OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — The Oklahoma State Department of Education is immediately requiring public school teachers to employ the Bible in their classroom.
A memo announcing the novel policy was sent to public school superintendents on Thursday.
“The Bible is an essential historical and cultural touchstone,” said State School Superintendent Ryan Walters. “Without a basic knowledge, Oklahoma students are unable to properly understand the founding of our country. That is why Oklahoma’s education standards require that the Bible be taught. This is not just an educational policy, but a critical step to ensure our students understand the core values and historical context of our country.”
The memo instructs schools to “incorporate the Bible, which contains the Ten Commandments, into the curriculum as a teaching aid.” The superintendent said the instruction is consistent with curriculum rules approved in May 2019 and all districts must adhere to them.
The novel directive takes effect immediately and “compliance with this rule is mandatory,” the memo states.
According to the Oklahoma Attorney General, the law already allows Bibles to be used in classrooms and teachers are permitted to employ them in teaching.
Critics called the move unconstitutional after Walters’ announcement on Thursday.
“Public schools are not Sunday schools. Oklahoma School Superintendent Ryan Walters has repeatedly made clear that he is unable to tell the difference and is unfit for office. His latest plan – to mandate the use of the Bible in Oklahoma’s public school curriculum – is a blatant, unconstitutional attempt to indoctrinate and religiously coerce public school students,” said Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
Another initiative to bring religion into Oklahoma classrooms was deemed unconstitutional this week, when the state Supreme Court halted public funding for religious charter schools.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled on the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board’s 3-2 vote last year to approve an application by the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma for the St. Isidore of Seville Virtual Charter School violates the Establishment Clause, which prohibits the government from making laws “affecting a state religion.” The ruling also says both the Oklahoma and U.S. constitutions and state law were violated.
“Under Oklahoma law, a charter school is a public school,” wrote Justice James Winchester, a judge appointed by former Republican Gov. Frank Keating, in the court’s majority opinion. “As such, a charter school must be non-sectarian.”
The state school superintendent’s announcement also comes one week after Louisiana became the first state to require the Ten Commandments to be posted in all public school classrooms.
The law requires a poster size copy of the Ten Commandments in “large, legible type” in all public classrooms – from kindergarten to public university.
Opponents questioned the constitutionality of the law and announced they would challenge it in court. Supporters said the measure was not only religious but also had historical significance. In the language of the law, the Ten Commandments are “foundational documents of our state and national government.”
The posters will be accompanied by a four-paragraph “context statement” describing how the Ten Commandments “have been an important part of the American public education system for nearly three centuries.” They must be displayed in classrooms by early 2025.
According to the law, no state funds should be used to implement the order. The posters should be financed through donations.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
