Several school districts say they will not – as of now – amend curricula following superintendent’s order
As a new school year looms in Oklahoma, some educators in the state are pushing back against a new state order to incorporate the Bible into their lesson plans.
In late June, Oklahoma’s Republican state education superintendent, Ryan Walters, ordered public schools in the state to immediately incorporate the Bible and the Ten Commandments into their curricula, following the passage that month of a law in Louisiana with a similar mandate – and which was quickly challenged on constitutional grounds.
Walters appeared at a state education board meeting and called the Bible “one of the most foundational documents used for the constitution and the birth of our country”, though the US’s founders explicitly called for a substantial separation between church and state. And he said that the Bible was a “necessary historical document to teach our kids about the history of this country, to have a complete understanding of western civilization, to have an understanding of the basis of our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”.
Walters’ policy and remarks not only reignited the conversation about keeping state and church affairs separate. They also drew criticism from civil rights groups and Democratic lawmakers who argued that the order violated federal rights to freely exercise one’s religious faith as well as a constitutional prohibition against the establishment of a state religion.
The party of “small government”, forcing teachers to teach about a certain religion.
It would be funny how they’re so similar to the Taliban, if it weren’t so sad.
Walters appeared at a state education board meeting and called the Bible “one of the most foundational documents used for the constitution and the birth of our country”, though the US’s founders explicitly called for a substantial separation between church and state.
Sounds like the education superintendent needs to go back to high school.
I’m just waiting for all the pastors and parents to find out their kids are learning what the Bible really says.
There is plenty of good history to teach from it, but they might not like the fact that Noah was based on the Mesopotamian Enkidu and the creation myth was a rewrite of the murder of the Mother Goddess Tiamat.
Going to the youtube comments section for History Time’s videos on early human civilizations, and Peter Pringle’s songs about the Epic of Gilgamesh…
Basically any mention of historic/legend/mythological events that the Bible based one of its stories on is met with protests of do your research and you’ll see the Bible didn’t steal anything ever, and you’re dumb for thinking that
Doesn’t it fit all the reasons they’re banning books?
In late June, Oklahoma’s Republican state education superintendent, Ryan Walters, ordered public schools in the state to immediately incorporate the Bible and the Ten Commandments into their curricula, following the passage that month of a law in Louisiana with a similar mandate – and which was quickly challenged on constitutional grounds.
Louisiana passed a law that empowered the Oklahoma state education superintendent to make changes? Setting aside the very, very obvious constitutional issues, (we all know they only care about the 2nd Amendment anyhow) how does that logic work even for someone with R next to their name?
