Oklahoma schools chief orders Bible taught in class

Oklahoma ranks nationally as 49th in education

(Image credit: plherrera / E+ via Getty Images)

published 28 June 2024

What happened

Oklahoma's top education official, Superintendent Ryan Walters (R), said Thursday that all public schools will have to incorporate the Bible in lessons for grades five through 12, and "immediate and strict compliance is expected."

“The Bible is an indispensable historical and cultural touchstone," Walters said in a statement. "Without basic knowledge of it, Oklahoma students are unable to properly contextualize the foundation of our nation."

"Requiring a Bible in every classroom does not improve Oklahoma's ranking of 49th in education," countered state Rep. Mickey Dollens (D). Walters "should focus on educating students, not evangelizing them." Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which sued Louisiana this week for requiring display of the Ten Commandments in public classrooms, said Walters' directive was "textbook Christian Nationalism" that similarly violates the Constitution's Establishment Clause.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.