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Resident urges board to bar LifeWise religious instruction during school hours, cites Arizona Constitution
Summary
Bill Applegate, a resident, told the Casa Grande Union board July 14 that allowing LifeWise religious classes on campus during the school day would violate the Arizona Constitution and risk exclusion and classroom disruption.
Bill Applegate addressed the board during the public comment period on July 14 to oppose any proposal that would allow LifeWise (also referred to in the comment as Lifewise) religious instruction on campus during the school day.
Applegate told the board he was speaking both on constitutional grounds and on fairness grounds. He quoted the Arizona Constitution, saying Article 2, Section 12 "states that no public money or property shall be appropriated for or apply to any religious worship, exercise, or instruction," and that Article 11, Section 7 "adds that no sectarian instruction shall be imparted in any public school." Applegate said allowing a program like LifeWise on campus during school hours would favor one religion over others and could marginalize students of other faiths or nonreligious students.
"To allow this program on campus during school hours is to favor one religion over others, and that's not just unfair, it's unconstitutional," Applegate said. He also raised concerns about peer pressure and academic disruption if students are pulled from class for religious instruction.
Applegate urged the board to uphold constitutional protections and keep public-school time and resources free from sectarian instruction. No board action on the topic was recorded during the meeting excerpt.
