Despite a long battle fighting to prevent mandatory prayer–err, I mean a mandatory “moment of silence” in Texas public schools, a court ruling decided students not wishing to waste their valuable time so that Christians have time to pray to their imaginary friends should either shut up or shut up.

A three-judge panel from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans upheld a district court ruling, saying the law is constitutional because it expressly allows for any silent use of the period, either religious or nonreligious.

The 2003 law allows children to “reflect, pray, meditate or engage in any other silent activities” for one minute at the beginning of each school day.



Of course no informed individual can honestly claim that it is an important part of a child’s education and a beneficial use of our tax dollars to give the students quiet time. In fact, I would very much like to hear why so many people were SOOOOOOOOO passionate in fighting for mandatory “shut your mouth” time (more so than for better textbooks or for better resources), because they can’t give a reason as this is just a thinly veiled excuse to give the children of Christian parents preferential treatment. In fact, it’s so thinly veiled that prayer is even mentioned in the law.

Here’s an article that supports the new law:

In the one minute wedged between the pledge to Texas and American flags and the school day, Christine Michael prays to God for safety and guidance.

“To be watched over throughout the day and the week to be protected, not just for me, but for everyone,” said Michael, an 18-year-old senior at West Brook High School and outspoken Christian (which, incidentally, is also the pronunciation of his name).

With or without the state-mandated minute of silence, Michael said he would still pray each morning, but the dedicated quiet time gives him a moment to focus.

“It’s not that I’ve been told to do that or someone has asked me to do it,” he said. “It’s just what I feel I should do.”

So if this student would be praying with or without the law why was the law forcing everyone else to let her focus necessary??

Oh, and here’s the kicker:

Circuit Judge Edith Brown Clement noted the lawmaker who sponsored the moment of silence bill expressed a desire to add prayer to Texas’ existing statute after the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals found a similar law in Virginia was constitutional.


I hope Texas students decide to practice their mime or juggling lessons in front of the students of Christian parents, especially if they’re terrible jugglers and stand beside those other students.

At least it isnt as bad as the Kansas school board trying to remove science from the schools

How much did this cost the schools in legal costs that could have went toward something more educational? I have so little confidence in the American school system anymore.

Glad this is a free site & we can all CHOSE to agree or IGNORE the views of the OP.

I chose IGNORE.

Look at the history of this country & TEXAS, it was ALL built be people seeking freedoms. Freedom of religion, among them.

I have read many places, "There are NO athiests in fox holes."

says it all for me.

First of all the Laws and the Amendments were in fact created and geared towards Christians. Due to they were the majority. Through out the years different beliefs became more and more apparent. As the different Religions begin to grow many took offense to how the Laws were worded for in fact the words implied that Christians were being acknowledged due to the words God & prayer were mentioned many times. While no other religion or beliefs were mentioned within the Amendments nor the Laws.

So therefore it seemed that the Laws were only to protect those that were Christians therefore the Laws had to be changed in order for it to be clear that regardless if your Christian or Atheist or any of the many Religions your rights were in fact protected as well.

You know each person can in fact interpret the laws that has been set forth in many different ways. First of all we must not forget at one time prayer within our schools were automatically done each and every morning. At least here in Texas it was the first thing every morning we went to homeroom we all sat down talked to our friends as we put our books away and got out our pens pencils paper ect in order to start the day.

Then the teachers would address the class as we settled down getting ready for the day ahead.

This all has to do with getting kids in the state of mind in order to get them to focus on the day ahead that is to come.

Now when I was growing up at this time the Principal would come over the intercom and said a prayer before the Pledge of Allegiance was said by ALL!

Just because a prayer was being said in no way was it forcing others to believe in God. Those that did not believe in God still had that choice. Why did they in fact have to honor that moment it was out of Respect for those that did believe. But with this state of mind we failed to see that in fact others were being forced to hear these prayers and were more or less being told this is a Christian World deal with it for I'm going to remind you each and every morning as you hear me pray to God. After some carefully negotiating and understanding where those that did not believe in God were coming from it was taking into consideration that in fact that moment each morning was in fact a Christians moment. But...........in order to keep within the routine and be able to give all a moment to in fact get focused on the day ahead it was needed to re-word the Laws in order to protect all beliefs and not just geared towards one.

What did it accomplish? It accomplished the fact that no one has to feel as they are being forced to only hear what Christians believe for now those words are silent and within that moment no matter what their belief is it is out of respect for all to give each person that moment to get focused how ever they choose too.

Now don't get me wrong or the way the laws are worded for you see at one time this is how it happened each and every morning within the schools. But.............then those that did not believe felt as if this in fact was not right for them to have to listen to a prayer when in fact to them it was unconstitutional for them to be made to stand there while a prayer was being said. To them this was favoritism to those that do believe due just for and example if another believed in Satan and that is who they choose to worship was the schools in fact going to let the next moment be praising Satan. Well then if that happens you would in fact have to give each their moment to praise or worship the one they do.

Therefore the "Moment of Silence" was incorporated in order for each person to silently praise, worship or to focus on what they choose to. This was not incorporated only for Christians but as well for non believes. The laws were worded in order to protect each person no matter what they believe. And in the process no one has to in fact hear only one version of belief but now they have that time in order to do with as each choose.

You see if they in fact abolished the "Moment of Silence" then you would in fact be taken that right away from those to have that moment to pray if they choose to. Then you would end up with those that believe going back to court for now their rights have now been infringed. Therefore the Laws were worded in order for each person to be able to have their moment each morning to reflect upon what they each choose to do. At some time or other the Laws must be rewritten in order to protect each person and not make anyone feel left out.

As we all do when we start our days off either it be a cup of coffee or a cigarette or just sit back and take a deep breath it is what we do in order to get our minds set for what we must do.

People are creatures of habit and we incorporated a routine that seems to jump start us off each day. Some may say what does this have to do with the "Moment of Silence"?

Think about it it is in fact teaching our kids to set a routine and to get them to mentally acknowledge they must focus on what is expected of them within the day ahead.

Yes the Laws were one sided in the past but in order to make those Laws fair to all they must word them in order not to infringe on each persons rights.

And yes it is a shame that all that money that it cost in order to change those Laws could have been used for better education.

The fact that you posted in this thread is evidence of the contrary



Let me ask you, if you can be so positive as to what your beliefs are, to the point of being unwavering, why can't an atheist?

And, by the way, I have been deployed. I am an Atheist. I have proven that saying to be false.

They are?!

As far as I'm concerned that's the bottom line right there. The school should need to show why this is a required part of education?

If they can't do that then what's the point in having it? The purpose of a school is to provide education.

It's just an excuse by religious zealots for force their agenda is all.

I would 1st find out why the schools have so much down time as it is. They have busy work and such. This is why homeschoolers so often graduate early because thier time is spent in the books and not on non sence. Texas spends millions on sports programs for a chosen few. Are you going to get rid of sports also?

Congress (perhaps by extension the state Governments also?) shall make no law...

Religion (or practice of none) is protected in the constitution... why then is any of this being discussed, jawed to nausea, and otherwise distracting folks from life?

yeah, they removed the scientific theory of evolution from the school books

“moment of silence” - does that really hurt anyone??? wow...it's not like it's an hour or anything.

if students want to pray....let them
if students want to take deep breaths....let them
if students want to think about if they did their homework or studied.....let them

no one is being forced to pray or anything. and again....it's not like it's a long time or anything

maybe the teacher needs a moment of silence to get her mind ready for the day ahead

This is true. I need MANY moments of silence just to get through the day. And....NO...I don't have ADD.

i get to work early just to have quiet time to get ready for work. i don't really even have the time to pray before hand because i'm getting ready to start the work day.

i really don't see the big deal of a moment of silence...it's not like it's a mandatory prayer class that lasts an hour. and people can use that time to reflect on the day ahead, pray, get a moment of sleep....whatever

I was trying to agree with you. I guess I failed.

i'm sorry hun. i was just on a rant. i thought you were agreeing...i just went on a rampage....my fault not yours

In all honesty, I would like to see some of the original articles on this story. If the people were originally looking for just a moment of silence, I have no problem with it, and others are over-reacting, however, if this was initially pushed as a daily prayer time, and the moment of silence is what they "negotiated" down to, I would have a big problem with it, because I do view trying to establish a daily prayer time in public schools as forcing ones beliefs on others.

TxsGal3333 did a good job IMO of explaining it.

"One thing the courts have not requested is proof that these moments of silence, which deprive people of their liberty, are necessary to accomplish some legitimate civic purpose. The moment of silence is a way to shut up those who loudly proclaim their fear of oppression in the name of religion."

http://skepdic.com/moment.html

Nothing is stopping students from praying. Students can pray in school buses, at the flag-pole, in student religious clubs, in the cafeteria, in the corridors, etc. Alternatively, a student can come early to class, sit quietly, and pray silently. What possible justification is their for a moment of silence except as a first step in re-establishing state sponsored school prayer?