Parents express fury over the launch of the club in elementary school
In a surprising turn of events, an after-school Satan club is set to kick off at Chimneyrock Elementary School in Cordova, Tennessee, causing a wave of discontent among parents. Despite assurances that the club won’t involve devil worship or indoctrination into Satanic teachings, the announcement has triggered mass outrage.
Scheduled to begin after the Christmas break on January 10, the Satan club will operate in the school’s library throughout the spring semester. The club aims to provide activities that emphasize a scientific, rationalistic, non-superstitious worldview, as stated in a flyer distributed to parents.
While the school clarifies that the goal is not religious conversion or Satan worship, parents vehemently oppose the establishment of such a club, arguing that if God isn’t allowed in schools, neither should this club be permitted.
Despite objections, the school board maintains that the Satanic Temple, as a non-profit organization, will be granted access to school facilities after hours, adhering to the principles of the First Amendment.
Campaign Director of the club, June Everett, addressed parents’ concerns, explaining that the Satan Club can only operate in schools that also host other religious clubs. She emphasized that attendance is not mandatory, and students must have signed permission from parents to participate in Satan club activities.
Interim Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Superintendent Toni Williams addressed the controversy at a news conference, stating, “I do not endorse, I do not support the beliefs of this organization at the center of the recent headlines. I do, however, support the law.” Williams called for support of the First Amendment while acknowledging the concerns of families and religious groups.
As the community grapples with conflicting perspectives, the launch of the after-school Satan club in Cordova continues to fuel heated debate on the boundaries of religious expression in public schools.
