District will ignore new legislation mandating a moment of silence in Illinois public schools
Evanston-Skokie School District 65 will ignore new legislation mandating a moment of silence in Illinois public schools after trying unsuccessfully to seek a waiver that would free the district from following the law, the school board said. Five of the board's seven members agreed the board should not force teachers in the district's 16 elementary and middle schools to observe the law. It is unclear what steps, if any, the state might take to force the district to comply with the law. The legislation does not provide penalties for non-compliance nor offer guidelines on how to deal with schools—or school boards—that choose to ignore it. The school board's decision to ignore the law 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. Many of them said they opted to do nothing until further notice. The board had asked the district superintendent to look into the possibility of applying for a waiver but discovered that option is not available unless the Illinois State Board of Education incorporates the law into the Illinois School Code. The state board, though, has no plans to do so because the legislation did not require it, said state board spokesman Matt Vanover. State Sen. Jeff Schoenberg sent letters to 17 school systems in his legislative district calling on them to apply for a waiver on grounds that the law represents "undue interference in the ability of teachers to manage their own classrooms." It was unclear whether any other districts that received Sen. Schoenberg's letter tried to obtain a waiver. Supporters of the moment of silence legislation have said it would help teachers control the classroom, keep boisterous students calm, and give students a chance to reflect before the school day. "It sets up an unnecessary intrusion into the classroom," said board member Mary Rita Luecke, adding that she suspects some supporters of the new law really want a moment of prayer but are settling for a moment of silence. "This is really being encouraged by people who are trying to bring prayer into school," she said.
Chicago Tribune By Deborah Horan
[Editor’s Note: According to the report below, atheist activist Rob Sherman has filed suit in federal court seeking to block the school district where his daughter attends school from enforcing the legislation. U.S. District Court Judge Robert Gettleman has denied Mr. Sherman’s motion for a temporary restraining order but has "some serious questions" about the statute and has indicated his willingness to address the merits of Mr. Sherman’s suit.]
Chicago Tribune By Jeff Coen