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| 'Moment of Silence' Challenged in Texas |
| Tuesday, March 14, 2006 |
A couple has filed a complaint in federal court charging that the state's mandated moment of silence in public schools is unconstitutional.
David and Shannon Croft say a teacher told one of their children to keep quiet because the minute is a "time for prayer."
The complaint filed last week names Gov. Rick Perry and the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District in the Dallas suburbs.
David Croft, 37, said there is no secular reason for a moment of silence.
"This is just a ruse to get prayer in school without calling it prayer in school," he said.
The law, passed in 2003, allows children to "reflect, pray, meditate or engage in any other silent activities" for one minute after the American and Texas pledges at the beginning of each school day.
Perry spokeswoman Kathy Walt said children can use the minute as they wish.
"If the student wants to review mentally to get ready for a test or pray silently, they can," Walt said. "The law does not set it up specifically as a moment for prayer."
A school district spokeswoman declined comment because the district had not received a copy of the complaint. |
posted by Jay Are @ 9:50:00 AM   |
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