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114
“Public Schools Are Not Sunday Schools”: Controversy Erupts As Oklahoma Forces Schools To Teach The Bible
Public schools across Oklahoma are about to shake up their curriculums by incorporating the Bible, calling it a “necessary historical document.”
Schools in the state are expected to comply “immediately” with the official order, according to an announcement from Republican State Superintendent Ryan Walters.
As per the directive, all schools have been ordered to keep a Bible in every single classroom from grades 5 through 12, and all teachers are expected to teach from the ancient scripture as well.
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Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters has ordered schools to integrate the Bible into their curriculum
Image credits: StockSnap via Pixabay
“There is a critical need to study the Bible and the Ten Commandments in Oklahoma’s classrooms,” Ryan told the Washington Examiner. “Our country’s founding and Western civilization has used the Bible as a source document. It will be in every classroom. Immediate and strict compliance is expected in every school.”
The Oklahoma superintendent, a former public school teacher who took up his post in 2022, shared his announcement on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“The Bible is a necessary historical document to teach our kids about the history of this country, to have a complete understanding of Western civilization, to have an understanding of the basis of our legal system,” he said in the clip.
“Every teacher, every classroom in the state, will have a Bible in the classroom, and will be teaching from the Bible,” said the former public school teacher
Final point – Oklahoma is almost last in academic rankings – 48th in Education Weekly’s Quality Counts. Oklahoma’s performance has fallen dramatically since 2011, when the state ranked 17th.
How about focusing on getting kids a better education and then they can decide their…
— judy shapiro (@judyshapiro) June 27, 2024
Calling the Bible “an indispensable historical and cultural touchstone,” he claimed that students need a basic understanding of the text to “grasp the core values and historical context” of the country.
“The Bible is an indispensable historical and cultural touchstone,” he said. “Without basic knowledge of it, Oklahoma students are unable to properly contextualize the foundation of our nation. This is not merely an educational directive but a crucial step in ensuring our students grasp the core values and historical context of our country.”
The announcement sparked immense backlash, with many questioning teaching standards and religious neutrality
This is absolute horseshit.
Christians…please demonstrate Jesus through your actions, or STFU. Keep the religious dogma to yourselves.
Oklahoma state superintendent orders schools to teach the Bible in grades 5 through 12 https://t.co/MEg4HdpBSG
— Jacob Momona (@stravingus) June 27, 2024
As a Christian, I disapprove of mandating the Bible in Oklahoma school curriculums. Faith is personal and should not be enforced through public education. Education should be inclusive and respect all beliefs. #SeparationOfChurchAndState#ReligiousFreedomhttps://t.co/PUEM3LbeWx
— Jordan M. Jefferson (@PlanetJordanTv) June 27, 2024
The announcement triggered an uproar, with several organizations and groups asking for a clear separation between church and state.
“This is blatant religious coercion that should have absolutely no place in public schools – in Oklahoma or any other state,” Interfaith Alliance told CNN.
The organization, which seeks to protect religious freedoms, also said: “True religious freedom means ensuring that no one religious group is allowed to impose their viewpoint on all Americans. The vast majority of people of faith in this country reject these dangerous, intimidating efforts to force a Christian nationalist agenda into our schools, our courts and our government.”
Ryan Walters was accused of “abusing the power of his public office to impose his religious beliefs on everyone else’s children”
Oklahoma is ridiculous.
Our state superintendent announced all Oklahoma schools are now REQUIRED to incorporate the Bible.
If I didn’t have a 5 year grant, I would leave NOW. The state of our education is awful and just getting worse.
— Lauren 🍉 (@OkieRezKid) June 27, 2024
Christian Nationalists are unrelenting in their efforts to impose themselves on all aspects of our lives. What made America great wasn’t the Bible, it was the separation of church & state.
“Oklahoma Requires Public Schools to Teach the Bible” https://t.co/t5Vr7ejGQs
— James J. Zogby (@jjz1600) June 27, 2024
“Public schools are not Sunday schools. This is textbook Christian Nationalism: Walters is abusing the power of his public office to impose his religious beliefs on everyone else’s children. Not on our watch,” said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, as quoted by CBS News.
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What do you think ?
PeTeH 1 year ago
If you think the bible is a historical document, you shouldn't be anywhere near education...
LooseSeal's $10 Banana 1 year ago
I'd say it's history in the same way that the myths and origin stories of other people groups are history. As long as you're not reading them in order to know exactly what happened but in order to better understand how they see themselves and how they understand their own history, the Bible is perfectly useful in education. Unfortunately, I don't imagine that that's what Oklahoma has in mind.
Load More Replies...
Libstak 1 year ago
Christ, I went to a catholic school and you know what we learnt in religious education studies? Meditation, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, and any many other religious groups....even back in the late 70s and early 80s catholicalism had enough sense to be inclusive, this is dangerous and totalitarian thinking he is imposing on a society that specifically has a mandate to separate church and state no less.
BWC 1 year ago
Studying world religions in 11th grade (catholic school) is what cemented my agnosticism and led to my atheism.
Load More Replies...
Foxxy says Hello 1 year ago
There is no place for religion in politics and public education. It's a personal belief system. If your going to teach religion at public schools, then you should teach all religions.
LokisLilButterknife 1 year ago
This is absolutely terrifying and I'm truly worried about the United States come the presidential election in November of this year. What ever happened to the separation of church and state? More and more rights are being rolled back in the U.S. due to the hyper conversative Christians who only care about protecting their ignorant bubble. I feel like the U.S. is going to become Gilead if people don't continue to speak up and fight back against this.
Tamra 1 year ago
Well, after the absolute $hit show that was the presidential debate, coupled with the rollback of women's rights and now this religious bull$hit... let's just say I'm making sure my passport is up to date.
Load More Replies... Bexxxx 1 year ago
If it were any other religion besides Christianity being forced on kids in schools, the Christian’s would go nuts - so why do they think it’s ok to do this to us?!
VisualHowlaroundTitleSequence 1 year ago
They want to hurt the people they hate.
Load More Replies...
Ace 1 year ago
When I was at school in the UK we had compulsory RE up until aged 14 or so, class was taken by a Christian cleric, but even back then, 50 years ago, the class had to include teaching about the basics of other religions and philosophies, and indeed was as much a sociology (not a recognised school subject at that time) lesson as anything else.
Cat Chat 1 year ago
That was my thought. Unless they are providing scriptures of every religion, then The Bible doesn't belong in a public school. Plus, even if you do that, you ONLY have them available for when a student is interested in learning about the world's different religions. They should not be part of the curriculum. It's a parenting choice, really, and should be taught at home and/or at a religion of the family's choice. Our government saw fit to keep church and state separate for a reason.
Load More Replies...
Bec 1 year ago
As a teacher I would teach it, like the part where if your husband dies you have to marry his brother. Being left handed is a sin. With a little research I am sure I could find lots of others, or how about, " Love others as i have loved you, protect my flock until i come again, peace be upon you all.”
WindySwede 1 year ago
Never use two different materials for clothing? Never sow two different crops together? Never sit on the same chair as a menstruating women have sat on? Et cetera? 🤫🤯
Load More Replies...
PeTeH 1 year ago
If you think the bible is a historical document, you shouldn't be anywhere near education...
LooseSeal's $10 Banana 1 year ago
I'd say it's history in the same way that the myths and origin stories of other people groups are history. As long as you're not reading them in order to know exactly what happened but in order to better understand how they see themselves and how they understand their own history, the Bible is perfectly useful in education. Unfortunately, I don't imagine that that's what Oklahoma has in mind.
Load More Replies... Libstak 1 year ago
Christ, I went to a catholic school and you know what we learnt in religious education studies? Meditation, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, and any many other religious groups....even back in the late 70s and early 80s catholicalism had enough sense to be inclusive, this is dangerous and totalitarian thinking he is imposing on a society that specifically has a mandate to separate church and state no less.
BWC 1 year ago
Studying world religions in 11th grade (catholic school) is what cemented my agnosticism and led to my atheism.
Load More Replies... Foxxy says Hello 1 year ago
There is no place for religion in politics and public education. It's a personal belief system. If your going to teach religion at public schools, then you should teach all religions.
LokisLilButterknife 1 year ago
This is absolutely terrifying and I'm truly worried about the United States come the presidential election in November of this year. What ever happened to the separation of church and state? More and more rights are being rolled back in the U.S. due to the hyper conversative Christians who only care about protecting their ignorant bubble. I feel like the U.S. is going to become Gilead if people don't continue to speak up and fight back against this.
Tamra 1 year ago
Well, after the absolute $hit show that was the presidential debate, coupled with the rollback of women's rights and now this religious bull$hit... let's just say I'm making sure my passport is up to date.
Load More Replies... Bexxxx 1 year ago
If it were any other religion besides Christianity being forced on kids in schools, the Christian’s would go nuts - so why do they think it’s ok to do this to us?!
VisualHowlaroundTitleSequence 1 year ago
They want to hurt the people they hate.
Load More Replies... Ace 1 year ago
When I was at school in the UK we had compulsory RE up until aged 14 or so, class was taken by a Christian cleric, but even back then, 50 years ago, the class had to include teaching about the basics of other religions and philosophies, and indeed was as much a sociology (not a recognised school subject at that time) lesson as anything else.
Cat Chat 1 year ago
That was my thought. Unless they are providing scriptures of every religion, then The Bible doesn't belong in a public school. Plus, even if you do that, you ONLY have them available for when a student is interested in learning about the world's different religions. They should not be part of the curriculum. It's a parenting choice, really, and should be taught at home and/or at a religion of the family's choice. Our government saw fit to keep church and state separate for a reason.
Load More Replies... Bec 1 year ago
As a teacher I would teach it, like the part where if your husband dies you have to marry his brother. Being left handed is a sin. With a little research I am sure I could find lots of others, or how about, " Love others as i have loved you, protect my flock until i come again, peace be upon you all.”
WindySwede 1 year ago
Never use two different materials for clothing? Never sow two different crops together? Never sit on the same chair as a menstruating women have sat on? Et cetera? 🤫🤯
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