-Texas Schools ‘Moment of Silence’ Upheld by Court
by Dr. D ~ January 7th, 2008
There was a complaint filed in 2006 against the 2003 Texas law which allowed the public school day to begin with a minute of silence. The law does not mandate what the children actually do but allows for reflection, silent prayer, meditation, any other silent activities for one minute at the beginning of each school day.
The U.S. District Judge upheld the law on Thursday (Jan. 3) concluding that it was constitutional:
“the primary effect of the statute is to institute a moment of silence, not to advance or inhibit religion.”
Response: The law was a good compromise which allowed for but did not mandate a moment for non-official silent prayer to start the school day. As a child of the 50’s, I remember when every school day began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer.
A ‘moment of silence’ does not impose any ‘religion’ on anyone yet those who oppose it supposedly do so in the name of ‘tolerance’. A type of tolerance which tolerates almost anything except any possible hint of religion and Christianity in particular.
Interestingly, some Texas schools are making arrangements and setting aside rooms and times for Muslim children to say their daily prayers with little or no opposition from the usual suspects..like the ACLU.
Actually, The ACLU normally opposes ‘moments of silence’ any where it is proposed or attempted, but seems to be partial or more tolerant of Muslim prayer in schools —see this case in Seattle. *Top
