Post by gatormom on Feb 11, 2009 8:46:37 GMT -5
We talked about Sherman family in an earlier thread, ip204.proboards92.com/index.cgi?board=non204news&action=display&thread=2207&page=1#21341. I was never a fan of the moment of silence anyway, let the teachers teach.
Lawmakers reflect on silence in schools, again
Nicole Milstead
Daily Herald
2/11/2009
www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=271108&src=109
SPRINGFIELD - Just weeks after a federal judge tossed out Illinois' moment of silence law for schools, lawmakers are back with a new version.
An Illinois House education committee approved Tuesday the latest evolution of controversial proposal, removing all reference to prayer and reflection on the day. As now worded, the law would no longer order a moment of silence and instead allow teachers to ask for a moment of silence as they see fit.
In addition to winning initial support from lawmakers, this version, which offers no official state guidelines for what students consider doing during the respite, also has the endorsement of the suburban atheist who led the legal challenge to the previous law.
"I supported it. The key difference? It's voluntary and removes any reference to prayer," said Buffalo Grove resident Rob Sherman.
Sherman and his daughter Dawn, who attends Buffalo Grove High School, challenged the previous law. She sued the school and the Illinois state schools superintendent, who was defended by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan.
That moment of silence law stated that students would have to start each day with a time for silent prayer or silent reflection on the anticipated activities of the day. In striking it down on Jan. 21, U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman said it crossed constitutional lines.
"The statute is a subtle effort to force students at impressionable ages to contemplate religion," wrote Gettleman.
The new moment of silence law now goes to the full Illinois House for debate in the coming weeks. Sherman said the plan itself doesn't really do anything, but having it on the law books would offer guidance for what public schools can and cannot do in the area of silent reflection.
"It's a good law to have on the books because not everybody - as my wife and daughter and son are all so glad - not everybody is Rob Sherman," said Rob Sherman. "Not everybody knows all the fine distinctions in the law."
Lawmakers reflect on silence in schools, again
Nicole Milstead
Daily Herald
2/11/2009
www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=271108&src=109
SPRINGFIELD - Just weeks after a federal judge tossed out Illinois' moment of silence law for schools, lawmakers are back with a new version.
An Illinois House education committee approved Tuesday the latest evolution of controversial proposal, removing all reference to prayer and reflection on the day. As now worded, the law would no longer order a moment of silence and instead allow teachers to ask for a moment of silence as they see fit.
In addition to winning initial support from lawmakers, this version, which offers no official state guidelines for what students consider doing during the respite, also has the endorsement of the suburban atheist who led the legal challenge to the previous law.
"I supported it. The key difference? It's voluntary and removes any reference to prayer," said Buffalo Grove resident Rob Sherman.
Sherman and his daughter Dawn, who attends Buffalo Grove High School, challenged the previous law. She sued the school and the Illinois state schools superintendent, who was defended by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan.
That moment of silence law stated that students would have to start each day with a time for silent prayer or silent reflection on the anticipated activities of the day. In striking it down on Jan. 21, U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman said it crossed constitutional lines.
"The statute is a subtle effort to force students at impressionable ages to contemplate religion," wrote Gettleman.
The new moment of silence law now goes to the full Illinois House for debate in the coming weeks. Sherman said the plan itself doesn't really do anything, but having it on the law books would offer guidance for what public schools can and cannot do in the area of silent reflection.
"It's a good law to have on the books because not everybody - as my wife and daughter and son are all so glad - not everybody is Rob Sherman," said Rob Sherman. "Not everybody knows all the fine distinctions in the law."