Oklahoma’s Walters requires Bible, Ten Commandments taught as historic documents in classrooms

Oklahoma’s top education official announced Thursday that his department will require classrooms in specific grades to teach the Bible and Ten Commandments as “foundational documents” of Western Civilization. 

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters also told reporters that other foundational documents, such as the Mayflower Compact, would also be included in the new curriculum to highlight “conceptually what the founders [of the U.S.] believed.” 

The announcement comes after Walters sent a letter to school districts telling them that the biblical instruction is mandatory for grades 5-12 in the state, according to the Oklahoman.  

“The Bible is a necessary historical document, to teach our kids about the history of this country, to have a complete understanding of Western civilization, to have an understanding of the basis of our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,” said Walters in his announcement.   

In the letter to school district superintendents, Walters warned that strict compliance with the new curriculum provisions will be watched by the state, with districts required to report on how it monitors and implements the mandate. 

Critics worry the mandate could lead to unconstitutional religious instruction. 

“Walters is abusing the power of his public office to impose his religious beliefs on everyone else’s children,” said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, according to the Associated Press. 

“We adamantly oppose any requirements that religion be forcefully taught or required as a part of lesson plans in public schools, in Oklahoma, or anywhere else in the country,” added CAIR-OK’s executive director, Adam Soltani, according to the Oklahoman. 

The state’s teachers’ union was more nuanced in its reaction. 

“Teaching about the historical context of religion (and the Bible) is permissible; however, teaching religious doctrine is not permissible,” said the Oklahoma Education Association, according to Reuters.  

The union was also concerned that the mandate strips local control from school districts, reported Reuters.  

A spokesman for Oklahoma’s Attorney General, Getner Drummond, who recently sued a Catholic charter school to prevent it from getting state funding, noted that the Bible is already allowed in Oklahoma classrooms under the law. 

“Oklahoma law already explicitly allows Bibles in the classroom and enables teachers to use them in instruction,” the spokesperson said.  

In implementing the new standards, Walters is keeping his campaign pledge to fight back against “radical left” indoctrinators. 

Walters, a Republican, easily defeated Democrat Jena Nelson in the 2022 race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, 57% to 43%.  

His term runs until 2027.