Moment of Silence in Schools Endorsed by Senate Resolution

Signaling a sentiment to bring some form of prayer back to public schools, the Senate on Friday encouraged educators to allow students a brief period of silence each day for contemplation.

The 78-8 vote on a “sense of the Senate” resolution followed agreement a day earlier to deny federal funds to state or local agencies that bar constitutionally protected prayer in public schools.

Sen. John C. Danforth (R-Mo.) said that by approving the non-binding resolution the Senate merely would be making a statement “that it is a good thing to have a brief period of silence.”

It would enable students to reflect on their religion, their values and “how they want to be good citizens of that school or what they want to accomplish during that day in school,” he said.

The vote came during debate on the Goals 2000 education bill, which would write into law the national education goals agreed to by the nation’s governors in 1989.

Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) had sought Thursday to deny federal funds to school districts that prohibit voluntary prayer. But lacking the needed support, he added the words “constitutionally protected” to describe prayer, thus limiting the impact of the proposal to what has been allowed by the Supreme Court. The watered down amendment was approved, 75-22.

The court ruled last year that religious groups must be allowed to conduct prayer meetings in public schools before or after school hours if non-religious groups also are allowed to meet there.