Using a Moment of Silence at School

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Thirty-four states currently have a provision that either mandates or allows for a moment of silence in the classroom at the beginning of every day.

To help students actually begin the day in prayer, Gateways has created a prayer card that students can use in the classroom. The size of a business card, these easily fit in a wallet or binder. Wouldn't it be great if students prayed the following: 

Heavenly Father, 
Grant me each day the desire
to do my best, 
To grow mentally and morally
as well as physically, 
To be kind and helpful to my classmates and teachers, 
To be honest with myself as
well as with others, 
Help me to be a good sport
and smile when I lose as
well as when I win, 
Teach me the value of
true friendship, 
Help me always to conduct myself so as to bring credit to my school. 
Amen

Download a sheet of the cards and print out as many as you can use.

Or you can purchase a set of 100 prayer cards for $15

CLICK HERE to read about the news event that gave birth to this strategy.

 

FAQ
 

How do I know if my state allows for a moment of silence?

CLICK HERE for a list of the states that mandate or allow a moment of silence.

How do I know my school observes a moment of silence?

Contact your school secretary and ask if the students are given a moment of silence at the beginning of each day.

What to I do if my state allows or mandates for a moment of silence but my school district doesn’t observe it?

1. Check with your school superintendent’s office to see if there is a school board policy addressing a moment of silence that has been neglected.

2. If your school board has no such policy, meet with the superintendent to express your desire to see a policy implemented.  Bring two or three friends with you.  You can also meet with school board members individually to express your desire and gain their support.

What do I do if my school district has a policy but it is not being observed at my child's school?

Make a copy of the policy and contact your school principal. Use the “help me understand” approach to address the issue.

If the principal is disinterested or unwilling to implement the policy contact your superintendent. Explain to him that you are interested in seeing the current school district policy implemented in your child's school.

What do I do if my school already observes the moment of silence? 

Print out or purchase a set of Gateways School Prayer Cards. Give them to your own children to give to their friends. Ask your school’s Christian Club to distribute them to students. Provide them to parents of public school children in your church.

Eleven Religious Liberties

Here are eleven freedoms outlined in 2023 by the U.S. Department of Education. There are eight for students and three for educators.

Students

1. You can pray, read your Bible or other religious material, and talk about your faith at school.

2. You can organize prayer groups and religious clubs, and you can announce your meetings.

3. You can express your faith in your class work and homework.

4. You can wear clothing with religious messages.

5. You may be able to go off campus to have religious studies during school hours.

6. You can express your faith at a school event.

7. You can express your faith at your graduation ceremony.

8. You can pass out religious literature at school.

Educators

1. Educators and school employees can pray at school.

2. Educators can teach about religion in class.

3. Schools can accommodate religious instruction and prayer during school.

We have Free to Speak pamphlets using quotes directly from the U.S. Department of Education. The pamphlet clarifies for parents, students, and educators the freedoms of religious expression on a public school campus. They are designed to fit in your wallet or backpack. For more information on ordering go to our STORE.

To read what you can do to promote greater religious freedom at your schools, click here.

Every January 16th is Religious Freedom Day - Visit our Religious Freedom Day website for ways to commemorate this special day.

Click HERE for the U.S. Department of Education’s Guidance on Constitutionally Protected Prayer and Religious Expression in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools.

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See You At The Pole

From SYATP.com: 

See You at the Pole™ is a global movement of prayer which is student-initiated, student-organized, and student-led. It revolves around students praying together on the fourth Wednesday in September, usually before school and usually at the school's flag pole. It involves student in elementary schools, middle/junior high schools, high schools, and colleges/universities across the globe. Adults often pray in support of the students on campus by gathering nearby, at their places of work or worship, or at city halls.

For more information, visit SYATP.com

 

 

Bring Your Bible to School Day

Students can bring their Bibles to school on any day, but, on Bring Your Bible to School Day – usually celebrated in early October – a national event occurs. Hundreds of thousands of students around the country celebrate religious freedom by bringing their Bibles to school where they talk about it with friends and share God’s hope. Go to bringyourbible.org for more information.