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Bill would allow teachers to offer voluntary September 11 moment of silence in classrooms
Summary
House Bill 5251 would allow teachers or administrators to offer a voluntary moment of silence in classrooms on September 11 (or the nearest school day) to commemorate victims and first responders; sponsors and senators described local commemorations and urged a may‑language approach.
Representative Reid presented House Bill 5251 to allow educators to offer a voluntary moment of silence on Sept. 11 to honor victims and first responders and to teach students about the events and civic lessons of that day.
Reid said the bill is short and uses “may” language so that teachers are not required to participate; the sponsor said the statute would permit a school to observe the moment of silence on the closest school day if Sept. 11 falls on a weekend. Senator Rephtakis (senator who also planned to speak) stated the day’s commemoration is part of statewide remembrance activities and public ceremonies such as bell‑ringing at the State Police headquarters. The senator noted Rhode Island lost residents on 9/11 and emphasized the civic lesson component.
Committee members asked about how younger students would be introduced to the concept of a moment of silence and whether a teacher or administrator would be the person to lead it. The sponsor said the decision should be left to the educator and that for younger grades teachers can adapt the observance appropriately. The committee noted one piece of written opposition correspondence from a priest on the committee website but otherwise recorded broad support and a prior history of similar proposals.
The committee did not vote on the bill at this hearing; it was included on the committee’s procedural hold list for further study.
