Letters: Parents deserve freedom to choose religious instruction during school hours

The Beacon Journal’s recent editorial, “LifeWise is an unwise choice for school districts,” argues against the passage of Ohio House Bill 445 because in the board’s view, religious instruction should occur on the weekends or after school hours.

The editorial fails to include a key point. Parents do not have to choose to enroll their child in a released-time religious instruction program. The passage of HB 445 would simply give them the freedom to do so as it would require school districts to make released-time religious instruction permissible.

Why shouldn’t parents have the freedom to make this decision? At LifeWise , parents have told us time and again that they want Bible-based character education for their kids during the day, but the demands of extracurricular activities and work make it difficult to do so. LifeWise makes it possible. We’ve also heard from principals and teachers that students who participate in LifeWise come back to the classroom more engaged and well behaved.

A recent study underscores this, showing an improvement in attendance and behavior among LifeWise participants. What’s more is that according to a LifeWise Academy/RMG Research national survey, nearly 80% of Americans believe that behavior and discipline problems in schools have gotten worse and that moral and character education can effectively address the problem.

It’s no wonder, then, that families are demanding our program. In the upcoming school year, LifeWise will be serving nearly 50,000 students in more than 500 schools, across 27 states.

Parents should have the freedom to choose religious instruction for their child during the school day, especially considering the many challenging issues that kids have to navigate these days. LifeWise gives them that option, while abiding by the separation of church and state.

Joel Penton, CEO, LifeWise Academy

Empathy lacking

As a fertility specialist who has cared for thousands of infertile women throughout Ohio over my 35 year career, Sen. JD Vance’s reference to some Democrats as “a bunch of childless cat ladies” demonstrates that, like Donald Trump, he is capable of making a “clever” quip at the expense of those less fortunate.

It also clearly demonstrates that he lacks the empathy and serious statesmanship that we need in our national leadership. Vance owes women who are involuntarily childless as well as those who are childless by choice a profound apology.

Dr. Bryan R. Hecht, North Canton

Do what you can

Yes, this IS really happening. The time of complaining and sharing our disbelief is over.

The universe is always creating and re-creating. God is still speaking. Embrace the chaos and move forward. Take nothing personally. Do not attack or acknowledge attack.

We must carry our light before us and protect the flame of hope, kindness and truth. Be the thermostat, not the thermometer. Trade worry for humor.

Do what you can and let the rest go, and for goodness sake, VOTE. This is bigger than you, me, us, the world. This is LOVE.

Susan Herrera, Cuyahoga Falls

When unhelpful is helpful

Former ambassador, governor and presidential candidate Nikki Haley has urged Republicans to stop referring to Vice President, Kamala Harris as a DEI candidate. She said that doing so was “not helpful.”

Haley is wrong. Referring to the vice president as a DEI candidate is quite helpful. It allows voters to understand the mentality of the people who make the statement.

The DEI notion is being spread by folks who benefited from unearned privilege because of their place in the social hierarchy. Hypocrisy oozes from their every pore.

Larry Weigle, Stow

A rebuttal on ‘Project 2025’

With slight disclaimers, Alex Perry’s July 21 article definitely conveys the sense that “Project 2025” is part of the 2024 Republican Party and President Donald Trump’s campaign platforms.

Attempts to portray all Republicans, the Republican Party and Trump as subscribers to this Heritage Foundation wish list is no different than portraying all Democrats, the Democratic Party and President Joe Biden’s administration as subscribers to all of George Soros’ Open Society Foundations’ goals and practices.

While neither is universally true, articles such as this ignore Open Society Foundations’ factual efforts to “destroy America” with a ”playbook for (liberal) authoritarianism” through progressive activism, executive orders, massive spending, inflation and dollar devaluation over the past four years.

Informed debate and decisions depend on honest facts.

Thomas R. Hart, Silver Lake

Equal justice under law?

I always thought that Bill Clinton should have been removed from the presidency for perjury. Neither his party affiliation, the subject matter of his lies under oath nor the strength of the economy were felt to be of any importance to his crime.

I always thought the U.S. Supreme Court ruled incorrectly in Bush v. Gore. “Stop the counting” was a political decision. The Supreme Court is supposed to be a nonpolitical institution. “Count all the votes in Florida” would have been the proper decision that would have respected each and every voter. Whoever got the most votes would be president — again, no partisan politics. (It shouldn’t have mattered that the certification deadline was looming for a country that had the ability to put a man on the moon).

Subsequently, no one needs to explain to me what my eyes and ears witnessed on Jan. 6, 2021. “Fight like hell or you won’t have a country anymore.”

The ensuing chaos left Capitol law enforcement dead, injured and traumatized. If it weren’t for them, no one would be casting a ballot for their presidential candidate of choice in 2024. For six Supreme Court Justices to rule that the president has immunity for such an egregious breach of his oath of office is a blatantly political decision. Apparently, “No one is above the law” is nothing more than a platitude to be taught in middle school civics.

I would suggest that these Supreme Court justices leave their chambers, go outside the edifice and reread the inscription engraved thereupon: “Equal Justice Under Law.”

At the very least, they need to chisel in an asterisk.

Joseph A. Mosyjowski, Randolph Township

On Glock switches

If Glock switches are illegally produced and not affiliated with Glock Inc., then why are the guns manufactured in such a way that a tiny device can be plugged into them and turn pistols into machine guns?

Robert L. Summers, Hiram

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Letters: Parents deserve freedom to choose religious instruction during school hours