Tom Wilemon

twilemon@tennessean.com

Members of the Church of Scientology are speaking about drug abuse to students in Tennessee public and Christian schools under the umbrella of an organization that does not link them to their religion.

They have spoken to students at schools in Davidson, Rutherford, Wilson, Cheatham and Dickson counties where officials have written them letters of recommendation.

But some schools may not know about the connection. At least one principal in Smyrna did not know that the church supported the anti-drug events.

Scientology, which is based upon the teachings of science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, has long been controversial. In part the religion has come under criticism for its stands against psychiatrists prescribing medicines for people with depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other illnesses.

Drug-Free South is the Nashville Chapter of The Foundation for a Drug-Free World. Neither its website nor the one for its parent organization reveal any affiliation with the Church of Scientology. Their marketing message is "Truth About Drugs."

The speakers are invited to school assemblies, festivals and other events, a church spokesperson said. The outreach activities have been publicized in official news releases by the Church of Scientology.

Julie Brinker, a spokesperson for the Church of Scientology in Nashville, said members do not talk about theology and stick to drug abuse issues when they speak at schools.

"The Truth about Drugs initiative is its own campaign," she said. "It has no religious message. It is entirely secular.

"The Church of Scientology's role is we support the Truth About Drugs. We support getting this information out there. So we provide materials at no charge to anyone who wants Truth About Drugs materials. They don't have anything religious in them."

Other groups have come under criticism for speaking in public schools on a variety of topics. Last year, for instance, a nonprofit with strong Christian, Republican and pro-life ties came under fire for the information it provides during sex education talks in Metro public schools.

Groups vetted

Marc Vallieres and his wife, Anne Vallieres, spoke at Smyrna West Alternative last year, but Rutherford County school officials did not know they were affiliated with the Church of Scientology. The school's graduation coach, Ronald Whitmore, wrote the couple a letter of recommendation that is posted on the home page for Drug-Free South.

Kay Davenport, the principal at Smyrna West Alternative, which is a school for students who have continuing behavior issues, said her staff did not know of the Church of Scientology connection. The school does have a vetting process for guest speakers, she said.

"Speakers are invited from recommendations and then interviewed through a phone conversation with an understanding that there is no religious talk, platform or agenda," Davenport said in an email. "All SWA employees who are not otherwise in meetings attend these assemblies with students. Teachers know that if any speaker gets off the agreed topic, they are to stop the presentation."

She shared a response from Whitmore who said the speakers delivered a "very engaging" and "very informative presentation about drugs and drug addiction." He said no religious topics were brought up.

Marc and Anne Vallieres also spoke at F.H. Jenkins Elementary School, which is a Seventh-day Adventist Christian school, in October 2013. Brian J.T. Watts, the principal at that time, wrote the couple a recommendation letter that is posted on the Drug-Free South website.

"They can lecture, show film clips and leave you with great educational materials and even hands for the students," Watts wrote. "It is definitely worth your time to have them speak at your school!"

The website has recommendations from officials at Harpeth High School in Cheatham County, Vanleer Elementary School in Dickson County, Stewarts Creek Middle School in Rutherford County, West Wilson Middle School in Wilson County and Tuckers Crossroads School in Wilson County.

Focus on kids

Besides speaking about the dangers of drugs in schools, Marc Vallieres owns Life Center for a New Tomorrow LLC in Woodbury. It is "the only licensed facility of its kind in the U.S.A. that does not use psych drugs to help people," according to the LinkedIn profile of Marc Vallieres.

But in an email, Marc Vallieres said he does not talk about drugs prescribed for mental illnesses or his religion when he speaks to students.

"All I am trying to do is to reach the children before those drug dealers reach them," Marc Vallieres said. "I give information on street drugs and on the tremendous problem of abuse of prescription drugs, which you should be aware is out of control. The news should be that more people should get involved in educating children before the drug dealers educate them."

Contact Tom Wilemon at 615-726-5961 or on Twitter @TomWilemon.