The "After School Satan Club" will be open to children in grades first through fifth at Jane Addams Elementary.
The club is set to have its inaugural meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 13 from 2:45 to 3:45 p.m. at the Modular Music Trailer at the elementary school located at 3520 53rd St. in Moline.
The club was announced via a flyer posted at the school.
“Hey Kids, let’s have fun at After School Satan Club! Science Projects! Puzzles & Games! Arts and Craft Projects! Nature Activities!” the flyer reads.
The club lists dates of Jan. 13, Feb. 1, March 10, April 4 and May 12.
Jane Addams Elementary serves 300 students. It is a member of the Moline-Coal Valley School District.
Moline-Coal Valley School District defended renting space to the club in a statement saying it had allowed similar clubs from Christian groups in the past.
“The district does not discriminate against any groups who wish to rent our facilities, including religious-affiliated groups. Religiously affiliated groups are among those allowed to rent our facilities for a fee,” the school district said.
“The district has, in the past, approved these types of groups, one example being the Good News Club, which is an after-school child evangelism fellowship group. Flyers and promotional materials for these types of groups are approved for lobby posting or display only, and not for mass distribution.”
The club is being sponsored by The Satanic Temple which has similar clubs in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Pensacola, Washington, D.C., Tucson, Springfield, Missouri, Seattle, and Portland.
The programming was created in 2016 to counter afterschool Christian clubs.
According to The Satanic Temple's website, 'Proselytization is not our goal, and we’re not interested in converting children to Satanism. After School Satan Clubs will focus on free inquiry and rationalism, the scientific basis for which we know what we know about the world around us.'
See the Moline-Coal Valley School District's full statement below:
The Moline-Coal Valley School District understands that there is concern and confusion over an upcoming after-school club at Jane Addams elementary. The District would like to provide information on the situation. The Moline-Coal Valley School District and Board of Education have policies and administrative procedures in place which allow for community use of its publicly funded facilities outside the school day.
The district does not discriminate against any groups who wish to rent our facilities, including religious-affiliated groups. Religiously affiliated groups are among those allowed to rent our facilities for a fee.
The district has, in the past, approved these types of groups, one example being the Good News Club, which is an after-school child evangelism fellowship group. Flyers and promotional materials for these types of groups are approved for lobby posting or display only, and not for mass distribution.
Students or parents are then able to pick up the flyer from the lobby, if they so choose, which is aligned to District policy. Please note that the district must provide equal access to all groups and that students need parental permission to attend any after-school event. Our focus remains on student safety and student achievement.
Alerts Sign-up