Pledge of Allegiance each morning, has gone "very unnoticed."
State government passed a law Oct. 11 requiring all schools to observe a moment of silence each day. There had already been an Illinois law - called the Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act - that allowed schools to observe a moment of silence if they wanted. The new law changed the word "may" to "shall."
Administrators in Galesburg District 205, Abingdon District 217 and Knoxville District 202 said no parents, teachers or students have raised concerns about observing a moment of silence.
At least one Illinois school district - Evanston-Skokie District 65 - has chosen to ignore the law. The district unsuccessfully sought a waiver to free the district from following the law, but couldn't get one because the State Board of Education has not incorporated the law into Illinois School Code. The law doesn't specify penalties for non-compliance or give guidance on how schools should implement the moment of silence.
Gene Denisar, Galesburg District 205 superintendent, said all District 205 principals have implemented the law. He hasn't received any complaints.
"I've not had any questions from parents or really much from any administrators," Denisar said.
Steve Eisemann, assistant principal at Galesburg High School, said the moment is observed after the Pledge of Allegiance every day. He said it lasts between five and 10 seconds.
"No one has raised an issue," Eisemann said.
Larry Carlton, Knoxville District 202 superintendent, said principals implemented the moment of silence as soon as the law passed. He said schools observe the moment after the Pledge of Allegiance and announcements every morning. He said it usually lasts about 15 or 20 seconds at the middle and high school, but is shorter at the elementary school.
"I haven't heard any complaints at all from parents," Carlton said.
Stan Adcock, Abingdon Middle School principal, said students take a moment of silence after the Pledge of Allegiance as well. Teachers are then responsible for ending the moment when they deem it appropriate.
"The teachers allow student some silence time and then we move on," Adcock said.
Neither Adcock nor Michelle Andrews, Hedding Grade School principal, have had any complaints about the quiet time. Andrews said kindergartners take a shorter moment, but classes usually stay silent for about 30 seconds.
"There's nothing wrong with a child taking a few moments to reflect on what they're going to do for the day, and to have a chance to take a deep breath and thing about things," Adcock said.
