WEST virginia legislature

2022 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 4095

By Delegates Holstein, Burkhammer, Keaton, Sypolt, Mandt and Hanna

[Introduced January 17, 2022; Referred to the Committee on Education then the Judiciary]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-2-44, relating to providing legislative findings; requiring a moment of silence at the beginning of each school day; forbidding teachers from making suggestions as to the nature of the reflection that students may engage in during the moment of silence; and encouraging parents to discuss with their children what they should consider during the moment of silence.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 2. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

§18-2-44. Requiring a moment of silence.

(a) The West Virginia Legislature finds that in today’s hectic society that too few persons are able to experience even a moment of quiet reflection before plunging headlong into the activities of daily life. Young persons are particularly affected by the absence of an opportunity for a moment of quiet reflection. The West Virginia Legislature finds that our youth, and society as a whole, would be well served if students in the public schools were afforded a moment of silence at the beginning of each school day.

(b) The principal of each public school shall require teachers at the beginning of the day in all grades to set aside at least one minute, but not more than two minutes, daily for a moment of silence, during which students may not interfere with other students’ participation. A teacher may not make suggestions as to the nature of any reflection that a student may engage in during the moment of silence.

(c) Each classroom teacher shall encourage parents or guardians to discuss the moment of silence with their children and to make suggestions as to the best use of this time.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide for a moment of silence at the beginning of each school day. The bill prevents teachers from being able to discuss the substance of what children engage in during the moment of silence. Finally, the bill encourages parents to discuss with their children the substance of their use of time during the moment of silence.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.