Oklahoma’s state Superintendent, Ryan Walters, has mandated the inclusion of the Bible in public school lessons, setting off a contentious debate over religion in American classrooms.
The directive, described as compulsory with immediate enforcement, applies to students aged 11-18 in all public schools.
This move follows Louisiana’s recent legislation requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools statewide.
Walters justified the Bible’s inclusion, calling it “an indispensable historical and cultural touchstone” essential for understanding the nation’s foundation, according to a statement released Thursday.
Walters, elected in 2022 with a platform opposing “woke ideology,” has faced criticism from civil rights groups and advocates for the separation of church and state.
Rachel Laser from Americans United for Separation of Church and State criticized the directive, stating, “Public schools are not Sunday schools,” and condemning it as “textbook Christian Nationalism.”
Defending his stance, Walters has argued against what he perceives as secularism dominating public discourse, accusing critics of promoting anti-education values.
The Interfaith Alliance, an organization advocating religious freedoms, labeled Walters’ directive as “blatant religious coercion,” asserting that true religious freedom ensures no single viewpoint dominates public education.
The directive in Oklahoma echoes recent controversies over religious displays in schools, including legal challenges invoking the First Amendment’s protection of religious freedom.
The Supreme Court’s 1980 ruling in Stone v. Graham, striking down a Kentucky law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in schools, has been cited as precedent in similar cases.
The legal and cultural ramifications of Oklahoma’s directive are anticipated to fuel ongoing debates over the role of religion in public education across the United States.
Source-BBC
