Oklahoma’s public schools are set to receive Bibles in classrooms, sparking legal challenges and constitutional debates.
At a Glance
- Oklahoma allocates $6 million for Bibles in public school classrooms
- State Superintendent Ryan Walters leads initiative to use Bible as educational resource
- Civil rights groups and parents file lawsuit citing constitutional violations
- New Office of Religious Liberty and Patriotism established to protect religious freedoms in schools
- Initiative aligns with former President Trump’s educational stance
Oklahoma’s Bible Initiative Sparks Controversy
Oklahoma’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ryan Walters, has launched a bold initiative to place Bibles in public school classrooms across the state. The plan, which allocates $6 million in state funds for Bible purchases, aims to use the sacred text as a resource for understanding historical and cultural contexts in American education.
Walters argues that the Bible is a foundational document in U.S. history, alongside the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. He contends that understanding the Bible’s impact on the nation was commonplace in American education until the 1960s, and its removal has coincided with a decline in educational standards.
Oklahoma Legal Battles To Allow Bibles In Schoolshttps://t.co/FeoGba4GUJ
— The 700 Club (@700club) October 22, 2024
Legal Challenges and Constitutional Concerns
The initiative has faced significant backlash and legal challenges. Four civil rights groups have requested records from the Oklahoma State Department of Education regarding Bible expenditures, citing concerns over the separation of church and state. Critics argue that using public funds for religious instruction violates constitutional principles and could promote harmful messages.
“Oklahoma taxpayers should not be forced to bankroll Superintendent Walters’ Christian nationalist agenda,” said Rachel Laser, president of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
A lawsuit filed by Oklahoma parents, teachers, and ministers aims to stop the state’s education official from mandating Bible incorporation in public school lesson plans for grades 5-12. The suit claims the mandate violates the Oklahoma Constitution by using public funds to support religion and favoring a Protestant Bible version.
Superintendent Walters Defends the Initiative
Despite the opposition, Superintendent Walters remains steadfast in his commitment to the Bible initiative. He has established the Office of Religious Liberty and Patriotism to protect constitutional rights related to religion in schools, aligning his agenda with former President Trump’s “Freedom to Pray” initiative and “Ten Principles for Great Schools Leading to Great Jobs” from Agenda 47.
“I will take every step possible to ensure Oklahoma students have the resources they need to fully understand American history. We are not going to change our history, and the Bible is a major part of that,” State Superintendent Ryan Walters said.
Walters’ platform includes fighting “woke ideology,” banning certain books, and removing what he terms “radical leftists” from schools. He has vowed to “never back down to the woke mob” and continues to push for the Bible’s inclusion in classrooms as a vital educational resource.
