Joel Penton (pictured above) is with LifeWise Academy, a Christian ministry that brings weekly Bible lessons to public school children.
Penton said people look at him like he's crazy when he tells folks they teach the Bible during school hours, but it's true.
He explained on Washington Watch how a 72-year-old Supreme Court case makes it possile.
"In Zorach v. Clauson in 1952, the Supreme Court ruled that public school students can in fact, be released from public school during school hours to receive religious instruction if the program is off school property, privately funded, and students have parental permission."
Penton said one problem educators see during the current “crisis of character” is chronic absenteeism, especially since COVID.
“The numbers are in, and they're pretty big. When LifeWise is introduced, attendance numbers go up to the point that students actually spend more time in school because they're simply showing up for school that much more. Even though we're pulling them out of school for a portion of the time, they're coming to school so much more that they're getting a net increase in class time. There's also a decrease of in-school and out-of-school suspensions."
Penton explained bringing Bible education must meet the Supreme Court’s three criteria.
Every student has an opportunity to attend one time per week.
LifeWise Academy has a presence in thirty states. There is a ten-step process to bring a program to your community if you don't have one already.
"Yeah, the best way is through our website, Lifewise.org. You can look up any school district in the nation, and you can find out where the district stands. The way it gets started is through a signature campaign. So, if there's not one started, you can add your name to the signature list. You can share that list with others, and you can begin the process, the grassroots process, of getting a local program started."
What the Word can do
Penton said he knows this is important because his life has been transformed by the Word of God.
"I came to faith when I was in high school as a freshman in high school, and it was through a simple Bible study led by a youth pastor, and the Lord really captured my heart, and I knew that my life was going to be all about sharing the word of God with others."
