Kentucky schools must have silent moment each morning for prayer, reflection if bill passes

Sponsored by a Fayette lawmaker and pushed by a Lexington rabbi, a bill that would require a school district policy for Kentucky students to silently pray, meditate or reflect in class received initial approval Wednesday.

House Bill 102, sponsored by State Rep. Daniel Fister, R-Versailles, who represents part of Fayette County, would require the board of education of each local school district to establish a policy and develop procedures for a moment of silence or reflection in the first class of each day in all public schools.

The legislation was approved by the House Education Committee with a 16-4 vote and is headed to the full House of Representatives.

Under the bill, the moment of silence or reflection of at least one minute, but not to exceed two minutes, will be observed.

The policy must ensure that all students remain seated and silent without distracting anyone so that all may, “in the exercise of his or her individual choice,” meditate, pray, or engage in any other silent activity which does not interfere with individual choice.

The bill prohibits district staff from providing instruction to any student regarding the nature of any reflection that a student may engage in during the moment of silence.

The bill does not mandate school prayer, Samuel Crankshaw, a spokesman for ACLU-Kentucky, said in a statement after the vote Wednesday night.

“The ACLU of Kentucky currently has no serious concerns with this bill because it does not mandate school prayer,” Crankshaw said. “All students have the right to express their faith or lack thereof, and no student should ever be forced to participate in faith-based activities they do not wish to participate in.”

The legislation calls for parents and guardians to be notified of the policy and encourages them to provide guidance to students regarding the moment of silence or reflection.

Rabbi Shlomo Litvin, of Lexington, executive director of Chabad of the Bluegrass, testified in favor of the bill.

Litvin said students need “a basis for healthy minds, healthy backgrounds to be able to study.”

State Rep. Killian Timoney, R-Lexington, voted for the bill. He said he knew of several schools that have a “moment of mindfulness” and that it creates a healthy school environment.

State Rep. Kim Banta, R-Fort Mitchell, a former principal, voted against the legislation, saying she loved the idea but when she was a school principal, “I didn’t need one more thing to have to control or do for students during the day.”

State Rep. Tina Bojanowski, D-Louisville, a teacher, said she also voted no because educators have a lot on their plates.

This story was originally published March 17, 2022 at 10:00 AM.