Landmark Illinois Legislation Requires "Moment of Silence" in Public Schools

RFFM.org ^ | October 21, 2007 | Daniel T. Zanoza

[Daniel T. Zanoza]

Commentary by Daniel T. Zanoza, National Director, RFFM.org

Despite an attempted veto by Democratic Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, the state's General Assembly passed legislation requiring public school teachers to call for a "moment of silence" at the start of each school day. The landmark legislation was upheld when the state's General Assembly overrode Blagojevich's attempted veto of the bill by a vast margin. The law went into affect last week, but will not be implemented until the Illinois State Board of Education lays out guidelines for educators to follow.

The new Illinois law is seen by many as the first salvo in the battle to again allow the observance of First Amendment rights regarding religion in the state's public schools. In 1962, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling titled, "Engel v. Vitale" removed prayer from classrooms across America. Many feel the high court's 1962 ruling was the first step leading to the various social problems which have been visited upon American society during the past 45 years.

The Illinois law, SB1463, amends the Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act to require (instead of allow) a teacher to observe a brief period of silence at the opening of every school day [http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/95/SB/09500SB1463.htm]. The moment of silence, will be mandatory, but students will be able to observe the period in any manner they wish.

One of the groups which strongly supported SB1463 was the Illinois Family Institute (IFI) which lobbied for the bill's passage.

"It is good to see that the state is finally recognizing that citizens have freedom of religion, not freedom from religion," points out IFI's Dave Smith. "While liberal groups like the ACLU and People for the American Way continue to spread misinformation about the supposed 'separation of church and state' and how it should be applied, the First Amendment guarantees the right of all Americans to freely exercise religious freedom. Simply offering students a moment of silence each school day in appreciation of that sacred right is a good thing."

There has been a great deal of speculation as to why the "moment of silence" requirement did not face greater opposition from groups like the ACLU and the teachers' unions. Conventional wisdom concerning the issue indicates black religious leaders and the African-American community in general were in strong support of the bill. The support from blacks and other special interest groups muted much of the criticism that would be expected from the political left regarding such legislation. Indeed, the original vote taken by the Illinois General Assembly had strong bi-partisan support and Blagojevich's veto was also met by a unified front from both Democrats and Republicans.

The Democratic Party dominates Illinois politics and the party holds every state elected office. Both Houses of the General Assembly are also controlled by Democrats and the passage of the new law was a surprise to many political observers.

"This bill may begin to undo the damage created by the 1962 Supreme Court ruling," said one Illinois lawmaker. "Illinois may be in the forefront of a movement to reinstate the Constitutional rights of students in our public schools."

Conservatives have long criticized the 1962 decision which stripped prayer from America's classrooms. They see the new Illinois law as the beginning of a response to the secularization of American society by the radical left. Some believe the Illinois legislation may prompt other states to follow suit.

[Lawgvr1955]

As long as they give tests, there will be prayer in public schools.

[jrushing]

There has been a great deal of speculation as to why the "moment of silence" requirement did not face greater opposition from groups like the ACLU and the teachers' unions.
the passage of the new law was a surprise to many political observers.

New York public school accused of radical Islamist agenda

Why Do We Allow America's Enemies to Run Schools Here?

Maybe it's a backdoor way to allow the Islamofacists to pray 5 times a day on tax-payers expense in our public schools.

You would think that the ACLU would shut down a tax-payer funded public school that preaches Islam.
Maybe this proves that Islam is not a true religion since it's prayers & teachings are allowed in public schools.

Christianity or Judaism certainly is not allowed.