OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma’s top education official angered civil rights groups and others when he ordered public schools to immediately begin incorporating the Bible into lesson plans for students in grades 5 through 12.
Republican State Superintendent Ryan Walters said in a memo to school leaders across the state Thursday that the Bible is a cornerstone of Western civilization and that its use in classrooms is mandatory.
“It is essential that our children understand the Bible and its historical context,” says Walters.
Here are some things to know about Walters’ order, which requires schools to include the Bible as “instructional support in the curriculum.”
Could the Superintendent need Biblical instruction?
Walters said Thursday that Oklahoma law and academic standards are “crystal clear” that the Bible can be used to educate students in public schools. Indeed, Oklahoma’s social studies standards list several Bible stories, as well as other religious scriptures from Buddhism and Hinduism, as primary sources of instruction for students.
What is unclear is whether Walters can mandate the use of the Bible in classrooms. Oklahoma state law provides that individual school districts have the sole authority to determine curriculum, reading lists, instructional materials and textbooks.
Andy Fugitt, an attorney for the Oklahoma Center for Educational Law, said his organization has received numerous calls from districts asking for guidance on Walters’ order. Fugitt said the order is likely to be challenged in court by First Amendment groups who believe it violates the Establishment Clause, which prohibits the government from “establishing” a religion.
A school district could also challenge the order if they were threatened with punishment for non-compliance, Fugitt said, but Walters’ order did not suggest any form of repercussions for not complying.
Is Bible Order in Oklahoma Part of a National Trend?
Oklahoma’s directive is the latest example of conservative states targeting public schools: Louisiana has required them to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms, while other states are under pressure to teach the Bible and provide books and lessons about ban race, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Earlier this week, the Oklahoma Supreme Court blocked a state effort to create the nation’s first publicly funded religious charter school.
“It may well be that some of these developments are appropriate, but others go too far,” said Richard Garnett, a law professor and director of the Notre Dame Program on Church, State & Society.
“There have been times in the last few decades when people have gone too far in banning religion from the public sphere. The Supreme Court has told people that that is not what the First Amendment requires. Now you are seeing adjustments.”
How do people respond to the order?
Walters’ order immediately sparked outrage from civil rights groups and those committed to the separation of church and state.
The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation, which recently joined a coalition of groups suing Louisiana over its new Ten Commandments law, vowed to take action to prevent Walters from pushing the Bible into Oklahoma public schools.
“Walters’ concern should be that Oklahoma ranks 45th in education,” foundation co-chair Dan Barker said in a statement. “Maybe education would improve if Oklahoma’s superintendent of education spent his time promoting education, instead of religion.”
Bob Gragg is superintendent of Seminole Public Schools, a central Oklahoma district with about 1,400 students in kindergarten through grade 12.
Gragg says he reads the Bible every morning at his kitchen table, but he is also a strong supporter of the separation of church and state.
“With the separation, I believe the church and state will become stronger,” Gragg said. “(Walters) is on a slippery slope that, even if he is even remotely successful, will have serious consequences for our schools, churches, families, state and nation.”
___
Follow Sean Murphy at www.x.com/apseanmurphy
