When I taught full time, there was a moment of silence every morning after announcements. I used the time to take care of last minute paperwork and lesson organization. Theist kids used the time to pray (silently), others rested or scrambled to finish homework.
Perhaps if you suggested this to your local school board, the issue of prayer would be solved. Your thoughts?
2006-10-16 07:21:47 · 35 answers · asked by Kathryn™ 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Blackacre - there is tons of paperwork at the beginning of a school day day. Kids come in with tardy slips, passes to see other teachers and attendance has to be taken. I spent 3-4 hours every night grading papers and planning, and also spent Sundays preparing materials and lessons. Every spare moment in the classroom is precious. When is the last time you spent a full day in a classroom?
2006-10-16 07:29:15 · update #1
J.P. - I took attendance during that time.
2006-10-16 07:31:33 · update #2
as long as its clear that you can do ANYTHING silently. if the kids have to be both silent and still, its not fair to the little non-theist kids to have to sit there and shut up so that some other kids can pray. if they are allowed to do their homework or something, then its fine.
2006-10-16 07:28:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
As long as they don't call it 'pray time' then there is no reason to take legal action against it. I mean, I went to a friggin' Catholic school. All that prayers did was give me more time to study for that biology test. (THANKFULLY, the school I went do didn't teach creationism but evolution in Bio.) Sure, there were some students that took praying seriously, but that was their problem. Then again, this was private religious school. When I was at a public school, people still didn't pay attention during the pledge of allegiance or other announcements. Depending on what you believe in (I didn't like praying in Catholic school, so I didn't pray, but I said the pledge because I felt at little patriotic while other students didn't care). I just had to learn to not care what the other kids at the Catholic school thought of me not saying prayers. So, just self confidence and knowing that what I believed and didn't believe in was my own personal matter, and that I couldn't change whatever they believed in. I don't think that you can actually do something if they call it a 'moment of silence'. Are they actually kneeling or folding their hands or something? That could be something to bring up, tho'. Or maybe my Catholic school was just weird.
2016-05-22 06:46:59 · answer #2 · answered by Joanna 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a teacher myself I think thats a great idea. If nothing else it gives students down time to get everything together for the day. Those that want to pray would also have availability to pray in the school. The only problem, as with many others, is that not all of the faculty would support it or do it. Probably most effective if it's started at the grade school level and then as those kids get older it simply is carried with them. That way it would have the student support instead of an abrupt start. Thanks for posting this!
2006-10-16 07:30:49 · answer #3 · answered by Rick D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've never heard of it being used every day, just after traumatic events. We had several kids killed in car crashes throughout my high school years, and there was a moment of silence for them. There was one on September 12, 2001, and on the day after many school shootings. I think a moment of silence is wise, but it should always be a full moment. I've had principals stop it after about twenty seconds, while holding it for two minutes in other cases.
2006-10-16 07:25:54 · answer #4 · answered by teeney1116 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I grew up in a school that always used a moment of silence. I didn't even know it was supposed to be for prayer until I got into high school. Honestly, I just thought they wanted us to shut up for a few minutes! But I do think it is a good time to give children of all faiths a moment to pray before the day starts. And if a child is non-religious, it does not force him to be, as he/she is free to do homework, or just sit there, like I did from Kingergarten to 9th grade, and I'm a Christian lol. Anyway, I think you've presented a great point, thanks!
2006-10-16 07:24:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
This is a good suggestion, AT THE VERY LEAST. Our country was founded on Christian principles and my heart hurts when I look at the state our country is in today and how far away from those principles we have gotten. I glanced over my husband's shoulder this morning as he was reading some news and was saddened to see that unmarried households now outnumber married households in our country.
My personal experience has taught me that my faith in God and my daily walk with God (never perfect, always missing the mark) is what keeps me grounded and in peace and joy. I am not chasing things that are worldly, yet our family is financially extremely secure. We live a joyful and fulfilled life without our children having iPods, cell phones, Play Stations, or computers in their rooms.
Perhaps we need to move back toward those principles and this would be a good way to start.
PS: Our school district already has a policy of a moment of silence.
2006-10-16 07:28:14 · answer #6 · answered by Sandy S 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
This was the policy back in the day when I was a student in school. When was this done away with? Yes this is ideal as a compromise between various faiths in a public setting.
2006-10-16 07:30:05 · answer #7 · answered by a_delphic_oracle 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't have a problem with a moment of silence, I can't really see how anyone could. If some kids choose to pray, that's totally up to them.
2006-10-16 07:30:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Very Good ! Silence is Golden.
Silence in thought, word,and deed is indeed the greatest moment of life.
2006-10-16 08:06:10 · answer #9 · answered by aum_sudha 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i feel that the moment of silence is one step from becoming prayer in school, its a dangerous move because christians dont just want a moment of silence, they want people to acknowledge that this time is thier time and not for non christians.
2006-10-16 07:30:38 · answer #10 · answered by badferret 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋