Non-fiction: Debate: A Moment of Silence, Please
Debate: A Moment of Silence,
Please
Should the School Day Start with a Moment of Silence?
For one minute every morning, public school classrooms across Illinois go
silent. The teachers don't have a choice—in 2007, the state's lawmakers
mandated, or required, a moment of silence at the start of every school day.
A dozen states have similar practices.
Supporters say a moment of silence gets students to calm down before
class. Opponents argue that it pressures students to pray, and, they say,
that violates the U.S. Constitution.
The Constitution's First Amendment states that Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the exercise of religion.
Is a moment of silence a good idea? Is it legal? Student reporters Mitchell
Alexander and Serena Cuevas debate the issue for Current Events.
Yes!
A moment of silence is crucial to the start of the school day. It helps
students get ready for class by calming them. "Students need this
opportunity to organize their thoughts before they begin working," says
Tiffany Barnett- White, an English teacher at Northside Middle School in
Virginia.
If someone wishes to pray, that should be his or her choice. We have
freedom of speech, so why would we not also have freedom of thought?
A moment of silence gives students an opportunity to focus. "There should
be a moment of silence because it gives [students] a chance to think about
the challenges [that they] will face that day," says sixth grader Ana
Vermulin.
No!
The "moment of silence" law is something that many people are complaining
about—one student even filed a lawsuit protesting it. Some people feel that
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Non-fiction: Debate: A Moment of Silence, Please
the practice encourages a specific religion, and they think religious beliefs
and school do not mix. "I don't think that the government should make
students have a moment of silence, because they should respect other
peoples' religions," says eighth grader Sarah Jonas. Many students feel that
a moment of silence just wastes their learning time.
I think that if the government wants students to participate, the moment of
silence should be a voluntary activity for teachers and students every day,
either before school or during lunch.
2
®
© 2012 ReadWorks , Inc. All rights reserved.
Article: Copyright © 2008 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved.
Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation.
Used by permission.
Questions: Debate – A Moment of Silence, Please
_____________ Date: _______________________
Name:
1. When did Illinois lawmakers mandate a “moment of silence” law?
A
B
C
D
in
in
in
in
2000
2004
2007
2010
2. The passage shows two sides of this debate: Should the school day start with a
moment of silence? What is one argument against the issue?
A
B
C
D
It
It
It
It
gets students calm before class.
violates the U.S. Constitution.
gives students an opportunity to focus.
gives students a chance to pray.
3. After reading the passage, what can you conclude about the “moment of silence” law?
A
B
C
D
More students will join debate clubs.
Teachers will become more religious.
The moment of silence will be banned.
Not everyone agrees with the law.
4. Read this sentence from the passage: A moment of silence is crucial to the start of
the school day.
In this sentence, the word crucial means
A
B
C
D
quite considerate
loudly debated
not necessary
very important
5. The primary purpose of this passage is to describe
A
B
C
D
the importance of understanding the U.S. Constitution
both sides of a debate about the “moment of silence”
how the moment of silence is a good way to start the day
why students needs to be able to exercise their religions
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Questions: Debate – A Moment of Silence, Please
6. What does the First Amendment state about religion?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
7. How might Sarah Jonas feel if schools stopped requiring a moment of silence? Cite
evidence from the text to support your answer.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes
the sentence.
Some people are for the “moment of silence” ________ they say it helps students calm
down.
A
B
C
D
before
when
because
however
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Questions: Debate – A Moment of Silence, Please
9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below.
Tiffany Barnett-White, an English teacher at Northside Middle School in Virginia, believes
students need a moment of silence to organize their thoughts.
Who? Tiffany Barnett-White, an English teacher
(does) What? ___________________________________________________________
Where? ________________________________________________________________
Why? _________________________________________________________________
10. Vocabulary Word: prohibit: to forbid something by law.
Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: ______________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
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Teacher Guide & Answers: Debate - A Moment of Silence, Please
Teacher Guide and Answers
Passage Reading Level: Lexile 940
Featured Text Structure: Argumentative – the writer presents evidence for both sides of an argument
Passage Summary: “Debate: A Moment of Silence, Please” presents both sides of a debate about
whether public school classrooms should start with a moment of silence.
1. When did Illinois lawmakers mandate a “moment of silence” law?
A
B
C
D
in 2000
in 2004
in 2007
in 2010
2. The passage shows two sides of this debate: Should the school day start with a moment of silence?
What is one argument against the issue?
A
B
C
D
It gets students calm before class.
It violates the U.S. Constitution.
It gives students an opportunity to focus.
It gives students a chance to pray.
3. After reading the passage, what can you conclude about the “moment of silence” law?
A
B
C
D
More students will join debate clubs.
Teachers will become more religious.
The moment of silence will be banned.
Not everyone agrees with the law.
4. Read this sentence from the passage: A moment of silence is crucial to the start of the school day.
In this sentence, the word crucial means
A
B
C
D
quite considerate
loudly debated
not necessary
very important
5. The primary purpose of this passage is to describe
A
B
C
D
the importance of understanding the U.S. Constitution
both sides of a debate about the “moment of silence”
how the moment of silence is a good way to start the day
why students needs to be able to exercise their religions
1
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Teacher Guide & Answers: Debate - A Moment of Silence, Please
6. What does the First Amendment state about religion?
Suggested answer: The First Amendment states that Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion or prohibiting the exercise of religion. [paragraph 3]
7. How might Sarah Jonas feel if schools stopped requiring a moment of silence? Cite evidence from the
text to support your answer.
Suggested answer: She would most likely be happy since she is against the “moment of silence” being a
law. She is quoted in the story saying, ”I don't think that the government should make students have a
moment of silence, because they should respect other peoples' religions.” [paragraph 8]
8. The question below has an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
Some people are for the “moment of silence” ________ they say it helps students calm down.
A
B
C
D
before
when
because
however
9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below.
Tiffany Barnett-White, an English teacher at Northside Middle School in Virginia, believes students need a
moment of silence to organize their thoughts.
Who? Tiffany Barnett-White, an English teacher
(does) What? believes students need a moment of silence
Where? at Northside Middle School in Virginia
Why? to organize their thoughts
10. Vocabulary Word: prohibit: to forbid something by law.
Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: answers may vary.
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