Controversy Erupts as Oklahoma Orders Bible Integration in Public School Curriculum
On Thursday, Oklahoma’s State Superintendent Ryan Walters issued a directive mandating public schools to incorporate the Bible into lessons for grades 5 through 12. This move has ignited strong reactions from civil rights groups and advocates of the separation of church and state, who view it as an overreach of authority and a violation of constitutional principles.
Walters defended the directive, emphasizing the Bible’s significance as a historical and cultural cornerstone essential for students to understand the nation’s foundation. He stated, “The Bible is an indispensable historical and cultural touchstone. 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.”
However, critics argue that while Oklahoma law permits the use of Bibles in classrooms and grants teachers the discretion to incorporate them into instruction, Walters may not have the authority to mandate its inclusion. State law typically reserves decisions on curriculum and instructional materials to individual school districts.
The directive has sparked widespread condemnation, particularly from groups like the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Adam Soltani of CAIR Oklahoma condemned the directive as a violation of the Constitution’s Establishment Clause, asserting, “Public schools are not Sunday schools.”
Rachel Laser, CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, criticized the move as an imposition of Christian nationalism, stating, “Walters is abusing the power of his public office to impose his religious beliefs on everyone else’s children. Not on our watch.”
This directive is part of broader efforts in conservative-led states to influence public school curricula, including mandates to display the Ten Commandments and initiatives against teaching certain topics related to race, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Recently, the Oklahoma Supreme Court blocked a move to establish the first publicly funded religious charter school in the country, highlighting ongoing debates over the role of religion in public education.
