In a surprising turn of events, Oklahoma has made headlines with a bold request from Ryan Walters, the state’s superintendent of public instruction. He has mandated that every public school classroom in Oklahoma be equipped with a Bible, leading to a call for 55,000 copies to be distributed across the state. This initiative has sparked a debate about the role of religion in public education, as well as the implications of such a mandate in a state where many already have Bibles at home.
Walters’ plan comes with a hefty price tag of over $3 million, raising questions about the funding and the purpose of these Bibles. Critics argue that this move is not just a push for religious education but also a step towards intertwining politics and religion, especially given Walters’ apparent alignment with former President Donald Trump. As discussions unfold, many are left wondering what this means for the future of public education in Oklahoma.
In this article, we will explore the motivations behind this request, the implications for Oklahoma's public schools, and the broader conversation surrounding religion in education. Join us as we unpack the layers of this controversial issue and its potential impact on students and educators alike.
What You Will Learn
- The specifics of Ryan Walters' plan to mandate Bibles in Oklahoma schools.
- The financial implications and how funding is being allocated for this initiative.
- The potential impact of this mandate on students' education and the separation of church and state.
- Reactions from various stakeholders, including educators, parents, and religious leaders.
Who knew? Oklahoma needs Bibles.
Lots of them. Like 55,000. That’s the scale of the request issued by Ryan Walters, superintendent of public instruction for Oklahoma. Walters earlier mandated that every public school classroom in the state be equipped with a Bible and that the Bible be taught in those classrooms.
I suspect that the citizens of Oklahoma, located squarely in the Bible Belt, might have a Bible or two lying around that could be contributed to the cause. When I wrote about what was then called the Christian Booksellers Assn. several decades ago, I learned that many Christian families had as many as a dozen Bibles on their bookshelves, so I imagine that the good Christian folks in Enid or Tahlequah or Stillwater could send a few to school and save the taxpayers some money.
But Walters has other ideas. His original plan asked the Legislature for more than $3 million to purchase 55,000 B
