Oklahoma’s Department of Education mandates Bible teachings in all classrooms, challenging U.S. Supreme Court rulings on state sponsorship of religion. Controversy surrounds Superintendent Ryan Walters’ directive amid constitutional concerns.
Oklahoma, Bollywood Fever: Oklahoma’s Department of Education has mandated that every teacher in the state have a Bible in their classroom and teach from it. This announcement on Thursday defies U.S. Supreme Court rulings that deem state sponsorship of religion unconstitutional.
Ryan Walters, Oklahoma’s superintendent of public instruction, announced the order during the Department of Education board meeting. He emphasized that special attention would be given to the Ten Commandments. “Every teacher, every classroom in the state will have a Bible in the classroom and will be teaching from the Bible to ensure that this historical understanding is there for every student in Oklahoma,” Walters stated.
Walters described the Bible, the holy scriptures of Judaism and Christianity, as one of the “foundational documents of Western civilization.” He noted that influential historical figures, including civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., referenced the text.
Both the Hebrew and Christian Bibles include the Jewish prophet Moses receiving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, while only the Christian Bible includes the New Testament. Walters, who is Christian, did not specify which version teachers must use, and his spokesperson declined to provide further details.
The Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment has been interpreted to prohibit the state from endorsing or establishing any particular religion. The Oklahoma Constitution further stipulates that public schools and the spending of public funds must be nonsectarian and not benefit “any sect, church, denomination, or system of religion.” This part of the state constitution was referenced two days before Walters’ announcement, when the Oklahoma Supreme Court struck down an effort in which Walters was involved to create the first taxpayer-funded religious charter school in the U.S.
Oklahoma’s main teachers’ labor union stated that Walters’ Bible mandate is unconstitutional and that state law allows school districts to decide which books are available in their classrooms. Teaching about the historical context of religion (and the Bible) is permissible; however, teaching religious doctrine is not permissible,” the Oklahoma Education Association said in a statement. “Public schools cannot indoctrinate students with a particular religious belief or religious curriculum.”
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