Hey there, Secular FAM. A few months ago, we discussed the push to evangelize our public schools with the founders of the Secular Education Association. They discussed the “Christian” organization, Lifewise, and how they’re attempting to bring evangelical cultist indoctrination to minors across the country.
Now, this organization is bringing its hate-fueled curriculum to the Deer Valley Unified School District (DVUSD), and we need you to share with the district why secular public schools are vital to our democracy.
The administrators of the DVUSD Lifewise Facebook page are promising that any rando can “sponsor” a student (at $30 a pop) and they will receive religious indoctrinationinstruction during school hours.
Arizona already allows for Release Time for Religious Instruction (RTRI), and the LDS Church has made it clear that they’re very supportive of this statute - and in some cases - overstepping their bounds. The next time you drive around the state, especially in rural and suburban areas, take a look at how many LDS temples are next door or across the street from high school campuses.
Throughout the year, Secular AZ receives and responds to complaints about religious privilege across the state. Over the years, our Legal Department has fielded complaints about prayers in public spaces, hate churches receiving sweet rental deals in small school districts, and religious organizations building houses of worship on public land.
Freethinkers have seen a steady decline in their freedom FROM religion since the 1990s when the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (FRFA) was passed. In the decades since, these laws have been used to “carve out exemptions that privilege religious expression.”
Arizona has its own RFRA statute, and every year, extremist legislators in the House and Senate attempt to further religious overreach in public spaces. This last legislative session, even Governor Hobbs and a few other legislators helped them do it.
Now that the Supreme Court has a majority of evangelical extremists, many protections for marginalized groups have been chipped away in the name of ReLiGiOuS fReEdOm. Essentially, just about anyone can treat the most vulnerable members of our society like garbage without retribution as long as they claim ReLiGiOuS fReEdOm.
This organization has grown astronomically over the last six years to the tune of over a $30 million annual budget, with most of its donations coming from private donors and local churches. Meanwhile, DVUSD struggles to pass bonds or overrides, and teachers have to apply for Donors Choose grants to get the things they need.
On top of that, there are board members and failed candidates promoting vouchers at local board meetings and on social media. Public school districts already face enough challenges without deeply unserious detractors. This is why we need all hands on deck.
If you have five minutes, please take a moment to reach out to the DVUSD board and ask them to examine their policies and state statutes when it comes to outside religious groups getting access to public school minors. Let them know why you’re concerned that a religious indoctrination organization is marketing their presence on school campuses during school hours.
While you’re at it, encourage them to do everything within their personal capacity as taxpayers in DVUSD to promote and pass the override election happening this November.
Or maybe you can make it to the meeting tomorrow at 7:00 and comment in-person.
Additionally, take a moment to learn more about Lifewise Academy and their goals. This organization bribes children with food and treats, tells them that if they or anyone they love is gay they’re going to hell, and for some strange reason, they also wash the feet of the minors in their care on occasion. And as our guests from last spring, Zack Parrish and Molly Gaines shared with us, they promise to bring religious indoctrinationinstruction to public school students during the school day across the entire country.