Evanston-Skokie schools won't force silence on teachers

Evanston-Skokie Elementary District 65 has decided to ignore legislation mandating a moment of silence in Illinois public schools, according to school board members.

The seven members of the district's board agreed they shouldn't force teachers in the district's 16 elementary and middle schools to observe the law. They took the action Monday after failing to get a waiver freeing the district from following the law.

"We have no intention of either prohibiting or forcing compliance," said board member Katie Bailey.

Illinois students are required to observe a moment of silence at the beginning of every school day under the law passed last month over Gov. Rod Blagojevich's veto.

Supporters say the goal is to give students a bit of peace and quiet to reflect on the day ahead. But critics called the measure an attempt to promote organized school prayer. Democratic state Sen. Jeff Schoenberg had called on the 17 school systems in his legislative district to apply for a waiver on grounds the law represents "undue interference in the ability of teachers to manage their own classrooms."

Members of the board said obtaining a waiver is not an option unless the State Board of Education incorporates the law into the Illinois School Code. Board spokesman Matt Vanover said the state board, though, has no plans to do so because the legislation does not require it.

The school board's decision has left teachers and principals at schools in Evanston and Skokie with little guidance on how or even whether to direct students to observe the moment of silence.

"I'm waiting for my bosses to tell me how to implement this," said Gordon Hood, the principal of Nichols Middle School. "I don't want to move forward until I'm instructed what to do."

State Sen. Kimberly Lightford, a Maywood Democrat, a sponsor of the legislation, called District 65's decision to ignore the law "unfortunate" but said she was unclear about options for enforcement.

Lightford said she had hoped educators would welcome the moment of silence as a way to help improve school discipline and reduce violence.