THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 26, 1994 TAG: 9411230037
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A08 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 30 lines
The much-discussed and hotly debated issue of voluntary school prayer, observed as one minute of silence in the classroom, is really not an issue in Virginia. Section 22.1-203 of the Code of Virginia already gives every public school and classroom in Virginia the statutory authority to require a ``daily observance of one minute of silence.''
Under the Dillon Rule (which governs the commonwealth), cities and counties within Virginia have only the legislative authority specifically granted by the state. As such, Section 22.1-203 gives the cities and counties within Virginia complete authority to observe one minute of silence in any and all public-school classrooms in Virginia.
Yet I know of no school in Hampton Roads which has implemented this law. Shouldn't we utilize the laws already in place, and perhaps take this opportunity to use Virginia's schools as a test case, before doing anything as drastic as amending the U.S. Constitution?
ROSEMARY FULLER THORNTON
Chesapeake, Nov. 22, 1994 by CNB