šØNORTH CAROLINA: this is what happens when a community starts pushing back.
LifeWise Academy had become a major controversy in New Hanover County. š
Parents and community members were showing up at school board meetings. The issue was big enough that the board voted unanimously to hold a dedicated public hearing before deciding whether LifeWise should move forward.
And at that point, New Hanover still had the power to say NO.š«Not just no to LifeWise. No to released-time religious instruction entirely.
š Then, within days, state lawmakers changed the game.
A released-time proposal that had stalled was revived in SB 1006 ā but now it was a mandate. Every district would be required to allow qualifying released-time religious instruction.
And Sen. Michael Lee ā who represents New Hanover County ā was a primary sponsor of BOTH SB 1006 and SB 257. š¤Ø
šÆ So while his own community was in the middle of a public fight over LifeWise, Lee was a primary sponsor of both legislative vehicles that carried the mandate along its path into law. šÆ
The local board then put the hearing on hold because why take the political heat of deciding it themselves if lawmakers might make the decision for them?
š Within weeks, the mandate was included in the SB 257 state budget and signed into law.
Then, three weeks later? The board canceled the promised LifeWise hearing, 5ā1.
So look at what happened:
A community pushed back.
A public hearing was promised.
Within days, lawmakers revived a statewide mandate.
Within weeks, the mandate became law.
Then the hearing disappeared.
The state changed the rules and now this does not just affect New Hanover Countyā¦
šØ Every public school district in North Carolina lost the power to simply say NO to released-time religious instruction. šØ
That is what should infuriate you. Because we KEEP seeing this happen.
Ohio. Indiana. Now North Carolina.
Communities push back.
Lawmakers step in.
Optional becomes mandatory.
When released-time religious instruction is challenged locally, the response is increasingly the same:
āļøChange the law so communities canāt say no anymore.
That isnāt local control. It isnāt āparental rights.ā Thatās using state power to force religious instruction into the public school day ā whether local communities want it there or not. š”
Share this. North Carolina deserves to know how local control was taken away ā and every other state needs the warning.
What people are saying:
- Secular Education Association: šØ NORTH CAROLINA PARENTS & EDUCATORS: This goes beyond New Hanover County.
The law changed statewide. If released-time religious instruction comes to your district, your local school board no longer has the same ability to simply say no.
Is LifeWise or another released-time program already operating or being discussed in your district? Drop your county or district below. š
- Secular Education Association: North Carolina media, educators and public-school advocates: this deserves a closer look.
The question we want answered is simple: How did a stalled released-time proposal become a statewide mandate while New Hanover County was actively fighting over LifeWise ā and who pushed to put that mandate into the final SB 257 budget?
Facebook User
Facebook User
Facebook User
Facebook User
Facebook User
Facebook User
Facebook User - Facebook User: Unfortunately, this may soon be happening in Missouri. Is there any way to fight this? I am unable to do much, and I don’t have children. I come from a long line of public school teachers and admins, and I firmly believe in the separation of church and state. School is for learning facts not creationism or intelligent design, etc. School is not for learning religion as religion.
- Facebook User: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14kWzqHmwxV/
This was posted in a community group earlier today, inviting people to sign a petition for Lifewise. The poster admits they want their version of Christanity taught to all the children. There are multiple churches in Carl and the surrounding area. Christianity is well represented.
- Secular Education Association: Facebook User first – thank you for your service (and your families legacy of service) to our kids. Secondly, the best way to fight is to sound the alarm. MOST parents and communities do not want this and once they understand what it really is and how it works- then thatās when they start to push back. The faster we can help that happen, the better. Iād recommend starting on our map and take a look at your state. You can share info from the map directly to your profile or to your community groups. Itās all hands on deck!
Map.seculareducationassociation.org
- Facebook User: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14kWzqHmwxV/
- Facebook User: More “small government” Republican over reach.
- Secular Education Association: Facebook User Exactly. āLocal controlā apparently only counts when locals make the decision they want. The minute communities start pushing back, suddenly the state needs to make the decision for everyone.
- Facebook User: Secular Education Association literally every single republican accusation is a confession. theyve cried about nanny states for decades but theyre the ones legislating ideology, meddling in peoples private lives.
- Facebook User: The Republicans need to be held accountable for a lot of the worst things going on in America!
Leave a Reply