Ever heard of an initiative called LifeWise?
I hadn’t — until a few days ago, that is.
What IS LifeWise?
LifeWise’s website defines itself as an organization that partners with parents to “help your public school student grow in character with Bible education during school hours.”
“What??????” I screeched to myself upon reading the above. “What happened to the separation of church and state????”
In 1952, the US Supreme Court decision “Zorach vs Clauson” determined that it is legal for students in public schools to be released for religious instruction during school hours IF:
– Religious instruction is off school property,
– The initiative is privately funded
– It is parent permitted.
In addition, the Equal Access Act, enacted in 1984, is a law that allows students to be taken off-site for Bible-based instruction as long as these organizations do not receive funding.
I am NOT opposed to religious study. Quite the opposite.
Many of us — myself included — send or sent our kids to Hebrew school during the week. My older two sons went to Northern Hills Synagogue twice during the week. My younger three sons went once during the week to Wise Temple. BUT, this was done after the school day was over, not during the prescribed school day. And the focus was on learning Hebrew.
LifeWise, which started in Hilliard, Ohio, is now being aggressively integrated into school systems all across our country. At present, there are over 1,000 locations. And though each program is a little different, the instruction begins with Genesis and ends with Revelation and, in LifeWise’s own words, “Teachings hold to traditional Christian values.”
Laurie Bertke, in the “Toledo Free Press,” in December 2024, reported that the non-profit operates in more than 31 states since it launched in 2019. In the same article, LifeWise CEO Joel Penton reports national student enrollment at 36,574.
That’s a lot of kiddos.
Proponents of LifeWise say:
The initiative decreases suspensions, improves attendance and develops in students positive character development — traits such as courage, kindness and respect.
The initiative enhances critical thinking about moral and ethical dilemmas and fosters connections that create a supportive network among families, churches and schools.
The initiative, as Mr. Penton asserts, “Has a curriculum that is open to anyone interested in viewing its contents.”
Photo credit: Iris Pastor
Critics of LifeWise say:
In schools where Lifewise operates, bullying and ostracizing increase, as does polarization, feelings of exclusion and misunderstanding.
In schools where LifeWise operates, kids are encouraged to proselytize its benefits, and students who don’t participate are often shunted aside during those hours they are left in school and labeled “LifeWise Leftovers”.
The presence of LifeWise could be perceived as an endorsement of a particular religion by the public school system, creating confusion about the role of religion in education.
For LifeWise to be considered for adoption in a school system, 50 signatures from either community members or parents are required. (Individual school board offices can serve as a source of information on LifeWise’s presence in your district.)
For those of us opposed to LifeWise penetrating our public schools, what can we do?
We can:
– Keep informed.
– Contact our local, county and state elected officials, voice our concerns and find out their position on students being religiously educated during school hours
– Work for and vote for elected officials who share our viewpoints
After becoming informed and involved, I have realized the complexities of the situation, but I have…
Together, we can make our opposition to this movement heard.
Keep Preserving Your Bloom,
Iris
