Schools still struggling with silence
Area school districts are creating their own loose guidelines to address a new state law requiring them to observe a daily moment of silence.
As they scramble to decide how to best implement the law that went into effect last week, several districts are specifying how long the silence will last and when it will be observed while others are letting individual schools decide for themselves.
Fenton High School District 100 in Bensenville, for example, gave teachers a copy of the law and recommended they give students "15 to 20 seconds to pray, reflect or meditate while attendance is taken during the 8 a.m. classes," Superintendent Kathie Pierce said Monday.
"I'm on a superintendent's listserv and it's absolutely going crazy," she said. "We're all talking about it."
The law took immediate effect last Thursday when the state legislature overrode Gov. Rod Blagojevich's veto but gave little direction to school officials. The law does not include any penalties for districts that ignore it.
Itasca Elementary District 10 Superintendent Ken Cull said he's expecting some guidance from the state superintendent regarding what constitutes a "moment" and possible consequences for students who don't "reflect" properly.
"So far it's caused a bit of a wrinkle for us, especially with our primary building where the oldest students are in second grade," Cull said. "I'm not sure all those students will get the concept enough to know what they're actually reflecting on."
But state board of education officials have said they will allow districts to decide how to implement the law on their own.
Naperville Unit District 203 Superintendent Alan Leis already has directed principals to observe the brief silence following morning announcements. He said it will likely last about 10 seconds but the exact time is not set in stone.
He did tell principals not to encourage or discourage prayer during that time.
"Reading the legislative intent, there's a few moments for quiet and reflection," he said. "I think personally we have to be very careful in directing students in terms of what they think about. Hopefully parents provide guidance in that area."
In Roselle, Lake Park High School is asking its students to observe a moment of silence for 15 to 20 seconds between the morning announcements and the Pledge of Allegiance. Teachers will not explain to students what that moment of silence is supposed to mean.
Indian Prairie Unit District 204, which includes portions of Naperville, Aurora, Bolingbrook and Plainfield, is leaving the specifics up to its individual principals. Superintendent Stephen Daeschner said the moment of silence likely will take place before or after the Pledge of Allegiance.