Fundamentalism, here we come.

The Illinois state legislature has overturned Gov. Blagojevich's veto of "The Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act", which mandates a moment of silence at the start of the school day in all of Illinois' public schools. Not surprisingly, lawmakers are quick to say this isn't about prayer in schools, when of course that's exactly what it's all about.

Here's the comment I left in the Tribune's discussion forum:

Okay, Springfield lawmakers, read this once again: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." This applies to state lawmakers as well.

I can't even begin to describe what terrible public policy this is. While lawmakers will certainly try to claim there are no religious motives behind this, the very name of the legislation - "The Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act" - belies that claim. Making the moment of silence mandatory just opens the door for teachers who are religious to suggest, whether subtly or bluntly, that their students spend their quiet time in prayer - most likely of the Christian variety. "Come on," I can hear teachers saying. "You have to be quiet anyway, why not just pray to Jesus?"

This legislation is the most slippery of slopes, and I really don't like what awaits us at the bottom of that hill.

This legislation is the latest in a long line of reasons I'm grateful that my wife is homeschooling our six-year-old daughter, and keeping her as far as possible from the public school system.