Southern Illinois mostly silent over moment-of-silence law

A controversy over Illinois' mandated moment of silence in schools seems to have skipped Southern Illinois.

No walkouts, protests or even much discussion was sparked by the Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act, enacted Oct. 11, according to area principals.

Elsewhere in the state, parents, teachers and students have raised concerns about the separation of church and state. In Buffalo Grove, a suburb of Chicago, a student and her atheist father have filed a lawsuit challenging the law's constitutionality.

Most schools are incorporating the moment of silence into morning announcements, typically following the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance.

"Then we go on and have a school day. It's no big deal for us. It didn't affect us either way," said Jim Woodward, principal of Anna-Jonesboro Community High School.

Karl Sweitzer, principal of Cobden High School, said it is up to the individual student reciting the pledge that day as to how long the moment of silence lasts. As for comments on the change, he said, "There's been nothing, zip."

Some students questioned why the moment was being observed at Anna Junior High, principal Mark Laster said. The first day students were told to use the moment to pray if they pray, to meditate or to think about the day ahead, Laster said.

"The comments we've heard are mainly just questions, like why are we doing this. Once we explain it to them the typical response is 'Cool, that's all right.'"

Several administrators said the reason the law has not generated more contention could be because people tend to be more faith-oriented here than in Chicago. They also emphasized that the moment does not require students to pray; it is also for reflection.

"No one is this area is going to make an issue about it," said Crystal Housman, principal of Shawnee High School in Wolf Lake, Ill.

Referring to the atheist who filed the lawsuit, Housman said, "I think his objection ... is that by forcing us to provide a moment, it is bringing more attention to the possibility of saying prayer. We view it as use it however you wish to use it."

According to the Chicago Tribune, Illinois is one of 11 states that require such a moment. Gov. Rod Blagojevich vetoed the bill, but lawmakers overrode it.

lbavolek@semissourian.com

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