EXCLUSIVE — Oklahoma 's top education official sent a letter to all school districts on Thursday directing them to incorporate the Bible into curriculum for grades 5 through 12.
The directive, obtained exclusively by the Washington Examiner, requires immediate compliance from the school districts and notes that guidance and teaching materials from the state Department of Education will soon be provided.
“There is a critical need to study the Bible and the Ten Commandments in Oklahoma’s classrooms," Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters 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 letter noted that the Bible is the "cornerstone of Western civilization," and has been foundational in history, civilization, ethical standards, and the American founding and Constitution.
"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 letter stated.
The move from Walters comes after the Oklahoma Supreme Court struck down what would have become the first-in-the-nation use of public funds for a private religious charter school. The court said funding for St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School is not permitted because the school is Catholic.
“It’s my firm belief that once again, the Oklahoma Supreme Court got it wrong," Walters said. "The words ‘separation of church and state’ do not appear in our Constitution, and it is outrageous that the Oklahoma Supreme Court misunderstood key cases involving the First Amendment and sanctioned discrimination against Christians based solely on their faith. Oklahomans have demanded school choice not religious targeting."
Walters also noted that, looking at the enrollment demand alone for St. Isidore's, parents in Oklahoma are seeking more alternatives to traditional schooling.
"This ruling cannot and must not stand," he said. "There will be additional legal action in support of those parents and the millions of Oklahomans who believe deeply in religious liberty, and I will never stop fighting for Oklahomans’ constitutional, God-given right to express their religious belief.”
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Oklahoma's directive on the Bible and Ten Commandments also comes as Louisiana enacted a law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in every publicly funded K-12 and college classroom. As of this week, that law is being challenged in court.
Neighboring Texas also recently published new reading standards that incorporate references to the Bible. They are awaiting approval in November.
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