The Satanic Temple is introducing a new religious program at an elementary school in Ohio, following a request from parents looking for an alternative to a Christian “release” program.
The program, called Hellion Academy of Independent Learning (HAIL), will offer a secular, non-theistic education to students at Edgewood Elementary School in Marysville, Ohio. The school district’s existing release time program, LifeWise, allows students to receive 55 minutes of off-site religious instruction per week, transported by a “big red bus” to local churches or community centers.
The Satanic Temple’s program aims to provide an alternative to Christian-based instruction, which some parents feel may be alienating non-Christian students. According to the temple, their program will focus on self-directed learning, good works, compassion, and problem-solving skills, and will remove students from school once a month to participate.
The move comes as religious release programs have experienced a resurgence in popularity, particularly in Ohio, with LifeWise growing to 325 programs in 12 states by 2023. However, the trend has also faced controversy, with concerns raised by other religious groups, including Catholics, and some school boards rescinding permission for the program after facing backlash from concerned parents.
The Satanic Temple’s move has sparked debate, with some arguing that the program may undermine the purpose of religious release programs, while others see it as an opportunity for a more inclusive and pluralistic approach to education. The temple’s mission is to promote empathy, pluralism, and the rejection of “tyrannical authority,” and they hope to provide a more secular and inclusive alternative to traditional religious education.