SPRINGFIELD--Students will be able to initiate group prayers in public schools under a bill passed Monday by the Illinois House without any debate and without any "no" votes.
The Rep. Jonathan Wright said he sponsored the measure to help make it clear that religion has a place in public schools. The Hartsburg Republican said he envisions students--without any direction from school administrators-- leading prayers at assemblies and other gatherings.
''I think it's important for students to feel that avenue is open because we've experienced what happens when you make our public schools absolutely devoid of any faith and religion,'' Wright said.
Ed Yohnka, spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, said, "It is either unconstitutional or unnecessary because the fact is that true student initiated voluntary prayer is already permitted in schools and thousands of children across Illinois engage in such behavior every single day.
The bill is less than 200 words long. The key section says, ''In order that the right of every student to the free exercise of religion is guaranteed . . . students in the public schools may voluntarily engage in student-initiated prayer.''
The U.S. Supreme Court has not established a clear policy on group prayer in public schools.
On a busy legislative day, the House also passed a measure to attract more teachers to the state and a bill ordering high-rises outside Chicago to have evacuation plans targeting the disabled.
House members also saw a motorized scooter shoot through the Statehouse, and they overwhelmingly passed a bill allowing people to ride it on sidewalks.
Rep. Dan Burke (D-Chicago), drew a crowd as he whizzed around the Statehouse on the Segway Human Transporter, a device he says will change the way people get around.
"It's like you're floating, it's remarkable," Burke said.
It's now up to the Senate to decide whether to pass this bill along to Gov. Ryan. If it becomes law, each municipality in the state will decide whether they want it on their sidewalks.
The plan has already drawn fire from 48th Ward Ald. Mary Ann Smith, who said it would be a disaster on sidewalks like Sheridan Road in Edgewater, where the city has cracked down on bicyclists on sidewalks.