It was never “just Bible class.”
It was always access to children during the public school day.
Children are being removed from school, transported off campus, and placed under the supervision of adults from a private religious program…while parents and districts are often left trying to figure out who is actually responsible for oversight.
That is not the same as Sunday school.
That is not the same as church.
That is not the same as an after-school club.
And yes, released-time religious instruction has existed for decades.
But what we are seeing now is different: a national, franchise-style push to expand it through public school systems during the school day.
Programs like LifeWise Academy are not simply continuing an old tradition. They are franchising it, scaling it, lobbying for it, and using public school systems to grow it.
That is why parents, teachers, and community members are asking harder questions.
-Who independently verifies the background checks?
-Who reviews disqualifying conduct?
-Who supervises the handoff?
-Who tracks transportation?
-Who is liable if something goes wrong?
👉And why are public schools being forced into the middle of this at all?
You do not have to oppose Christianity to believe children deserve stronger safeguards.
You do not have to be anti-religion to believe public school time should not be used to facilitate private religious instruction.
And you do not have to stay quiet just because someone tries to shame you for asking basic child-safety questions.
This was never “just Bible class.”
It was always access to children during the public school day.
Public schools belong to everyone.
Religious freedom requires neutral schools.
What people are saying:
- Facebook User: This is something that I wonder about this topic (being a high school teacher). If a class period is 45 minutes and a student leaves for outside religious instruction. Lets say that this location they will be going to is an outside church is 10-15 minutes away- so it is a total of 20-30 minutes of transport time out of the 45 minute period. I will almost guarentee that these students will come back to their next school class period late. And that next period may be a mandatory subject like math. Not only will the student be losing on required instrucitonal time for math, but they will be disrupting the other student and teachers by coming in late.
- Facebook User: Lifewise claims that students won’t be missing any essential class time. This is a lie. Every single minute of an elementary school day is designed to provide for a child’s developmental and educational needs. Recess is essential. Art, Music, Library, P.E. are all essential. Religious education should NEVER be a part of a public school day. Talk about indoctrination…
- Facebook User: There is also the problem of the curriculum that the students will be missing while they are off campus. It is completely unreasonable to ask teachers to alter their schedule around this.
- Secular Education Association: Facebook User absolutely agree. While RTRI laws say that the work has to be made up by the children leaving…. We all know that alone requires more work for the teacher (make up work) … plus it is constantly reported to us that the kids staying are doing busy work or the teachers are told these times are “no new instruction” times and the kids who aren’t attending lifewise are missing out on their education.
- Facebook User: Totally agree. I’m sure these laws also don’t take into account that some of these children leaving may be receiving special education services. As a special education teacher I can tell you that those schedules are notoriously tight & it’s difficult making sure that each student has the required amount of service minutes, especially if your caseload is large. Blocking large amounts of time where special ed teachers can’t service students is going to make it even more difficult. This is a bad idea all the way around.
- Facebook User: Reminder: The PARENTS are the ones telling the schools to let their children go with these people. The schools HAVE to let the kids go. Stop blaming the schools for this fiasco.
- Facebook User: Facebook User everyone is responsible for keeping our children safe. No one is innocent.
- Secular Education Association: Facebook User we absolutely aren’t blaming the schools. Never have. Nothing in the above post blames the schools.
- Facebook User: Facebook User Nope. The schools have to comply with the parents’ wishes on this.
- Facebook User: Facebook User yes. The state really screwed the pooch on it’s mandate. But parents probably have a false sense of security that this is a school vetted organization. Thus the need for organizations like this to try and inform the masses. The kids are NOT alright. And as parents no organization is safe. Not church, not community, not national scouting organizations. If you cannot accompany your children, my vote is don’t allow it.
- Facebook User: Facebook User Here’s an idea for you. Imagine parents decided to teach children the dangers of dogging. They pay for a bus, they arrange a time. Does the school have to go along with it?
- Facebook User: LifeWise Academy claims that their purpose is “character education.” I am okay with an adult teaching a child that stealing is wrong. I am not okay with an adult teaching a child that they are going to hell if they don’t accept Jesus, especially when that child is supposed to be in REAL school, not amateur Bible school.
- Facebook User: This should not be happening! Children should not be removed from public school to study with so-called Christians.
- Facebook User: The legislators that voted for this were a bit short sighted. They should be required to provide similar background checks that all of us educators do or no rtri.
- Facebook User: Facebook User it was FULLY on purpose.
- Facebook User: If Lifewise is found to be harboring pedophiles (which we know they are just from this past week) I think it should mean the school can and should withdraw from religious release time citing safety concerns for the children although I wish nothing happed to any child at all
- Facebook User: And several lifewise staff have child abuse charges but yeah let’s give them unsupervised access to kids
- Facebook User: Ban voucher schools
- Facebook User: you all are a bunch of punks who worship at the feet of Randi Weingarten
- Facebook User: Lazy parents who don’t want to make their religion a part of their daily home lives are letting strangers teach their kids whatever these Lifers want.
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