All Oklahoma schools have been ordered to integrate the Bible and the Ten Commandments into their curriculums, effective immediately. This announcement came from the state’s chief education officer, Ryan Walters, in a memorandum issued on Thursday, June 27.
Emphasis on historical significance
In his memorandum, Walters highlighted the historical significance of the Bible and the Ten Commandments, noting their profound influence on Western civilization and the U.S. Constitution. The directive mandates their inclusion in the curriculum for grades 5-12, specifically for the study of history, ethics, and comparative religion. “This is not just an educational order but an important step in ensuring our students grasp the core values and historical context of our country,” the memo stated.
School superintendents were informed that further details would be provided regarding the monitoring of this directive for the 2024-25 school year. The Education Department has offered to assist by providing relevant materials on the subject.
Immediate criticism
Walters’ directive was swiftly criticized by opponents who viewed it as an attempt to blur the separation between church and state. Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, condemned the order, stating, “Public schools are not Sunday schools. Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters has repeatedly made clear that he is incompetent in distinguishing the difference and is unfit for office. His latest idea — to mandate use of the Bible in Oklahoma public schools’ curriculum — is a clear, unconstitutional effort to indoctrinate and religiously force public school students.”
Broader context
This directive follows closely on the heels of a controversial law signed by Louisiana’s governor, requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments, a move that has already sparked legal challenges from civil liberties organizations, including Laser’s. Additionally, just days prior, the Oklahoma state Supreme Court struck down the nation’s first religious charter school as unconstitutional, a decision that also drew criticism from Walters. The introduction of this new educational mandate in Oklahoma adds to the ongoing national debate about the role of religion in public schools and the interpretation of the constitutional separation of church and state.