MARYSVILLE, Ohio (WBNS) – A new religious program at an elementary school in Ohio is being offered to students by a satanic group.
Currently, Marysville schools have a policy that allows kids to leave school for a certain amount of time during the day for religious instruction.
Now, a new program called HAIL will join the group of religious instruction. It’s starting at Edgewood Elementary School this month.
Betty Elswick, an organizer of the program and a parent, said the program is not about Satan, despite the program being from the Satanic Temple.
She says it’s about empathy and teaching kids to be a part of the community.
Elswick responded when asked if this program was created because of Lifewise Academy – another religious exemption program at Marysville.
“We felt as parents with this policy in place that we also wanted to have the kids have representation no matter what group was here,” Elswick said. “We will be focused on community action. So volunteering, art, conversations about what it means to be a member of the community.”
Lifewise Academy released the following statement, saying in part:
“Lifewise isn’t fearful of other organizations offerings. We believe all families should have the opportunity to choose religious study during school hours and we trust parents to make the best choice for their children.”
The program HAIL is an acronym that stands for Hellion Academy of Independent Learning.
It’s offered to the students once a month.
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