The Satanic Temple has introduced a new program targeted at children. HAIL, or Hellions Academy of Independent Learning will now begin serving students at Edgewood Elementary School. This program was created as an alternative to Christian programs, and students will be able to attend once a month. June Everett, who directs the program, has stressed that HAIL emphasizes justice, compassion, and empathy.
This program was introduced to compete with existing Christian Release Time Religious Instruction programs (RTRI). RTRI programs were introduced in the early 20th century and allow students to receive an hour of religious instruction off campus during the day. The popular LifeWise program is already active at Edgewood and was citied specifically as the reason for HAIL’s creation.
Ohio has been fertile ground for RTRIs. LifeWise started in 2019 in only 2 districts. By 2023 it grew to 325 programs in 12 states. Jennifer Johnson, a teacher at LifeWise, described their exponential growth earlier this year; “We only had second-grade last year. This year, we have four grades – kindergarten, first, third and fourth. Potentially, in the future, we could have middle school and even high school. “
Regardless of affiliation parents must consent to their children to attend Release Time Religious Instruction programs. LifeWise, and other programs like it, only operate during student’s lunch and recess periods so no learning time is lost. Johnson described the time with students by saying ” We sing some songs, we do a prayer, we talk .”
However innocuous it sounds, some people are unhappy with LifeWise and other Christian RTRIs. Betty Elswick a Community Organizer, contacted the Satanic Temple about starting a competing program. “It is not [supposed] to push a religious agenda. It’s just to have an alternative,” said Elswick. This was how the HAIL program was founded.
In a press release on HAIL, Everett explained her issues with Christian RTRI programs. According to her, “Christian RTRI programs have expanded rapidly across the country, and they aim to have active programs in every school district… [The] Satanic Temple, meanwhile, argues that the groups are being used to exclude non-Christian students and promote Christianity.” She believes that by offering fun activities to children, Christians are using peer pressure to encourage conversion
June Everett is aware of the controversy her RTRI has stirred up. She responded to her critics by saying “When they hear it, it’s initially shocking, ‘Oh the Satanic Temple!’ They automatically think evil and awful things. We are not devil worshipers. We are non-theistic Satanists.” She stresses the purpose of the Satanic Temple is to promote constitutional rights and advocate for the separation of Church and State.
Currently, there are 4 students from Edgewood Elementary enrolled in the Church of Satan’s HAIL program. Organizers say that they have heard interest from other schools in the area as well as from homeschool families. LifeWise CEO Joel Penton is unbothered. In response to HAIL, he quipped “LifeWise isn’t fearful of other organizations …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.”