Rhode Island Bill On Preamble Draws Criticism.A Rhode Island Rhode Island, island, United States Rhode Island, island, 15 mi (24 km) long and 5 mi (8 km) wide, S R.I., at the entrance to Narragansett Bay. It is the largest island in the state, with steep cliffs and excellent beaches. state senator is pushing a law requiring public school students to recite the preamble to the state's constitution every day, a move critics say is a backdoor See trapdoor. effort to return prayer to schools. The preamble includes reference to "Almighty God" and asks for God's blessing on the state. The sponsor of the measure, Sen. Daniel Issa, a Democrat from Central Falls, says the daily recitation rec·i·ta·tion n. 1. a. The act of reciting memorized materials in a public performance. b. The material so presented. 2. a. Oral delivery of prepared lessons by a pupil. b. will help students understand the state's history, but critics are not so sure. "It is hard to conceive what secular purpose is served by reading this particular portion of the Constitution," Steven Brown, executive director of the Rhode Island branch of the American Civil Liberties Union American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), nonpartisan organization devoted to the preservation and extension of the basic rights set forth in the U.S. Constitution. , told the Associated Press. "It's really just a sham." Issa says no student would be required to recite the preamble under his bill, but opponents argue that youngsters who refused would risk singling themselves out for abuse or ridicule. |
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