The list of prominent schools in the Oklahoma school districts that have stated they would not change their curriculum has grown despite Republican State Superintendent Ryan Walters’ demand for it.
Less than a month before Oklahoma’s school districts started classes, the state superintendent offered instructions on how schools might implement his directive to teach the Bible in every classroom.
In late June, Republican State Superintendent Ryan Walters instructed school districts to incorporate the Bible “as an instructional support into the curriculum” for grades five through twelve. While civil rights organizations and several Democratic lawmakers have expressed dissatisfaction over the controversial mandate, Walters has claimed that the Bible is “foundational for education” and a “cornerstone of Western civilization.”
Walters’ guidelines outline how teachers should integrate the Bible into their lesson plans and teach it at various grade levels.
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In a memo to district superintendents, Walters stated, “Immediate and complete implementation of these guidelines for the 2024-2025 school year is required.” “This memorandum and the included standards must be provided to every teacher, as well as providing a physical copy of the Bible, the United States Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Ten Commandments as resources in every classroom in the school district. These documents are mandatory for the holistic education of students in Oklahoma.”
However, the number of large districts that stated they will not change their curriculum despite the directive has increased to at least eight.
According to the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office, state law already allows the teaching of the Bible in classrooms, but each district must decide whether to do so. Based on media comments and letters to patrons, the majority of districts that do not intend to implement the directive have relied on the principle of local control in determining curriculum selection.
The Center for Education Law has also issued a memorandum to Oklahoma school districts declaring Walters’ mandate invalid under state law. Earlier this year, the law successfully represented Edmond Public School in its case against Walters and the Oklahoma State Board of Education. In response to that challenge, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that the content of school libraries should be decided by the local school authority rather than the state board.
