Difference between revisions of "LifeWise"
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'''LifeWise''', or '''LifeWise Academy''', is an innovative program that teaches [[public school]] students about [[Christianity]] during the school day at an off-site facility, as allowed by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] decision of ''[[Zorach v. Clauson]]'' (1952). | '''LifeWise''', or '''LifeWise Academy''', is an innovative program that teaches [[public school]] students about [[Christianity]] during the school day at an off-site facility, as allowed by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] decision of ''[[Zorach v. Clauson]]'' (1952). | ||
| − | LifeWise began in [[Ohio]] as founded by a former defensive lineman for the [[Ohio State]] football team, Joel Penton. LifeWise has since expanded to a | + | LifeWise began in [[Ohio]] as founded by a former defensive lineman for the [[Ohio State]] football team, Joel Penton. LifeWise has since expanded to a 1,000 schoools in 34 states.<ref>https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article312434240.html</ref><ref name="Capital Journal">https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2024/12/19/ohio-lawmakers-pass-forced-outing-bill-with-religious-release-time-amendments-during-lame-duck/</ref> |
As explained by the ''Ohio Capital Journal'': | As explained by the ''Ohio Capital Journal'': | ||
Revision as of 02:30, October 12, 2025
LifeWise, or LifeWise Academy, is an innovative program that teaches public school students about Christianity during the school day at an off-site facility, as allowed by the U.S. Supreme Court decision of Zorach v. Clauson (1952).
LifeWise began in Ohio as founded by a former defensive lineman for the Ohio State football team, Joel Penton. LifeWise has since expanded to a 1,000 schoools in 34 states.[1][2]
As explained by the Ohio Capital Journal:
| “ | Religious release time instruction must meet three criteria: the courses must take place off school property, be privately funded, and students must have parental permission.
Two central Ohio school districts, Westerville and Worthington, recently rescinded their religious release time policy. Both districts formerly allowed LifeWise Academy to take public school students off-campus for Bible classes during school hours.[2] |
” |
In late 2024, Ohio H.B. 8 was amended in the Senate Education Committee to make the allowance of religious release time during the school day in public schools, such that this new law (if signed by Gov. Mike DeWine) requires "school districts to work with religious release time organizations to pick a time to offer the course during the school day."[2]
See also
- School Ministries, an older school Released Time program based in South Carolina
- Criticism of this program by liberal Slate