26-03-2025
Required moment of silence proposed for Ohio schools
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(WJW) — A new effort by Ohio lawmakers would require schools to provide a moment of silence each day for students.
If passed, House Bill 187 would amend Ohio Revised Code to require school districts to provide a moment of silence for 'prayer, reflection, or meditation upon a moral, philosophical or patriotic theme.'
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Under current law, districts 'may' offer a moment of silence. The amendment instead says districts 'shall' offer it. The bill would not require students to participate.
Lawmakers in other states have recently proposed similar legislation.
Last week in Texas, lawmakers advanced bills that would not only allow districts to provide students with time to pray during school hours but would also require public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments, The Associated Press reported.
In West Virginia, a proposed bill calls for 1 minute of silence at the beginning of each school day. Ohio's proposal does not specify how long the moment of silence must last.
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Opponents of similar measures have argued it promotes prayer in school.
Ohio's proposal has bipartisan support, and is sponsored by state Reps. Gary Click (R-Vickery) and Eric Synenberg (D-Beachwood).
Click here to follow the bill's status on the Ohio House website.
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