Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for June 2, 2007 LET US...BE QUIET!

From the Bloomington Pantagraph...

Lawmakers OK school start with chance to pray

By Blackwell Thomas
blackwell.thomas@lee.net

SPRINGFIELD -- It’s not prayer in schools, but legislation approved by lawmakers Thursday would mandate that students take a moment of silent reflection before commencing each school day.

By an 86-26 vote, the House approved a measure that would require, instead of allow, “teachers to observe a brief period of silence at the opening of every school day” with all students participating.

The measure would go into immediate effect if signed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

State Rep. Roger Eddy, R-Hutsonville, a former school principal, said he did not vote on the matter because it should not even be considered.

“The idea of trying to mandate the beginning of the school day in any way is a difficult thing to do,” he said. “I am not for or against the notion, but let’s quit looking at public schools as a place where we want to control that type of thing. We have more important things to do.”

“Also,” Eddy added, “how do you enforce it? There’s nothing in there (the bill) about that.”

State Rep. Bob Flider, D-Mount Zion, joined 25 others in voting against Senate Bill 1463.