CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wiki Commons
From News 5 WCYB:
A recently passed Tennessee law allowing students to take one hour off from school for religious practice has led to the Satanic Temple launching a program at Bristol Tennessee Middle School. Called the Hellion Academy of Independent Learning, or HAIL, the program provides an alternative to Bible study for students seeking other forms of religious engagement.
June Everett, the national campaign director for the After School Satan Club, explained the program’s approach. “We only go to schools where parents in the community have directly reached out to us and asked for our presence,” Everett said. “The children are basically excused by their parents to be able to leave school campus and go to Bible study, so our program follows that same protocol. We pick the students up, take them to a public library that’s close by, and bring them back when it’s time.”
During HAIL sessions, students engage in STEAM-based activities. “The kiddos end up doing a lot of STEAM-type projects, a lot of community projects, art projects, [and] projects based on science and learning about the way the world works,” Everett explained.
Everett also addressed common misconceptions about the Satanic Temple. “We don’t believe in a supernatural Satan. We look to Satan as a symbol of a variety of different things, but we do not actually worship or believe in the devil,” she said. “We are big supporters of religious pluralism and religious freedom in our country, so that’s not our goal to try and shut down the Christian club.”
Bristol Tennessee City Schools confirmed that the law requires them to allow students to be excused for religious or moral instruction, provided parents opt in. These courses must occur off school property.
Donna King, a long-time Bristol resident and parent, stressed the importance of parental involvement. “We are asking the schools to do too much. Their job is to educate. Their job is not to decide how your child worships—that’s a parent’s choice,” King said. She found the program unusual for the region. “We’re in the Bible Belt, so I just never thought anything like this would happen. I hope that the parents are watching everything their kids are doing.”
Everett emphasized that the goal is to ensure religious choice. “As long as Bible clubs continue to pull children from school, we’re going to offer that alternative,” she said. “Once you do let in one brand of religion, you have to allow all the different brands and denominations. That’s what keeps our country free.”
To read the full article, visit News 5 WCYB.
For more similar articles, visit our USA section.