This has been happening in some places since the 1950s.
That does not mean it was harmless.
That does not mean every child was fine.
And it does not mean public schools should keep helping religious programs separate children during the school day.
Even in 1952, when the Supreme Court allowed off-campus released time in Zorach, Justice Black warned exactly what this was: using the public school system to help religious groups spread their faith.
And decades later, people are still saying the quiet part out loud:
kids felt left out.
Kids were singled out.
Kids learned that their own public school did not fully belong to them.
Could religious instruction happen more appropriately outside the school day?
Yes. After school. At church. At home. Even at the end of the day when kids are not pulled out, separated, and then sent back into the same classroom social dynamic.
But during the public school day?
No.
A trailer.
A bus.
A workaround.
It just looks different now.
This was never a good idea. Ever.
Not then.
NOT NOW.
Quote shared with permission.
What people are saying:
- Secular Education Association: This is happening during the public school day.
If you’ve seen this in your district—or experienced it yourself—drop your story below. 👇
Let’s make it visible.
- Facebook User: Honestly this is why we homeschool. We live in a community that LifeWise is in our district middle school. The local elementary school holds Christmas programs, singing Christian songs, in the church next door, during the school day.
We have friends that only invite my kids to do something with them at their church.
I discuss the imbalance of power with my kids about grown ups pressuring young children to be Christian’s in all these settings. It’s full blown marketing to children here.- Secular Education Association: Facebook User we completely understand this, and are so sorry your family has been put in that position.
No parent should feel like the only way to protect their children from religious pressure is to leave the public school system.
And this is such an important point: not every family leaves public school because schools are “too inclusive” or “too woke.” Some leave because their public school experience has become the opposite ; because one religion is being centered, normalized, and marketed to children during the school day.
That matters. And it means public schools lose families and students who believe in inclusion, neutrality, and belonging for everyone.
Your kids deserve to feel safe and respected. So do all kids.
- Facebook User: Secular Education Association Its also very hard to stand up to the system when you are in it! I would(did) not speak out publicly if my kids were in the system or I worked for it. That’s a big problem too. I know teachers are silenced here. They have to be very careful about what they say and post.
- Secular Education Association: Facebook User THIS. You’re absolutely right and thank you for saying this so clearly.
We hear this often: it’s not just parents, but teachers, staff, and entire communities where people feel they can’t speak up without risking their job, their child’s experience, or their place in the community. That kind of pressure doesn’t just silence individuals—- it shapes the entire environment.
This is exactly why SEA has an anonymous teacher survey, and why we offer anonymous posting within our private community. We know not everyone can safely speak publicly, and our goal is to help strengthen and connect the voices of those who can’t.
Would you be comfortable with us sharing your first comment in this thread about why you homeschool? without your name or any identifying information? We believe it’s really important for people to understand how common this experience is—but only with your permission.
- Facebook User: Secular Education Association Yes you can share it.
- Secular Education Association: Facebook User we completely understand this, and are so sorry your family has been put in that position.
- Facebook User: Absolutely!
- Facebook User: Before I got any teaching degree, when I was in high school, I taught catechism classes…
On Saturday. At the church. - Facebook User: 1966, I sat on the bench outside the principals office. My mother believed religious instruction belonged in the church. I never felt isolated or left out. I got to play with paper dolls during school!
- Secular Education Association: Isn’t that the point though? You were pulled out of normal instruction and given something else to do. Playing with paper dolls isn’t the same as being in class learning with your peers.
What feels harmless in hindsight is still lost instructional time- and today, it’s happening at scale, during the school day, with entire systems built around it.
- Secular Education Association: Isn’t that the point though? You were pulled out of normal instruction and given something else to do. Playing with paper dolls isn’t the same as being in class learning with your peers.
- Facebook User: I’m buying my grandchildren every banned book, taking them to every protest, and teaching them critical thinking as much as I can! LW is sniffing around our area now and some of us are trying to raise community awareness before it’s too late.
- Facebook User: And the modern version of this is LifeWise
- Secular Education Association: Facebook User Yes, while Lifewise is the most visible right now others like Weekday Religious Education (WRE) also exist. We see new Release Time programs (especially these Evangelical Christian ones) pop up nearly constantly.
- Facebook User: Teaching kids to pressure, bully, and shun is even worse. Such a waste of the school day.
- Facebook User: And SEL is the modern version of this.
- Facebook User: No thanks Fetzer & CASEL. https://spiritualityineducation.org/#:~:text=What%20We%20Do,inner%20spirit%20of%20our%20children.
Leave a Reply