Here is how kids think of the moment of silence

coasterqueen wrote: Our local newspaper put out this article today about what the kids in our public school district think of the new law "moment of silence". It appears most think it's a joke. I thought it was interesting that the public school system is stating the moment is 20 seconds until the state rules it has to be 60 seconds. Apparently it must not even state the amount of time by law. I'll have to investigate and see if that's true.

Just thought maybe some might find it interesting.

http://www.sj-r.com/News/stories/18350.asp

luvmykids replied: I happen to agree with the kids, 20 seconds is way too short to think about anything Unless the schools are willing to give the students a little more direction and a little more time in the "moment" it will end up being a waste

Boo&BugsMom replied: 20 seconds? Hum....I'm going to have to ponder that one. That's not even enough time to get a good heartfelt prayer in if you ask me. Ok Karen, you are slowly changing my mind...but not totally yet! It almost seems like a good idea gone bad....like NCLB.

coasterqueen replied:
I think the law was implemented so fast. It was overturned on one day and the next it became effective so the schools had no time to really think about it. I think if the schools would have given more direction (although they really didn't get any from the law or the legislature) then maybe it would have been how one would think it would be designed.

A&A'smommy replied: 20 seconds??? what in the world.. I can definitely imagine being a student thinking that its pretty dumb... I definitely think they need about 5minutes for it to even ben worth it!!

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I've thought a lot about this topic and my conclusion was actually...ask the kids. I bet they could care less. I think the adults are more bent out of shape over the whole thing than the kids are. 20 seconds, 5 mins...I still don't think the kids would care. That's just my thoughts on it.

I send my children to private, christian schools and I love it that they can pray at school and discuss religion. But, they are not taught to pray there. That starts at home. I think praying with your children before school can be much more effective than a 20 second or one minute moment of silence that they would get each morning at school. Even if it's not a prayer at home, but having your child think about and plan their day early in the morning would be way more effective. It gives them a chance to slow down in the morning and not feel rushed. I think it's pointless to try to do this once you get to school and have so many distractions.

redchief replied: First off, Boo to Illinois for making mandatory what the feds only protected. No wonder the kids found it "boring" and "stupid." They're teenagers for crying out loud! And they hate it when adults tell them they HAVE to do something. What was the last answer you got from your teen when you told him he couldn't go out with his friends until he cleaned his room? That's what I thought (either that or you got under-breath grumbling, which amounts to a lower form of the same rebut).

Nannies. Blech!

jcc64 replied: I think I already mentioned that wayyyyyyy back in the day, in my hs, we also had a moment of silent meditation (exact wording). People were usually finishing homework, filing their nails, staring at the hot guy two rows over, or sleeping. I don't recall a single person looking prayerful or contemplative, and then as now, the ritual was inserted by some adults with their own agendas who don't have a clue what kids behave like in schools. Kids are so used to being herded like sheep - with rule after rule after rule, that I'm sure one more means absolutely nothing to them. I do think it would be great if the schools took the opportunity to engage the kids in the debate- so they would be able to see a little slice of the political process at work. I think it would be awesome if the kids wrote letters to the Ohio legislators and weighed in on the whole circus.
But there's probably no time for that........

bawoodsmall replied: What a joke. 20 seconds is not enough and I dont think 60 is either. I cant even think of much or pray for someone in that amount of time how do they expect a highschooler?

redchief replied:
I totally agree. What an awesome idea! Finding out what the kids want from their school! I mean as parents we can't give them everything they want, for their own goods whether they know it or not, but why shouldn't they be allowed a voice?

msoulz replied:
I think you hit that nail on the head!!! It is usually we adults that get uptight and the kids learn from us that they should be uptight.

gr33n3y3z replied:
I agree