Everyone knows the morning announcements routine: Stand up, say the pledges, quick moment of silence before everyone settles back into class.

However, students, and even teachers, seem to be forgetting the most important part; saying the pledges, and staying quiet. Some classes are choosing instead to take this time to talk with friends, and dig through their things.

However, not all classes are like this.

“I would be willing to say that all of the classes that I’m close to do go through the process,” said THS principal Greg Quinn. “That’s not to say that there are not some exceptions.”

So what exactly is the point of the moment of silence?

“In my opinion [it] gives everybody an opportunity to kind of reflect in their own way on the day ahead,”  Quinn said.

According to the Moment of Silence and Pledge of Allegiance Resolution (Found on Ic.org), the Moment of Silence is a time to “transition from the clamor in the hallway to the calm educational environment at the beginning of the school day.”

But are we required to participate?

“There is an expectation, yes,” said Quinn, but the ultimate answer is that no, you are not required.

“I don’t feel like you should have to,” said junior Tatiana Hoffart. “It’s respectful to those who want to, but the school makes you sign all of these forms to opt out.”

Provision F of the Resolution states that “no employee or student of the District shall be compelled to participate or stand against their will during either the Moment of Silence or the Pledge of Allegiance,” meaning that at the end of the day, whether you choose to honor the tradition or not is completely up to you.