While volunteering in class recently I heard a child ask the teacher why the school has a moment of silence. Her answer wasn't very good in giving the students direction in how to use the time. Exactly how should the teacher have answered the student? The simplest answer is that educators should educate. A teacher does not endorse prayer when she simply explains to students the various ways a moment of silence can be used - including an explanation that many people use it as a time to mentally offer a brief prayer. The U.S. Department of Education's guidelines on students' religious liberties makes this statement: "If a school has a 'minute of silence' or other quiet periods during the school day, students are free to pray silently, or not to pray, during these periods of time. Teachers and other school employees may neither encourage nor discourage students from praying during such time periods." ( view article about school prayer at www.gtbe.com) A teacher can read (or summarize) that statement to students. A Gallup poll in 1999 reported, "Overall, 9 in 10 Americans claim to engage in prayer, a proportion that has not changed over the last half-century of Gallup polling, and 3 out of 4 Americans say that they pray on a daily basis." As an educator, it is certainly appropriate for a teacher to educate students on the topic. Questions? If you have a question for Gateways to Better Education, we offer two options: If you have an urgent issue that needs an immediate response, we recommend that you call our Advisory Line at (949) 586-KIDS (5437), Send us an email containing your question.