Oklahoma schools begin new year with 'Moment of Silence'

Thursday, August 15th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Students across the state begin the new school year with a new policy. Lawmakers passed a law in May that requires all Oklahoma students to take a moment of silence for prayer or reflection.

Students can spend the time however they like as long as they're quiet and don't disturb other students. At Cedar Ridge Elementary in the Union School district, the moment of silence is another part of their morning routine.

10-year-old John Myers, "It was different because most of the time in the morning the teacher is telling us to be quiet and everybody is talking about what they did on the weekend or something and it just sorta made things calm." 10-year-old Kristina Hulett: "I'm glad that they had us do that because I like moments of silence. I can think about what I'm going to do the rest of the day and pray about stuff."

Critics of the new law say the moment of silence is just a way for school prayer advocates to get around a ban on school prayer.