Anaheim Union to Institute ‘Moment of Silence’

Students at the Anaheim Union High School District will begin observing a daily “moment of silence” next month as part of a new policy aimed at helping teens reflect on their behavior and values.

Proponents say the plan, which also includes posting copies of the golden rule around campuses, will help make the schools more civilized. Katherine H. Smith, a trustee who proposed the policy, calls the moment of silence an opportunity for children “to ruminate and to reflect.”

But some critics say it represents a blurring of the line between church and state, placing some students in an uncomfortable position.

Benjamin J. Hubbard, professor of comparative religion at Cal State Fullerton, said that although the district’s intentions are good, some students may feel forced to pray.

“There is that thought that you ought to be praying,” said Hubbard. “Then it becomes coercive. I am all for prayers, but they should be done at homes, not public schools.”

The Anaheim Union High School District’s board of trustees approved the policy in July. The district’s staff recently completed a legal review that cleared the way for implementation. It’s believed to be the first district in the county to adopt such rules.

According to the policy, each school will decide the best time to have the moment of silence. But most are likely to do it just before the “sustained silent reading” period, when everyone in the school including teachers, students and even custodians takes 15 to 20 minutes to read.

“The moment of reflection can be prompted by an inspirational quote on the blackboard or something the principal reads during announcements,” said School Superintendent Janice Billings.

The district’s 20-plus schools will also post on their campuses the golden rule, which tells students, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Peter Eliasberg, a staff attorney at the ACLU of Southern California, said the district’s plans appear to be legal.

“To the extent that it’s legitimately a [time] for students to do whatever they want . . . and there’s no effort to suggest that the students should be praying or not praying, then it’s acceptable,” he said.

Smith said the policy is a small step to build a more civil society at a time when school violence is so often in the headlines. She cited the teen gunmen who committed suicide after killing a dozen classmates and a teacher this April in Littleton, Colo.

“Those children in Columbine, they felt disenfranchised,” she said. “The children who made them feel like they were disenfranchised, maybe if they thought about how they treated them, maybe they would reevaluate how they behaved.”

Officials said most teachers support the changes. But at least some officials remain concerned.

“This blatant attempt to implement school prayer into our classrooms has outraged teachers in our district,” said one educator who asked not to be identified. “We have been instructed by our principals that we have no choice but to follow this policy or face serious consequences.”

Times Staff Writer Karen Alexander contributed to this report.