LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — Although the U.S. Constitution does not explicitly mention the separation of church and state, the issue has been debated for decades.
On Wednesday, members of the Allen County Democratic Party heard from a representative of the Secular Education Association (SEA) regarding concerns over what they call the "LifeWise movement" in public schools.LifeWise Academy offers Bible education classes to public school students during the school day, provided their parents give permission.
SEA representatives say the expansion of such programs, coupled with newly passed legislation, could infringe on the constitutional principle of separating religion from government institutions. Molly Gaines, executive director of the Secular Education Association, spoke about the group’s concerns, specifically in response to Substitute House Bill 8 — also known as the "Parents' Bill of Rights" — which was signed into law in April.
LifeWise Academy offers Bible education classes to public school students during the school day, provided their parents give permission.
“Our public schools are secular, and we have to protect that — not just for anyone else of different faiths, or no faith, or whatever it may be, but to protect people of faith, too,” Gaines said. “This is their choice, outside of a government institution, to raise their children in a particular faith. But when other children are exposed to it during the school day, when it’s disrupting instruction and, by extension, using taxpayer funds — that’s when it becomes a problem.”
Substitute House Bill 8 includes provisions stating that no public funds may be used and no public school personnel may be involved in the implementation of released time religious instruction. It also requires that a student’s parent or guardian provide written consent for the child to attend such a course. Under the new law, school districts have until July 1 to adopt a policy regarding released time courses for religious instruction.
