The Satanic Temple will launch a new religious program at Edgewood Elementary School in Marysville, Ohio, the Hellion Academy of Independent Learning (HAIL). The program is an answer to parents’ calls for an alternative to the Christian “release time” program LifeWise Academy, which has been put in the hands of the school district.
What are Release Time Programs?
Under the system, students can leave school for a set time during the day to receive religious instruction. Such programs date back to the early 20th century but have gained popularity recently—especially in Ohio. LifeWise Academy, which offers in-school Bible study classes, has rapidly expanded since its founding in 2019, adding more than 325 in 12 states by 2023. The program usually takes students from school for around 55 minutes a week to attend classes at local churches or community centers.
We aren’t trying to shut the LifeWise Academy down, but I do think a lot of school districts don’t realize when they open the door for one religion, they open it for all of them. June Everett, a Satanic Temple representative
The HAIL program will fall under Ohio’s Release Time Religious Instruction (RTRI) and will be held once per month. It seeks to offer students (high school or younger, potentially) lessons in self-directed learning, community service, empathy, compassion, sound problem-solving skills, and critical thinking in a completely religiously neutral environment. June Everett, an ordained minister with the Satanic Temple and the campaign director of the After School Satan Club, stresses that this effort is not about pushing any religious agenda but simply giving something to students who might feel excluded from the existing Christian program.
Background on Release Time Programs
Release time religious instruction programs allow students to leave school briefly during the day to receive religious education. These programs have been part of the educational landscape since the early 20th century and have seen a resurgence in recent years, particularly in Ohio. LifeWise Academy, which offers Bible study classes during school hours, has expanded significantly since its inception in 2019, growing to over 325 programs across 12 states by 2023. The program typically removes students for about 55 minutes each week to attend classes at local churches or community centers
The Satanic Temple’s Initiative
The HAIL program will operate under Ohio’s Release Time Religious Instruction (RTRI) framework and will be offered once a month. It aims to provide students with lessons focused on self-directed learning, community service, empathy, compassion, problem-solving skills, and critical thinking without any religious pressure.
June Everett, an ordained minister with the Satanic Temple and campaign director for the After School Satan Club, emphasized that this initiative is not about promoting a specific religious agenda but instead providing an inclusive alternative for students who may feel marginalized by the existing Christian program.
Community Response and Controversy
The introduction of HAIL has sparked discussions about the implications of allowing multiple religious programs within public schools. While some parents support the initiative as a means of fostering inclusivity and addressing concerns about bullying or ostracism faced by non-Christian students, others are apprehensive about the presence of a program associated with the Satanic Temple.
Critics argue that such programs can blur the lines between secular education and religious instruction, raising concerns about educational integrity and potential coercion.
Joel Penton, CEO of LifeWise Academy, responded that his organization welcomes competition and believes parents should be free to choose religious education for their children. He also supports legislative efforts like Ohio House Bill 445, which would mandate school districts to authorize release time programs.
The launch of HAIL at Edgewood Elementary marks a significant development in the ongoing debate over religious education in public schools. By providing an alternative to traditional Christian instruction, the Satanic Temple aims to promote pluralism and inclusivity in educational settings while challenging perceptions surrounding non-theistic beliefs. As this program unfolds, it will likely continue to generate discussion regarding the role of religion in public education and the rights of parents and students within that framework.
It’s important to note that the Satanic Temple claims to be a “non-theistic” church recognized by the IRS, whose self-stated mission is to promote pluralism among religious views, empathy, and the rejection of tyrannical authority. They were responsible for hauling a 7ft-tall bronze Baphomet statue – a winged man with a goat’s head – to the steps of the Arkansas capitol to protest the installation of a Ten Commandments monument and starting the after-school Satan club in response to the Christian Good News clubs.
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR
It is a warning most needed by those who want other people to be conscientious about what they wish for (which is to say, what they call, support, or implement), especially when pushing policies or initiatives that resonate with their own beliefs but might nonetheless clear the path for the other side. For example, the push to bring Christian-derived after-school programs to public schools may appear from the outside to be a success for the expression of faith, but the reality is quite different. But those actions also provide a framework for other belief systems, including the After School Satan Club, to demand equal access under the same umbrella of religious freedom and anti-discrimination laws.
When a system privileges one ideology over another, it creates a precedent. That precedent must be enforced similarly, often leading to the unwitting inclusion of views opposing the original purpose. It exposes the double-edged nature of demanding particular privileges without considering the more significant consequences.
The takeaway is that neutrality in public institutions is a precondition for fairness for all beliefs without turning those institutions into platforms for their battles. The trick is to promote coexistence and mutual respect without reaching solutions that are diluted from the values we were seeking to maintain.
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