Moment of Silence stirs debate in Evanston senate race

The "Moment of Silence" controversy is becoming a campaign issue in Evanston, where Democratic State Senator Jeff Schoenberg urged local school districts to apply for a mandate waiver immediately after the bill was enacted last fall.

Schoenberg counseled Evanston/Skokie School District 65:

This new requirement of a moment of silence adds another unnecessary item to an already lengthy list of curriculum and other administrative requirements faced by the teachers in District 65. It represents undue interference in the ability of these teachers to manage their own classrooms and has nothing whatsoever to do with improving student performance.

Republican challenger attorney Brendan Appel sees no harm in setting aside a moment each day to start off the school day, says he's "amazed" at the level of resistance he's seeing, and thinks those energies are misguided:

I believe it is good to provide our children the opportunity to silently reflect or say a silent prayer to start off the day. The law does not require children to pray, nor does it establish a religion.

I am amazed at the level of resistance to this law by certain groups - what harm could possibly come to our children from a "moment of silence"?

Those who oppose this law should more productively redirected their energy to dealing with real problems in our schools, such as the recent rampant violence in some of our inner-city schools.