Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Satanic Temple will began teaching religious program and offering option to participate in classes for Elementary school students in Ohio as part of the state’s “religious release” program. This initiative allows students to leave school once a week to attend religious courses off-campuss.
The program, known as the Hellion Academy of Independent Learning (HAIL), will begin in December 2024 at Edgewood Elementary School in Marysville. Organized by the Satanic Temple, the program is presented as an alternative to existing Christian release-time programs like LifeWise Academy, which offers Bible-based education.
About the Satanic Temple and HAIL
The program is organized by the Satanic Temple, the only Satanic religious organization recognized as a church by the IRS and the U.S. federal court system. The Satanic Temple identifies as a nontheistic church with a mission to promote pluralism among differing religious perspectives, foster empathy, and reject authoritarianism.
June Everett, a minister for the Satanic Temple and director of the After School Satan Club campaign, said the HAIL program was introduced at the request of a parent in the Edgewood district. HAIL is an educational initiative, aims to provide a secular alternative to Christian programs that some families find exclusive.
“Our program is only implemented in districts where parents specifically request it, and only where similar release-time religious programs are already in place,” Everett said. She noted that parents often seek HAIL as an option when their children feel left out or marginalized by not attending Christian programs like LifeWise Academy.
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LifeWise Academy accepts students of all backgrounds, but some parents are uncomfortable enrolling their children for various reasons, Everett explained. Other religious groups, including Catholic organizations, have also raised concerns about the exclusivity of Christian programs, which opened the door for HAIL.
“We’re not trying to shut down LifeWise Academy, But when schools open the door for one religion, they open it for all religions,” Everett state as cited from New York Times,
Program Details and Goals
Unlike LifeWise, which often benefits from partnerships with local churches and larger resources, HAIL operates on a smaller scale. It will run monthly due to budget constraints. The Marysville program will be the Satanic Temple’s first in Ohio, though its After School Satan Club has already established a presence in Dayton, Wilmington, and Lebanon.
The curriculum will include self-directed learning, community service, empathy and compassion training, critical thinking, creative expression, and problem-solving skills. The program also plans to feature guest speakers and other engaging activities.
While the Satanic Temple’s involvement has sparked debate, proponents see it as an opportunity to uphold religious freedom and foster inclusivity in public schools. For now, the program will pull participating students out of school once a month, providing an unconventional but thought-provoking alternative in the realm of religious education.
(Raidi/Agung)
