State Superintendent Ryan Walters is now requiring that the Bible be taught in classrooms across the state of Oklahoma, in grades 5 through 12.
According to a press release from Walters’ office sent on June 27, the superintendent sent a memorandum to all school superintendents on implementing the Bible in their curriculum, effective immediately. The release said the directive aligns with the education standards approved on or about May 2019.
“The Bible is an indispensable historical and cultural touchstone,” said 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 State Department of Education also said they may supply teaching materials for the Bible as permissible.
Walters went further in an interview with NBC News on Friday, June 28, saying teachers who refuse to teach the Bible would face the same repercussions as those who refuse to teach about the Civil War. This could include losing their teaching license, which requires a vote by the Oklahoma State Board of Education.
The directive has already received pushback from some Oklahoma lawmakers.
In a separate release sent out on June 27, Sen. Carri Hicks from Oklahoma City said the state can’t attract and keep enough qualified educators and continues to fall below the regional average investment for public education. This is exacerbated by the fact that teachers are already dealing with conflicting and confusing information about what they can and can’t 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,” Hicks said.
On the other side, Sen. Dusty Deevers from Elgin commended Walters on June 28 in a press release.
“While the separation of Church and State is a good and Biblical principle, the separation of truth and state is not. The truth is that the Bible is fundamental to the society in which we live, which is one of many reasons it ought to be included in Oklahoma curriculum,” he said. “Groups like the Freedom From Religion Foundation and the ACLU are not fighting for ‘neutrality.’ They are fighting for state-sponsored Atheism to the exclusion of America and Oklahoma’s Christian roots. That is what is truly unconstitutional.”
In Lincoln County, Chandler Superintendent Scott Baade said more direction is needed on how schools should comply with the new directive.
“We don’t have enough guidance yet, and I foresee it being challenged in a court. And, you know, our accreditation is based on State Department regulations and once we get guidance, then we’ll see what we have to do to comply,” Baade said.
Agra Superintendent Jeff Kelly expressed support. “As a superintendent and ordained minister, I love it! It is my firmly held belief that since prayer and Bible reading were taken out of our schools, our nation has become more dangerous and less free,” he said.
Other superintendents in Lincoln County were contacted for comment but did not respond before deadline. Teachers in the area were hesitant to discuss the order on the record.