COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A Cobb County elementary school is among a handful of schools where the Satanic Temple plans to begin operations of its "After School Satan" club.
It’s not clear whether any of the clubs are up and running, but Still Elementary in Powder Springs is listed on the group’s website as one of the schools where it has offered to present its curriculum.
“Across the nation, parents are concerned about encroachments by proselytizing evangelicals in their public schools, and are eager to establish the presence of a contrasting voice that helps children to understand that one doesn’t need to submit to superstition in order to be a good person,” the group’s web site says.
The Satanic Temple’s goal is to counter faith-based groups that work with schools. It says it plans to start an ASSC in “every school where the Good News Clubs, or other proselytizing religious groups, have established a presence.”
Several parents told channel 2’s Berndt Petersen they’ll do whatever it takes to keep the group out of their children’s school.
“We have enough problems in the world to encourage kids to actually take on this kind of attitude. It's just absolutely not acceptable,” parent Stacey Cressy said.
The After School Satan website says the clubs will promote focused rationalism, free inquiry and fun, but parents told Petersen the name tells them all they need to know.
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“Satan--his thing is evil, and evil is the absence of good and love. We're trying to encourage goodness and love in our children, especially here at Still Elementary and other schools around this area,” Cressy said.
Parent Tina Knight says she understands that it’s freedom of speech, but that doesn’t mean she likes the idea.
“The name alone -- absolutely not. What parent would send their child? Let's start off by changing the name,” she said.
Cobb school officials released a brief statement saying Still Elementary does not have an ASSC.
“We have not been contacted by anyone to establish one. In no way does the school or the school district endorse Satan clubs,” spokeswoman Donna Lowry said.
Lowry said the system was also drafting a statement to send to parents to make sure they’re aware of the district’s stance.
Petersen contacted the Atlanta chapter of the Satanic Temple, but hasn’t heard back yet.
Cox Media Group
