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Illinois House Votes To Eliminate Mandatory Moment of Silence In Schools

By Howard M. Friedman

The Illinois House of Representatives yesterday voted to reverse its action of less than a year ago. (See prior posting). By a vote of 72-31 it approved, and sent to the Senate, H.B. 4180 that would make a moment of silence optional instead of mandatory in Illinois schools. Both the State Journal-Register and the Chicago Tribune report that even though last year the legislature overrode Gov. Rod Blagojevich's veto of a bill that made the moment of silence mandatory, a number of legislators have now reversed their positions after complaints from many teachers and superintendents. Senate passage of the bill is less certain. Last November, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking one school district from enforcing the law. (See prior posting.)

Full post as published by Religion Clause on March 05, 2008 (boomark / email).