we all public schools in Florida could soon have to
offer students a mandatory moment of silence. Some think
it's a good idea, but others are not so
sure. Fox, 30 Fives. Heather Gustafson Joining
US Live with Mawr reaction Heather Luann It's turned into
a big debate, but this moment of silence wasn't
on the agenda tonight in Seminole County, but it
might be at the start of every class in Florida
. If you want to. You know, close
your eyes and meditate for two minutes. You could
do that. There's no obligation that that it be
used for anything religious. Ah, House panel recently
approved a controversial bill that would mandate daily moments of
silence in Florida schools. I think it's a small
step to allow kids to reflect on the day.
The measure, sponsored by representative Randy Fine, was
backed by the House Early Learning in elementary education subcommittee
in a 12 to 16 vote. Ah, former
school counselor reacted to the bill in Seminole County on
Tuesday. I don't have anything against the moment of
sounds and a personal few, um, that it
gives everybody an opportunity to give reference to their,
you know, their god their spiritual police. That's
it. Similar proposals have been considered in the past
but didn't get through the Senate. American Atheists is
one group that is against the bill. It's not
just not necessary, Children. The law of the
land in the United States currently is that if a
child wants to pray, they are absolutely allowed to
pray. An individual child can pray as long as
it's not disruptive. What we don't want is toe
have a teacher led or coerced prayer or a moment
of silence. Fine argued that today's kids have too
many distractions, the stimulation of the phone or anything
else, because I think that we could all use
a moment of silence at the start of our day
, and we do it in the Legislature, the
legislators in the House and the Senate. They open
up with a prayer or a moment of silence.
Each morning, they are allowed to opt out and
not enter the chamber until it's over. The bill
has not been passed, and American Atheist will speak
out at the next hearing. Reporting live in Seminole
County. Heather Gustafson Fox, 35 news