Oklahoma Mandates Bible and Ten Commandments in Schools Sparking Church-State Debate

Oklahoma’s State Superintendent Mandates Teaching the Bible and the Ten Commandments in Schools, Stirring Debate on Church-State Separation

In a bold and controversial move, Oklahoma’s state superintendent of public instruction, Ryan Walters, has announced that all schools in the state are required to teach the Bible and the Ten Commandments. This decision has reignited the long-standing conversation about the separation of church and state in the education system.

During a state board of education meeting, Walters introduced a new memo that mandates every teacher in every classroom to have a Bible present and incorporate teachings from it into their curriculum. He justified this decision by calling the Bible “one of the most foundational documents used for the constitution and the birth of our country.”

Walters emphasized the importance of teaching the Bible to provide students with a historical understanding of the country, western civilization, and the basis of the legal system. This move has sparked both support and criticism from various groups within the state.

Notably, Walters recently faced backlash for his involvement in the creation of a new religious charter school that was found unconstitutional by the Oklahoma supreme court. The court ruled that a charter school, being a public school, must be nonsectarian, highlighting the tension between religious education and state-funded institutions.

Furthermore, Walters’ controversial social media presence, where he has voiced opposition to “woke ideology,” has added fuel to the fire. His push for Christianity in the public education curriculum mirrors a larger trend across the country, with Louisiana recently passing a law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in all public school classrooms, sparking legal challenges.

As Oklahoma becomes a battleground for the role of religion in education, the debate over the boundaries between church and state continues to intensify, raising important questions about the balance between religious freedom and secular values in the public school system.