Why LifeWise Academy is causing a stir in Everett Schools

LifeWise Academy is making waves in Everett Public Schools, and not everyone is happy about it. The group claims they're just trying to help, but critics say they're pushing religion into public schools, which is a big no-no.

The Founder's Vision

The founder of LifeWise, Joel Penton, has written a book called "During School Hours." In it, he talks about bringing religion back into schools. He even says that taking Bible lessons out of schools is a "betrayal." He blames science, new social issues, and immigration for this change. But many people think that's not a fair or accurate way to look at things.

Extreme Ideologies

LifeWise is not like most Christian groups. They want everyone to follow their strict rules. They have some pretty extreme ideas, like:

• Making conversion therapy legal everywhere
• Getting rid of diversity programs
• Making laws based on their version of Christianity

School Board's Stance

The school board says they don't support off-campus religious programs. But according to Washington State law, schools can let students leave for religious programs if the school and parents agree. So, who gave LifeWise the okay to start their program? That's a good question.

Big Questions

This whole situation raises some big questions:

• Should religion be part of public schools?
• Who gets to decide what's taught in schools?
• How do we make sure everyone's beliefs are respected?