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Bluffton, Ind.
July 26, 2005

"Wells schools prepared for state's new law calling for daily 'moment' of silence, pledge"

By Sarah Pulliam
Five seconds, 30 seconds and 60 seconds provoke the debate of how long a moment of silence will last in the schools this fall.
As administrators gear up for the school year, they are preparing to implement the new education laws that went into effect July 1.
The Indiana Legislature passed a law requiring a U.S. flag to be displayed in each classroom, requiring schools to provide a daily opportunity for students to daily voluntarily recite the Pledge of Allegiance and requiring schools to establish a daily moment of silence each day.
In each of the three Wells County schools, the elementary schools currently recite the pledge every morning. The pledge will be a new addition to the middle and high schools.
Sen. Mike Young (R-Indianapolis) authored the bill, saying individual schools will determine how long a moment of silence is.
The law also requires Indiana’s Attorney General to defend schools in any civil suit based on the law’s provisions.
“We’re a very litigious society,” Young said. “ If it does happen, we don’t want the schools to bear the cost.”
The amendment repealed a law allowing an optional brief period of silent prayer or meditation.
“It gives people a chance to stop and reflect what’s important,” he said. “It’s a chance to start the day with a clear head and quietness.”
Young said he looked into changing the moment of silence law just before Sept. 11, 2001, and other senators encouraged him to add the Pledge of Allegiance. He said approximately 30 states have a similar law.
Bluffton High School English teacher Billy Kreigh said faith and patriotism can’t be legislated through a moment of silence or saying the pledge.
“It’s almost detrimental and sad. I think it is a superficial attempt,” Kreigh said. “I have moments of silences continually throughout my day but it’s not legislated.”
Kreigh said that as a teacher, whatever the law states, she will follow.
“I will probably not be thrilled with the fact that what we are doing is taking away from a moment of education,” she said. “On the other hand, if it’s handled correctly and that moment is explained, then that is a moment of learning and that is my goal.”
Superintendent of Bluffton-Harrison Schools Tom Johnson said the school is determining how much a moment of silence is but 20 to 30 seconds would be more than enough.
“I think there are times in class that are spent worse than saying a moment of silence,” Johnson said. “I don’t think 30 seconds to a minute one time per day is going to negatively impact student instruction.”
Johnson said he does not know whether the school will have to purchase more flags to display in classrooms.
Superintendent of Northern Wells Schools Gina Berridge said the classrooms currently display flags.
Berridge said principals will decide how long a moment of silence is, a time she guessed would be about a minute.
“I think that most of our students are Christians and they will take the moment of silence to pray,” she said. “Everybody can take time to say a little prayer.”
Superintendent of Southern Wells Schools Neil Potter said that most of the classrooms in the schools already display an American flag, but the school ordered more for about $10 each.
“We replace eight or 10 flags a year to keep them sharp looking so we just ordered a couple more,” he said.
Potter thinks the new laws are a positive change for the school system.
“It’s a good reminder anytime we remind our kids of our country and country loyalty,” Potter said. “I’m not against the moment of silence. I don’t think it will be as valuable as the pledge depending on how kids choose to use it.”