Less than a month before Oklahoma school districts begin classes, the state schools superintendent issued guidance for how public schools might incorporate his directive that the Bible be taught in every classroom.
In late June, Republican State Superintendent Ryan Walters ordered school districts statewide to integrate the Bible “as an instructional support into the curriculum” for grades five through 12. While the controversial mandate has prompted outrage from civil rights groups and some Democratic lawmakers, Walters has argued that the Bible is “foundational for education” and a “cornerstone of Western civilization.”
The guidelines from Walters detail how teachers should add the Bible to their lesson plans and how it should be taught for different grades.