Washington County school boards will use the summer months to decide whether to incorporate a moment of silence into their daily schedules.
Last week, Ohio Gov. Bob Taft signed legislation that would allow public schools the choice to add one minute of silence for students who wanted to reflect, pray or simply clear their minds.
Opponents of the bill say the moment of silence might make it seem to students that schools encourage prayer. Advocates say the bill does not require students to do anything but be silent for a minute and therefore keeps a separation between church and state.
“I like the idea and I think it will help schools,” said Belpre City Schools Superintendent Bob Scott. “I think it’s a nice time to stop and reflect how lucky we are to live in this country.”
Scott said he will make the recommendation to add the moment of silence at the beginning of each school day starting next year. He said the school board will have the final say on the issue.
The beginning of the day is the best time to set aside for a moment of silence, Scott said, because after then, “everybody’s schedule starts and scatters.”
Scott said he is also happy that the state is setting legislation that provides guidelines for schools who have been dealing with the touchy issue of prayer in schools.
“As a public entity we do need to be extremely cautious because we serve such a diverse group,” Scott said.
Warren Local Schools Superintendent Robert Grueser agrees that the new bill gives schools more flexibility.
“What I think that’s important is they’ve given us the option to do something,” Grueser said. “I would opt to have that moment of silence.”
Parent Robin Bozian said she disagrees.
“My own personal belief is that you don’t need to legislate a moment of silence,” Bozian said. “There’s always that option to pray. You can have a moment of reflection while you walk the hall.”
Three of Bozian’s children attend Warren Schools and she is also an attorney for Southeastern Ohio Legal Services in Marietta. She said she does not know if the bill will stand constitutionally, but she said as parent she is worried that the moment of silence will be used by religious groups as an inlet into public schools.
“Kids are pretty impressionable. If they see everyone bowing their heads ... they are going to feel peer pressure,” Bozian said.
Marietta City School Board Vice President Ken Schilling said the board will use the summer months to discuss the issue and encouraged the public to offer their opinions at the open meetings. He said, if approved, the moment of silence would need to be incorporated into school policy and the student handbook.
At religious schools, states have no say on the issue and prayer is a regular part of the school day. Robert Smith, principal of Wood County Christian School in Williamstown, said prayer at school is simply an extension of what the students learn at home and at church. He said his students are encouraged to pray.
“It’s just a natural thing to start the day right. We feel we are just continuing to do what students are learning at home and at church,” Smith said. “It just starts the day in the right spirit.”