Oklahoma's top education official, Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, has mandated that all public schools in the state incorporate the Bible into their curricula. This directive, announced Thursday, requires that schools include the Bible and the Ten Commandments in teaching materials for students from grades five through twelve. Walters emphasized the Bible's influence on the nation's founding principles and the U.S. Constitution in a memo sent to all school districts, stressing that "immediate and strict compliance is expected."
"We'll be teaching from the Bible in the classroom to ensure that this historical understanding is there for every student in the state of Oklahoma," Walters stated at a State Board of Education meeting. He underscored the significance of the Bible as "one of the most foundational documents used for the Constitution and the birth of our country."
This move has ignited a firestorm of reactions. Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a civil liberties group, criticized the policy as "trampling the religious freedom of public school children and their families." Rachel Laser, the group's CEO, described Walters' mandate as "textbook Christian Nationalism," accusing him of using his office to impose personal religious beliefs on students.
The mandate comes amidst a broader push by Walters to integrate Christian values into state education policies. Recently, Governor Kevin Stitt approved regulations proposed by Walters that included provisions for prayer in schools and recognized a "Creator" in the state Education Department's foundational values. Despite these initiatives, Walters has faced opposition and controversy. Governor Stitt recently issued an executive order prohibiting state agencies from entering into sole-source contracts with marketing firms, a move seen as a response to Walters hiring a PR firm at $200 per hour to boost his national profile.
Furthermore, the Oklahoma Supreme Court this week struck down a state contract intended to fund the nation's first religious charter school, ruling it violated state and federal law. Walters condemned the court's decision as "sanctioned discrimination against Christians" and vowed to challenge the ruling. However, State Attorney General Gentner Drummond, a conservative Republican, lauded the decision as a "tremendous victory for religious liberty," highlighting the importance of preventing state sponsorship of any religion.
The directive to teach the Bible aligns with educational standards approved in May 2019, according to a news release from Walters' office. He insists that without understanding the Bible, students cannot properly grasp the foundation of American history and Western civilization.
The backlash from various organizations was swift. Interfaith Alliance, a national group advocating for religious freedoms, condemned the mandate as "blatant religious coercion." In a statement to CNN, the organization asserted that "true religious freedom means ensuring that no one religious group is allowed to impose their viewpoint on all Americans."
This directive follows closely on the heels of a similar law in Louisiana requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public classrooms, a measure that has already led to legal challenges. Walters' decision has sparked fears of similar legal battles in Oklahoma.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court's recent decision to block the establishment of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, the first publicly funded religious charter school in the country, underscores the contentious nature of blending religion and public education. Justice James R. Winchester, writing for the court, noted that as a public institution, a charter school must remain nonsectarian. The proposed Catholic school, intending to evangelize as part of its curriculum, was deemed in violation of this principle.
Walters has pledged to continue fighting for what he describes as greater educational choices for Oklahoma parents, promising to pursue avenues that allow religious teachings within the framework of public education. However, the American Civil Liberties Union and other advocates argue that charter schools must remain secular and inclusive, ensuring they serve all students regardless of religious background.
