Oklahoma teachers rush to incorporate Bible instruction guidelines before school starts

Oklahoma teachers rush to incorporate Bible instruction rules

Teachers must provide classroom copies of the Bible and Ten Commandments
Some school districts have decided not to follow the new guidelines
Organization on Bible instruction: 'Public schools are not Sunday schools'

Updated: Jul 25, 2024 / 09:09 PM CDT

(NewsNation) — Oklahoma has mandated public schools teach the Bible, and school officials are scrambling to implement new guidance before the school year starts next month.

Ryan Walters, Oklahoma’s superintendent of public instruction, released five pages of standards Wednesday. They require a physical copy of the Bible, the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Ten Commandments be available as resources in every classroom.

Additionally, the guidelines detail how to incorporate the Bible into classroom instruction from grades five through 12.

What guidelines are teachers getting?

According to the new Oklahoma State Department of Education instructional support guidelines, teachers must ensure students learn about the Bible’s impact on shaping Western civilization and American history. They should also study the Bible’s literary techniques and compare them with other literature or art.

Teachers cannot promote or favor any religious beliefs. They must respect diverse faiths, inform parents that this is not an endorsement of any religion and reiterate that the Bible is used “for its historical, literary and secular value and is not to be used for religious purposes such as preaching, proselytizing or indoctrination.”

“Oklahoma students will be taught history, and that includes the influence of the Bible as a founding document,” Walters told NewsNation affiliate KFOR.

How are teachers and parents reacting?

Reactions are mixed; some support the guidelines, while others are critical.

“This is complex stuff, and our teachers don’t have time to delve into a topic they have not spent years studying,” said the Rev. Dr. Shannon Fleck of the Oklahoma Faith Network.

Some school districts have decided not to follow the new guidelines, defying state requirements.

Others are reviewing the guidance and trying to find a path to comply with both state laws and constitutional freedoms for students and their families.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State emphasized teaching about religion is acceptable, but preaching is not, stating, “Public schools are not Sunday schools.”