MSBSD School Board approves 1 minute of silence

During the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District (MSBSD) School Board meeting on Sept. 21, the school board voted in favor of a new board policy that would mandate a moment of silence and/or meditation at the start of each school day.

Board Policy 6117 — which was introduced in August — mandates a moment of silence between one to two minutes at the start of each school day.

“Our board goals indicate that we encourage family participation in education. This policy encourages parent involvement in their student’s day and has the opportunity for parents to discuss with their students the things they can reflect on once a day for 60 seconds,” said MSBSD School Board President Ryan Ponder at the beginning of the discussion before the vote was taken.

He also stated that 15 states have adopted a similar law

“I definitely believe it’s a good thing," he said.

MSBSD member Dwight Probasco, who has been in opposition since the policy was introduced, argued that the wording within the policy could be problematic.

“Not everybody in our community is in favor of this. Can this be a “may” as opposed to a “shall” for a district this large?”

“We’re mandating that every child in this district, expect for homeschools and possibly the charter schools, we’re requiring them to participate in a moment of silence,” he stated before asking about students and parents who may wish to opt out of the moment of silence.

Probasco cited Alaska statute, saying that the parents have the right to direct the education of the parent’s child, and that the parent has the right to object and withdraw the child from an activity, class or program.

“This is an activity: can a parent, under Alaska statute, have their child, or the child if they’re in high school, refuse to participate in this moment of silence?”

School board member Jubilee Underwood, who voiced support at the Aug. 17 meeting, considers the moment of silence/meditation a tool for classroom management, saying it’s a good way to transition classrooms to active learning after getting settled in the mornings.

“It’s teaching kids just how to have self-discipline — to be quiet for one to two minutes,” Underwood said during the August meeting, adding that it would also aid in developing other positive habits that can be used out of the classroom, “which is being able to have self-control, which is a valuable life lesson anywhere you go.”

The policy goes on to state that principals would require homeroom or first period teachers in all grades districtwide to set aside at least one minute, but no more than two minutes of silence. During this time, students are not allowed to interfere with other students’ participation, and teachers are not allowed to suggest how a student chooses to utilize that time.

Still, Probasco voiced concern over the engagement of students, specifically younger students, special education students, and even high school students.

“How are you going to implement a moment of silence in a gym, with 2 teachers and 38 students each, how are you going to implement that in a gym with close to 80 students? In a preschool class? In a special needs class? In a district with over 40 schools and 18000 children?”

“It’s a noisy world and I believe silence promotes wisdom and inner thought,” said Ponder. “In this case we may not be turning to our parents to direct us on how we should use this moment of silence, but as adults I think we would be well-served with that.”

Probasco added an amendment to the policy that was presented on the floor:

“The school board also finds that it would be well-served if the board and public would add a moment of silence at the beginning of each school board meeting, lasting at least minute and no more than 2 minutes.” He added if it’s good enough for our children and our staff, then we should be modeling it at this level, which was seconded and added to the policy.

The proposal received the support of the majority of the school board, passing 5-1 when put to a vote Wednesday evening. Implementation is set to begin at the start of the second quarter of the school year.