Oklahoma is revising its criteria for selecting Bibles to be placed in classrooms in response to criticism that it appeared to favor former President Trump. However, there are still districts in the state that are not complying with the mandate.
State Superintendent Ryan Walters has been preoccupied with another controversy surrounding the selection of Bibles for implementation, thus hindering his ability to follow through on his threats of consequences for non-compliance.
Lee Northcutt, superintendent of Caddo Public Schools, expressed that the majority of schools in his area are not following the mandate. He mentioned that some schools in far southeast Oklahoma are implementing it, but not because of the mandate. Instead, it is the school boards’ decision.
During the summer, Walters issued a set of guidelines that made it mandatory to include teachings about Christianity and the Bible in K-12 education. Schools that failed to adhere to these guidelines would face consequences.
When contacted for comment, Walters expressed his strong determination to utilize all available options in order to guarantee that students in Oklahoma receive the highest quality education.
But so far, none of those consequences have actually materialized.
Rob Miller, the superintendent of Bixby Public Schools, expressed his disagreement with the idea of enforcing masks in schools. He highlighted that there are no punishments or threats involved, and emphasized that the law does not grant the authority to enforce such measures. Miller stated that the decision to implement mask mandates should be made on a district-by-district basis.
On Friday, an interesting twist was reported by The Oklahoman. It was revealed that the state criteria for the Bibles were extremely specific. They required the Bibles to be the King James version, bound in leather or a leather-like material, and most surprisingly, include the U.S. Constitution, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the Declaration of Independence. Consequently, the only Bibles that met these qualifications were the ones endorsed by Trump.
The Oklahoma Department of Education’s request for proposals (RFP) was amended on Monday, following the aforementioned report. The amendment clarified that a publisher is not required to provide all the requested documents within a single book.
In a video on X, Walters expressed his belief that the left-wing media’s disdain for Donald Trump and the Bible is so strong that they are willing to resort to lying and any other means necessary to prevent this initiative from taking place.
Many superintendents in Oklahoma believe that Walters is attempting to introduce a Christian education into public schools, leading to a critical juncture in the ongoing dispute. Civil rights organizations are closely monitoring the situation in Oklahoma and other states that may consider implementing similar measures.
According to Miller, the Bible has its limitations in certain aspects. However, the idea of providing Bibles for every classroom raises questions about its practicality. Specifically, Miller wonders how a math teacher or a kindergarten teacher would make use of the Bible, particularly the New King James version, which may be too advanced for young elementary students. The applicability of such a Bible in an educational setting remains unclear.
Azhar Majeed, the director of Government Affairs at the Center for Inquiry (CFI), highlights that the state of Texas is currently advocating for a Bible-based curriculum in its public schools.
This initiative, which is currently in draft form and may be finalized in November, is being pushed by the State Board of Education. The aim is to incorporate Bible teachings and lessons into the K-5 public school settings.
The Center for Inquiry (CFI) has taken action by reaching out to public school districts in Texas, following a similar approach as their letters to schools in Oklahoma. Their aim is to encourage these districts to resist the state mandate. In addition, they are closely monitoring the situation to determine if this issue arises in other states as well.
Opponents in Oklahoma are closely monitoring the situation and are ready to take legal action if necessary. Although no lawsuits have been filed yet, many individuals are prepared to challenge the state’s actions.
Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, stated that they have received reports about smaller school districts and individual teachers implementing the Bible mandate, even in districts that have not officially implemented it.
Laser also mentioned that Walters has made threats of taking enforcement actions and penalizing school districts and teachers who do not enforce the Bible mandate. However, no specific enforcement actions, such as revoking teachers’ licenses, have been announced yet, leaving everyone in anticipation.
Laser emphasized the mission of their organization, stating, “Our primary goal is to safeguard the religious freedom of families in Oklahoma and across the nation. We are fully committed to taking any necessary measures to fulfill this mission.”