As students head back to school this fall in Oklahoma, many school districts have chosen to fight back against the Bible lessons mandate ordered this summer by state Superintendent Ryan Walters.
Though Walters has stated that this mandate is required and mandatory, schools have chosen to disregard the order to teach lessons from the Bible in their classrooms, potentially signaling a battle ahead.
Teaching From the Bible in Public School Classrooms
This summer, Walters released a mandate ordering all public schools in Oklahoma to incorporate lessons from the Bible into regular school lessons.
This mandate orders schools to teach these Bible lessons in all public schools, from grades 5 through 12.
Oklahoma Schools Fight Back
Various large school districts throughout the state have chosen to disregard this Bible lesson mandate.
Instead, the schools are opening up to welcome students back to class — and not offering any Bible lessons in the classroom. Many of these districts have publicly stated they will not comply with Walters’ mandate, as well.
Pure Indoctrination
Oklahoma’s Bixby school district, located in a Tulsa suburb, is one large school district that has refused to teach Bible lessons in their classes. Bixby Superintendent Rob Miller has stated that this order feels like indoctrination.
Miller stated, “If there is no curricular standard that ties with that particular classroom, what would be the purpose of a Bible if not for pure indoctrination?”
Allowing Bibles vs Ordering Bible Lessons
Miller explained that students can carry around their Bibles themselves if they want — and many do, choosing to start their school day with their Bible and a prayer.
Miller sees nothing wrong with this. What he disagrees with is forcing public school classrooms to teach lessons from the Bible to all students.
Bibles in School Libraries
Miller also pointed out that there are two copies of the Bible in the high school library that students can check out if they’d like.
Nonfiction books, such as “The History of the Bible”, are also available for students interested in learning more.
Bible Lessons Don’t Make Sense
For Miller, having Bibles in libraries for interested students makes sense. What doesn’t make sense to him is ordering Bible lessons to be taught in math class.
As a result, Bixby schools are refusing to follow Oklahoma’s mandate — and it doesn’t appear that this large school district will be swayed in any way.
Mandate Offends Christians
Many Christians in Oklahoma have been offended by this mandate, as they don’t believe public schools should be the ones teaching their children about religion.
Miller explained, “As a Christian myself, I am a little offended by diminishing the word of God to a mere classroom prop.”
Walters Fights Back
Now that many Oklahoma schools have refused to follow his mandate — which they say he cannot legally enforce — Walters has subsequently called them out and threatened repercussions.
“These are the districts that want pornography in front of kids under the name of inclusivity, but don’t want the historical context of the Bible,” Walters said, referencing the failed attempt to ban school districts from having the books “The Kite Runner” and “The Glass Castle” on library shelves.
Christian Leaders Also Don’t Like Mandate
Many Christian leaders within the state also disagree with Walters’ mandate. Grant Sullivan, a diner owner who delivers sermons at his church every Sunday, has questioned this school order.
“Have we thought this through?” questioned Sullivan. “What if you happen to have an atheistic teacher? Are they going to teach it in a way that may be more problematic than helpful? It just feels like that’s for the home and the church is how I feel about that.”
Schools May Face Repercussions
Earlier this year, Walters and his allies have insinuated that public schools that do not follow this mandate — and do not teach from the Bible — will face repercussions.
Now that many large school districts have chosen to disregard this mandate, a battle between the superintendent and various schools may be in the near future.
A Push for More Religion in the Classroom
Oklahoma’s Bible lessons mandate comes as an increasing amount of Republican-led states try to push more religion in public school classrooms.
Most notably, Louisiana has passed a law ordering all public school classrooms to have a Ten Commandments poster hanging up — something that critics say violates their constitutional rights.
