LifeWise: Art Of The Grift

In an update to previous episodes talking about Released Time Religious Education in Ohio and LifeWise Academy in particular, our guest Keith Comer, founder of Respect our Schools discusses what has been happening since LifeWise lobbied the state to force it's brand of child recruitment into the middle of the school day.Elementary students are most affected because their schedules are controlled by the school, making mid-day departures disruptive. He says LifeWise prefers to take students during specials because attendance is higher than during lunch, or recess, and the ultimate goal is recruitment and proselytizing rather than character education.Another focus is money and organization. Comer says LifeWise operates like a franchise, collecting fees from local groups and sending money to headquarters in Hilliard, Ohio. He says local programs often pay substantial portions of their fundraising to the central organization, which also provides curriculum, insurance, and training.We end with concerns about safety and school resources. Comer says parents should ask how background checks, transportation, and monitoring are handled. He also describes cases where schools, city property, or public facilities were illegally used for LifeWise-related activities, and says legal challenges may be necessary to stop such programs.Full Show Notes & Links UsedSubscribe to our free email listCheck out or merch