OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — The Oklahoma State Department of Education is mandating public school teachers use the Bible in classrooms.
The public school superintendents were sent a memo on Thursday announcing the new rule.
“The Bible is an indispensable historical and cultural touchstone,” said State Superintendent Ryan Walters. “Without basic knowledge of it, Oklahoma students are unable to properly contextualize the foundation of our nation which is why Oklahoma educational standards provide for its instruction. This is not merely an educational directive but a crucial step in ensuring our students grasp the core values and historical context of our country.”
The news release states that “Walters requires Bible be taught in Oklahoma Classrooms” but the Memorandum sent to public school superintendents that language is not used.
Memo below:
Below is the news release.
Superintendent Walters says the directive is in alignment with curriculum rules approved in May 2019 and all districts must comply.
According to the Oklahoma Attorney General Oklahoma law already allows Bibles in the classroom and enables teachers to use them in instruction.
“Public schools are not Sunday schools. Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters has repeatedly made clear that he is incapable of distinguishing the difference and is unfit for office. His latest scheme – to mandate use of the Bible in Oklahoma public schools’ curriculum – is a transparent, unconstitutional effort to indoctrinate and religiously coerce public school students,”
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
“I, like most Oklahomans, want the best educational opportunities for my children. And yet, Oklahoma still cannot attract and keep enough qualified educators in our classrooms, and we continue to fall well below the regional average investment for public education. Add to those challenges the fact that teachers are already dealing with conflicting and confusing information about what they can and cannot teach.
“This new order does not provide solutions to the real problems facing our schools, and yet again, more taxpayer dollars that could have better supported our students and teachers will likely be diverted to address legal challenges.”
St. Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City.
This is a developing story.
