Oklahoma’s top education leader instructed public schools on Thursday to integrate the Bible into lessons for grades 5 through 12, marking the latest conservative initiative to include religious content in classrooms.
The directive immediately drew criticism from civil rights groups and advocates of the separation between church and state, who labeled it an abuse of authority and a breach of the U.S. Constitution.
Republican State Superintendent Ryan Walters issued the order statewide, stressing that compliance is mandatory and requiring “immediate and strict adherence.”
“The Bible serves as a crucial historical and cultural reference,” Walters stated. “Without a fundamental understanding of it, Oklahoma students cannot fully grasp the foundational aspects of our nation, which is why Oklahoma’s educational standards include provisions for its study.”
While Oklahoma law already permits the presence of Bibles in schools and allows teachers to utilize them for teaching purposes, the extent of Walters’ authority to mandate their curriculum inclusion remains uncertain.
Bibles are displayed in Miami (Dean Bane/Shutterstock)
State law stipulates that individual school districts retain exclusive decision-making power regarding instruction, curriculum, reading materials, and textbooks.
The head of Oklahoma’s Council on American-Islamic Relations voiced strong opposition to the directive, arguing it blatantly violates the Constitution’s Establishment Clause, which prohibits government endorsement of any religion.
“We vehemently oppose any requirement that religion be mandated or forcefully integrated into public school lesson plans in Oklahoma or anywhere else in the nation,” stated Adam Soltani in a released statement.
