Oklahoma State Superintendent of Schools

State Superintendent Ryan Walters wants all schools in Oklahoma to teach the Bible.

Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters orders Bible taught in …

Walters is a good guy IMO, however, in this instance he is wrong. First, it is unconstitutional to teach just the Bible, because that would equate to State Sponsored Religion. Second, and IMO, the most important thing is Members of the Teachers Union would be doing the teaching.

I don't know about you, but I would NEVER want those Educators teaching the Bible and the meaning of Scripture. Never!

(excerpt)

Oklahoma will require schools to teach the Bible and have a copy in every classroom, the state’s top education official announced Thursday.

Effective immediately, Oklahoma schools are required to incorporate the Bible as part of the curricula in grades five through 12, according to a memo Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters sent to all school districts. Schools are 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.”


“Immediate and strict compliance is expected,” the memo noted.

Most of the School Districts are refusing to comply, and lawsuits have already been filed to rescind this Order. It will never hold up in Court. If it did, it would open the door for all other Religions to demand their beliefs be taught as well.

I agree, it's a horrible idea. Kids need to learn the Bible but not in public schools. And it seems like what Walters has in mind is Christian nationalism, not Christianity.

I have a terrible feeling that a whole lot of people with good intentions are going to get behind this bad idea.

I'm really big on learning from other people's mistakes, and I wish other people could get the hang of it too. This mistake has been made before, and if it ever ended well I don't know about it.

If you love your children, you don't send them to public school.

If you're a christian, you will answer to God for letting the enemy raise your children.

Parents send their children to public schools for the same reason they abort them. It's a sacrifice on the altar of convenience, self centeredness and even greed.

If you think you can't afford to make it on one income, you are not trusting God for your provision.

If your children spend more time with strangers than with you, you have neglected your children.

If you think you can impart your morals, your values, your faith, to your children when you send them off to the satanic indoctrination camp every morning, you are terribly deceived.

Bad company corrupts good morals.
How many of those teachers, how many of those students share your values, your faith?

Teaching the bible in public school is a tender notion, but we all know it won't happen.

Exactly, any other 'religion' incl Satanism, would demand equal rights. These Supers are not thinking it through and it doesn't make them look too bright.
Also, if Christian parents raise their children with praying together, good moral examples and Sunday 'School, they'd be little lights of Truth and compassion to other school kids and could sense bad from good. What a challenge that would be for them.

I dunno... Our pastor's son went through public school, is now in college, and has been heading up a wonderful outreach that has brought a lot of people into church. Even though he's not my son, I'm proud of him!

If we kept our kids out of public school, who would reach the other kids there? Who would reach out and who would minister to the kids that our pastor's son has been bringing to church?

By the way, how many kids are you homeschooling or enrolling in private school?

But that's basically the same logic that worldly people use to hate on homeschooling parents- "Oh, how are your children going to socialize!?!?" As if the only place they could possibly go to socialize is school.

So, the answer to the question "oh, how are we going to reach them" is the same answer. People go places that aren't school. Nobody has to "reach into" the school, any more than you have to go into a strip-club and "reach" the strippers there. IDK about you; but I was never "reached for" in public school (and I went to a lot of them)... it was just a cesspool of sin and trash, and astounding ignorance... drug abuse etc. I have never in my life heard of some child-evangelist saving scores of children in a public school. I'm not saying it can't happen; but that's not the norm.

It depends on what this means... if they are merely "referring" to the bible and the 10 Commandments in the historical context of the formation of the US; that's fine- in fact, leaving it out the facts of it's historical significance is dereliction of duty.

"teaching the bible" as in attempting to do the role of the church... no. Absolutely not the role of the civil government and it should be resisted everywhere.

i think you are correct. many negative outcomes could come from this..

I don't think it's wise for Christian parents to turn their children over to heathens to teach them the Word of God. They are not qualified, to put it mildly.

However, on the other hand, the early American community schools used the Bible as their primary text. Later the curriculum expanded to include the primers/ text books like the McGuffey Readers. Many of those had Bible principles and verses.

I'm not sure how the separation clause would apply in regards to reading the Bible in schools. As long as it's not imposing a denomination on the students, like requiring them to participate in sacraments or something simiar.

That's a fair question.

My eldest was reading books, real books, before he turned five. He did not attend public school till the third grade. They wanted to put him in fifth grade but I kept him with kids his own age. I should have put him in the fifth. After a ten year stint in the Navy, in which time he received degrees in both Spanish and Chinese, he is now at university working on his masters in bio chemical engineering.

His four younger siblings all attended public school. They are all pretty bright, but none of them have come close to the achievements of their older brother.

None of my children would have ever attended public school if not for the divorce.

So yes, I did my best to put my money where my mouth is, but life happens.

I do not judge those whose circumstances prevent home schooling. But for most it's simply a choice between having paid daycare to support their desired lifestyle, or tightening their belts and trusting God.

As a teacher I think it's a great idea... for multiple reasons.

1. Obviously inviting God into the schools. Let's see if the school violence goes down.

2. It promotes unity and addresses the ideas of the founding fathers. I guarantee it will increase scores and make history more understandable for kids. BCE before common Era BS that no child and barely any adults understand.

3. It teaches morales and curiosity about the spiritual. Again it helps with understanding a lot of books and references to them.

4. It will keep the rainbow flags out.

All of that being said I don't think it will last and the lawsuits will be through the roof. But it is enjoyable watching the snakes slither about it. 🐍 😆

It's going to be taught by people who, themselves, don't believe in it or understand it. Therefore what's taught will be according to their judgemental.
And likely if forced against their will to teach it (which is problematic right there) rather than rainbow flags disappearing many will simply use the lgbtq version of the bible. Or whatever other bizarre version they prefer.
Also there's nothing to stop the teachers from vocalizing their disagreements with the bible, to their students. Or even using that time to refute the bible.
And that's not even including all the parents who will be bothered by it and may take a more active role in countering those teachings at home, as well.
Forcing religious ideals on people has never worked. And forcing those who are actively opposed to those ideals, to teach them, will only work that much less.

I was a child when it became forbidden to allow prayers in schools. As a childd, I knew that if I want to talk to my heavenly Maker, I could do so any time and anywhere I was moved to do so. So what is the constitution going to do to a child_ Nothing at all. If any here think when and where we pray can be legislated by man, I am afraid something has gone missing in faith. God is not a political being/ He is, simply put , the Absolute Monarch of eternity.

Freedom of religion has nothing to do with barring the people's varied beliefs. It means we are free to believe as given us. I was given faith and understanding from our Father. We are not to belong to Herod nor to Caesar in any manner. If you do not understand this, I am afraid you are missing out on living the faith given each of us.

curious about what you're referring to here, bro?