Oklahoma’s top education official announced last week that schools will be required to teach the Bible and have a copy in every classroom. Critics say the move is unconstitutional.
Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters joined PBS News' Stephanie Sy to discuss his directive, which states that "effective immediately, all Oklahoma schools are required to incorporate the Bible, which includes the Ten Commandments, as an instructional support." The directive pertained to grades five through 12 and said schools were also instructed to refer to the Bible and the Ten Commandments for their “substantial influence on our nation’s founders and the foundational principles of our Constitution.”
The move comes a week after the state of Louisiana instituted a new law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public schools.
Walters argued that the Bible serves as an "indispensable historical and cultural touchstone" essential for a comprehensive education.
Some lawmakers and interest groups quickly criticized the decision. Americans United for the Separation of Church and State accused Walters of attempting to coerce and indoctrinate students.
“This is about claiming the Christian nationalist myth that America is a Christian country,” said Rachel Laser, CEO for Americans United for Separation of Church and State. “This is also about preaching and not teaching, because when Ryan Walters announced the policy, he made clear that he was requiring teachers to have the Bible in every classroom and, quote, ‘to teach from it.’ That's not education, that's indoctrination, and it's unconstitutional.”
When Walters was asked if he believed his directive would hold up in court, Walters said he believed it would.
“We feel very confident in President Trump's nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court,” he said. “If we get sued and we get challenged, we will be victorious because the Supreme Court justices he appointed actually are originalists to look at the Constitution and not what some left-wing professor said about the Constitution.”
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