More LifeWise opponents protest Revere policy

by Sheldon Ocker

Aug. 27 board of education meeting

The campaign to keep LifeWise Academy from getting a foothold in the Revere school district continues to gain momentum. In the latest skirmish, a crowd of more than 60 voiced their objections to the board of education policy that allows students to leave class during the school day to take religious instruction.

Nothing in the policy suggests that LifeWise be the provider of religious education, but the conservative Christian organization – considered by many to be a proponent of Christian Nationalism – appears to be the only group offering to mentor students.

Among a host of speakers against LifeWise was Lori Lankford, who identified herself as a Christian, a parent, a Revere graduate and a former coach of the girls’ high school soccer team.

“We’ve had some time to do more research and obtain more information on LifeWise and found some concrete information that ties LifeWise to Christian Nationalism,” she said.

Lankford referred to a connection between LifeWise and Moms for Liberty, which has endorsed the conservative plan of action, Project 2025, ridding school libraries of certain books and campaigning to eliminate information on LGBTQ topics.

“They [Moms for Liberty] want to make a lot of changes in our schools,” Lankford said. “They are listed as one of Project 2025’s 100 coalition partners. LifeWise is a sponsor of Moms for Liberty, so be assured that LifeWise is a Christian Nationalist organization targeting our kids during the school day.”

Lankford said some community members might think LifeWise is not a threat because parents don’t have to allow their children to leave class for religious instruction.

“This programming is grooming these students to go back to school and share what they have learned, including about who God is mad at and who is going to hell and who is sinning,” she said. “So that bad news is still meant to reach all the kids, whether they have opted in or not.”

According to Lankford, who proposed the board hold a public forum on the policy, more than 1,760 people have signed a petition to rescind the board policy.

Also speaking were two doctors who identified themselves as practitioners of the Hindu faith.

Rakesh Ranjan, a psychiatrist, said he was representing the Hindu Parent Network and was concerned that LifeWise teachings are discriminatory toward members of minority religions.

“There is a fear that Lifewise Academy’s teachings would lead to discrimination, pressure and coercion against Hindu children, causing divisive confusion,” he said. “I came here in 1987 and inclusivity is one of the major reasons why I came here.”

Sathish Adigopula, a pediatrician, voiced several objections to allowing a single religious entity free reign during the school day.

“The curriculum is not reviewed or approved by this board or any board in the country,” he said. “There are no licensed teachers or theologists. Preaching these ideas to younger kids in unsupervised venues by untrained professionals during a traditional school day will trick the children into thinking these ideas are true and these ideas are supported by the school district and the school teachers they respect.”

During the public comment period, board members seldom speak, but Kasha Brackett addressed the gathering, saying she was speaking for herself, not for the board, and assured the group their grievances were being heard.

“I, as an individual, share many of the same concerns,” Brackett said. “I have three children in this district and it is concerning to me.”

She suggested that “compromises” could be made to the policy, such as demanding background checks for outside individuals who come in contact with students.

The state requires that students cannot miss “core” curriculum classes to take religious instruction. “I would like to limit time away to non-instructional time – so lunch, recess or study hall,” Brackett said.

Some people yelled questions or comments to the board, causing board President Keith Malick and Treasurer Rick Berdine to demand that decorum be restored.

Board members Natalie Rainey and Courtney Stein advised the crowd that some residents approve of the policy, causing one audience member to ask where are they? Since the policy was approved in April, no one has spoken in favor of the move.

“They don’t want to be identified in that way,” Rainey said.

Superintendent Dan White, who began his tenure on Aug. 1, said the administration and staffers have begun to discuss the issue but have yet to arrive at recommendations.

    Other moves

• Berdine announced that the success of holding 2024 high school graduation in the football stadium has induced students and the administration to keep the ceremony on campus in 2025. The proposal is that commencement be held May 29 with a rain date of June 6.
• The Revere Teacher Initiative Fund received an anonymous donation of $5,000, and a contribution of $2,961 was made by an anonymous donor to assist families in need for unpaid lunch balances. The high school Dunk Tank for Sports Extravaganza received $500 from the Bath Veterinary Clinic. Marianne Grandon contributed two engraved plaques for the swimming and diving trophy case valued at $418. ∞