House committee rejects Gov. Noem's school prayer bill

[TexasTowelie]

PIERRE | A Republican-dominated South Dakota House committee on Friday rejected Gov. Kristi Noem's proposal to require public schools to have a moment of silence to start the day.

The Republican governor first billed the proposal at a conservative Christian conference last year as “putting prayer back in schools,” but a House committee rejected the idea after education groups argued that voluntary prayer is already allowed in schools and the proposed law would have saddled teachers with an unclear mandate. The Republican-dominated House Education committee rejected the bill on a nine to six vote, but it could still be revived with support from one-third of House members.

“Maybe it’s me, but I view prayer as something that is personal and not performative,” said Republican Rep. Will Mortenson, who criticized the bill as vaguely written.

Organizations representing schools and the teacher's union asserted they had not been consulted by the governor's office on the proposal and it would have added a vague and potentially unwieldy mandate to classrooms. An aide for the governor acknowledged to the committee that Noem's office had not worked with school districts to craft the bill, but argued that 15 other states have enacted similar requirements and the moment of silence gave students an opportunity to focus before they start their day.

Read more: https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/house-committee-rejects-gov-noems-school-prayer-bill/article_a72dcf99-e809-599e-acbb-9d5eb6e816b8.html

[lastlib]

1. They want us all down on our knees in the church of their choice....

*THEIR* choice.

- - - - - - - - - F*ck 'em with a pitchfork.

[PJMcK]

2. Didn't Jesus say something about praying in public?

Yeah, I thought so.

Matthew 6:5-15

And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

"... you must not be like the hypocrites."

I'm actually amazed that a Republican-dominated House committee would reject Noem's proposal.