Schools Must Teach Bible Or ‘Go to California’: Oklahoma Superintendent

An Oklahoma education leader’s directive to incorporate the Bible into public school curriculum is facing resistance from several districts.

At least eight large districts across Oklahoma are opposing the mandate, USA Today reported, which has sparked both criticism and support.

Speaking on “Fox & Friends Weekend,” on Saturday, the state’s Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters addressed the dissenting districts. “I’m going to tell these woke administrators, if they’re going to break the law and not teach it, they can go to California,” he said. “Here in Oklahoma schools, we’re going to make sure that history is taught.”

He added that the district was providing teachers with the necessary resources to teach concepts that he believes have been excluded by left-leaning influences. Walters said guidelines were issued to ensure that every teacher understands what is expected.

“We want our kids here in Oklahoma to understand American history better than any in the country, and we’re laying out a roadmap for every state to follow,” he added.

According to the directive, Oklahoma educators are expected to integrate the Bible into lessons concerning its impact on U.S. history and the founding fathers, as well as its impact on Western culture today, such as human rights or the law. Additionally, each classroom will be required to have a Bible for instructional purposes.

Walters said the initiative has widespread support from parents across the state. “When I ran three years ago, they were crystal clear. Why in the world are we not teaching our kids that our rights came from God? Why in the world are we not referencing all these unbelievable moments in American history where the Bible was cited? It is absolutely part of our history,” he told Fox & Friends.

A number of public schools have told parents they will not be changing the curriculum. Rep. Cyndi Munson of Oklahoma previously told USA Today that Walters had no authority to implement the directive.

“This is nothing more than an attempt to strip Oklahomans of their religious freedom. The state superintendent can say this Bible mandate is not for religious purposes all he wants, but his unlawful, unfunded mandate and clear disregard for the legislative process says otherwise,” she told the outlet.

Newsweek has contacted Ryan Walters’ office for a comment.

Earlier this year, Louisiana faced similar controversy after passing a law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public school classroom. Critics accuse the law of violating the First Amendment by compelling religious texts in public institutions.

The display of the Ten Commandments in public schools was endorsed by former president Donald Trump who called it “the first major step in the revival of religion.”